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James Luisi

Actor | * 11/11/1928 († 73, 06/07/2002) | New York City, New York
James A. Luisi (November 2, 1928 – June 7, 2002) was an American professional basketball player and actor. Luisi is perhaps best known for his role as Lt. Doug Chapman, the apoplectic foil to detective Jim Rockford, in a total of 23 episodes during Seasons 3 through 6 of the television series The Rockford Files. ()

A native New Yorker, James Luisi attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights on a basketball scholarship. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He then played one season (1953-54) with the Baltimore Bullets in the National Basketball Association. His acting career began on the stage with early parts coming in the Broadway musicals "Sweet Charity" and "Zorba". His early movies were minor, though his "beefcake" appeal was evident in 1973's I Escaped from Devil's Island (1973) in which he rarely wore a shirt. Most of his later work was on TV. In 1976 he shared a "best actor" daytime Emmy for playing George Washington in a daytime drama special titled First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington (1975). Also in 1976 he started his four-season role as Jim Rockford's (James Garner) nemesis Lt. Chapman in The Rockford Files (1974). In 1983 he played the cop in charge of some street-gang-members-turned-undercover-agents in the short-lived series The Renegades (1983), which provided a boost for Patrick Swayze, who played one of the gang members. Along with guest spots on numerous TV shows, Luisi also appeared in the soap operas Days of Our Lives (1965) and Another World (1964).In the 1990s he returned to acting in and directing stage work in the Los Angeles area. Stricken with cancer he passed away on 7 June 2002 and is survived by his wife of 41 years, the former Georgia Phillips.

Photo of James Luisi
Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Crime | Action & Adventure

Known for these Movies & Shows

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Movies with James Luisi as Actor(27)

as Colonel Jerry Maxim1989 Lethal Woman
as Sperry1988 Feds
as Ferrari Salesman1987 The Hidden
as Ed Reineke1986 Murphy's Law
as Renny Lucas1984 The Red-Light Sting
as Angel1983 Sunset Limousine
as Roy1983 Star 80
as Lieutenant Joe Marciano1982 The Renegades
as Frank1981 Our Family Business
as Capt. M.L. Gallagher1980 Fade to Black
as George Benson1979 Norma Rae
as Dan Santini1978 Moment by Moment
as Harry Foreman1978 Love Is Not Enough
as Sgt. Vince De Carlo1978 Killer's Delight
as Al Palmini / Arnold Palmer1977 Contract on Cherry Street
as Alvin Blake1977 Stunts
as Paterno1976 Future Cop
as Blackie1974 Honky Tonk
as Benedetto1974 The Take
as Det. Kroger1973 Cry Rape
as Ed1972 Ben
as Spider Levinsky1971 Cat Ballou

TV Shows/Series with James Luisi as Actor(51)

as Murray1995 Baywatch Nights
as Paul Viola1986 L.A. Law
as Jordan Hollis1984 Finder of Lost Loves
as Lt. Marciano1983 The Renegades
as Jimmy Durkee1983 The A-Team
as Vincent Hazzard / George Laszlo1982 T. J. Hooker
as D.G. Grebs1982 Knight Rider
1978 Vega$
1977 Hunter
1977 CHiPs
as George1975 Wonder Woman
as Lt. Doug Chapman1974 The Rockford Files
as Burt Stryker1974 The Rockford Files
as Andy Tyler1973 Hawkins
as Det. Geno Alessi1973 Kojak
as Capt. Henry 'Hank' Rosseau1973 Kojak
as Nick Gorman1973 Barnaby Jones
as Burt Logan1973 Barnaby Jones
as Rick1972 Ghost Story
1971 Cannon
as Sam Kehoe1965 The F.B.I.
as Little Julio1965 The F.B.I.
as Mark Andrew1958 Naked City
as Ivers1955 Gunsmoke

Full Name: James Luisi
Born: Sunday, 11/11 1928 (November) in New York City, New York
Died: Friday, 06/07 2002 (June) in Los Angeles (aged: 73)
Zodiac sign: Scorpio (Chinese zodiac sign: Dragon)
Languages: English (EN, native language)
Educated at: American Academy of Dramatic Arts
James Luisi frequently works together with these people:
Morgan Woodward (26x, Actor)
Mills Watson (26x, Actor)
Scott Marlowe (26x, Actor)
Peter Mark Richman (24x, Actor)
Victor French (24x, Actor)
John Milford (24x, Actor)
Ramon Bieri (23x, Actor)
Burr DeBenning (23x, Actor)
William Windom (22x, Actor)
Jason Evers (22x, Actor)
Frank Marth (22x, Actor)
Dan Perri (3x, Crew)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:855275, Added: 11/14/2018, Last updated: 03/14/2024