James Daly (James Daly)

James   Daly

Actor. Born James Firman Daly in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, he was the second child of Percifer C. Daly and his wife Dorothy Hogan. Daly was exposed to the theatre at an early age when he went to see his banker father appear in amateur theatrical productions around the Central Wisconsin area and when attending performances at his cousin John’s vaudeville and movie house. Eventually, Daly appeared with his sister and cousins in productions at Lincoln High School where he was a popular student. Encouraged in this early work by some of his high school teachers, he and his sister fulfilled various production roles other than acting. After high school graduation, Daly decided to make the trip to New York to begin his acting career. He worked diligently for several years before finally making his Broadway debut in 1946 as a bellhop and understudy to Gary Merrill in the Garson Kanin comedy “Born yesterday.” He later appeared in several Broadway productions including a revival of Shaw’s “Major Barbara” (1951) for which he won the Theatre World Award, a revival of “St. Joan” (1951) with Uta Hagen, “JB” (1959), “Period of Adjustment”(1960), and “The White House” (1964) in which he had multiple roles as American presidents. While living in New York during the 1950s he was also given the opportunity to appear in several Golden Age television shows. Among these were “Foreign Intrigue” (in which he had a regular role), “The Twilight Zone” (in which he starred in one of the show’s more popular episodes “A Stop at Willoughby”), and “Star Trek” where he portrayed one of series the most memorable characters, the never dying Flint. He appeared in several “Hallmark Hall of Fame” episodes including as the title character in “Give us Barabbas!” and “Eagle in a Cage” for which he won an Emmy Award. In 1969, he was offered one of the leads in series “Medical Center” which ran until 1976. His last television appearance in “Roots: The Next Generation” (1979) aired after his death. His reputation as a character actor also won him film roles, in particular as Dr. Honorious in “Planet of the Apes” (1968). The Daly clan is noted for their strong sense of family, and Daly proved no exception. He became interested in his Irish roots traveling at least twice to Ireland to trace his family tree. His own immediate family included wife Hope Newell (who he married in 1942) and four children, among them the actors Tyne and Timothy Daly. He died of a heart attack in Nyack, New York.

Born

  • October, 23, 1918
  • USA
  • Wisconsin

Died

  • July, 03, 1978
  • USA
  • New York

Other

  • Unknown

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