James Broderick

James Broderick^[1] (March 7, 1927 – November 1, 1982) was an American actor.

He played the father on the television show Family from 1976 to 1980, receiving an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1978.

His notable film roles include the father figure of a New England commune in Alice's Restaurant (1969), and an FBI agent in Dog Day Afternoon (1975).

In 1947, Broderick, a junior pre-med student, auditioned for a part in the UNH production of George Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man." Theater director Joe Batcheller was impressed and gave him the role of Bluntchili, an anti-romantic Swiss soldier. "You could tell from the beginning that he was an exceptional individual," Batcheller said. "He displayed an unusual ability to get along with people. He was kind, sensitive, imaginative, and had a good sense of humor. He also had an Irish mug if I ever saw one," Batcheller added.

Although Batcheller didn't often encourage the students to pursue acting as a career, he was so sure of Broderick's talent, he suggested he go to New York and look up his friend Arthur Kennedy, who was well known in the acting field. Broderick took his advice and Kennedy subsequently directed him to the Neighborhood Playhouse. There, he gained the necessary experience and training for a successful acting career in both the movies and TV. He died from cancer in 1982. His son, actor Matthew Broderick, named his first child after his grandfather.^[2]

References

External links

• James Broderick (I) at the Internet Movie Database
• James Broderick at Allmovie

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