James Philbrook

James Philbrook (October 22, 1924—October 24, 1982) was an American actor who appeared in supporting roles in three short-lived television series between 1959 and 1963: The Islanders on ABC and The Investigators and The New Loretta Young Show, both on CBS. He also appeared in several major films, as Bruce King in I Want to Live! (1958) and Henri in Woman Obsessed, both with Susan Hayward, and as Colonel Tall in the 1964 police picture, The Thin Red Line, with Jack Warden.^[1]

Early roles

Philbrook was born in Davenport, Iowa. His first screen role was at the age of thirty-two on CBS's Alfred Hitchcock Presents as a town clerk in the 1957 episode "The West Warlock Time Capsule", with Henry Jones in the starring role. A few months later, Philbrook appeared in "The Les Rand Story" of NBC's western series, Wagon Train, with Eduard Franz in the episode lead role. He also appeared in the 1957 episode "Decoy" of the syndicated western series Man Without a Gun, starring Rex Reason. In 1958, Philbrook guest starred in two ABC and Warner Brothers western series, Maverick in the role of Sloan in the episode "The Seventh Hand" and Sugarfoot as Smokey in "A Wreath for Charity Lloyd". He portrayed Clem Harrison in the 1958 episode "Manhunt" of ABC's Broken Arrow, starring John Lupton and Michael Ansara.^[2]

In 1958, Philbrook played Charles Stewart in the episode "Hit and Run" of the syndicated television series, How to Marry a Millionaire, based on the earlier Marilyn Monroe film and starring Barbara Eden and Merry Anders. In 1959, Philbrook appeared as Yancey Lewis in "Return to Friendly" of the CBS western The Texan, starring Rory Calhoun. He starred too as Hank in "The Trap" of the syndicated series Rescue 8, starring Jim Davis and Lang Jeffries. He also appeared as Bender in the 1959 episode "Domestic Katy" of the CBS sitcom. The Ann Sothern Show. That same year, he appeared as an unidentified man, with Sothern and Pat Carroll, in the CBS anthology series The DuPont Show with June Allyson.^[2]

Philbrook procured his first recurring role in a series as Zack Malloy on The Islanders, with co-star William Reynolds (born 1931) in the role of Sandy Wade. The two played owners of an airplane that can land in water. The series is set in the Spice Islands of Indonesia. Diane Brewster appeared in a few of the twenty-five episodes of the series. Reynolds later co-starred on ABC's war drama, The Gallant Men (1962-1963) and with Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., on The F.B.I. from 1967-1973.^[2]

After The Islanders, Philbrook portrayed Steve Banks, a New York City insurance investigator, in all thirteen episodes of The Investigators, with co-stars James Franciscus, Mary Murphy as Maggie Peters, and Alan Austin as Bill Davis.^[2]

Later career

Philbrook appeared five times in different roles from 1958-1961 on the original NBC The Loretta Young Show, also called the Letter to Loretta anthology series. Among those roles are Mike Roberts in "A Visit to Sao Paulo" and Wainwright Tyler in "Doesn't Everybody?" In 1962, he was cast as magazine publisher and romantic interest of Loretta Young on The New Loretta Young Show. The couple married in the twenty-sixth and final episode of the series. Young played Christine Massey, a widowed mother of seven children, some grown, and Philbrook, according to the story line, adapted to the idea of becoming a stepfather to so many. Actors playing the Massey children included twins Dack Rambo and Dirk Rambo, Beverly Washburn, and Sandy Descher.^[2]

Philbrook's other appearances were as Jim Costain in the 1961 segment "Triple C" of NBC's anthology series The Barbara Stanwyck Show and as McWhorter in the 1962 episode "Inger, My Love" on Bonanza. He also guest starred twice in 1959 and 1963 on CBS's Perry Mason, starring Raymond Burr. He appeared in two 1965 films, as Adam Hyde in Finger on the Trigger and as James "Ace" Ketchum in Son of a Gunfighter.^[2]

Philbrook's last English language role was as Dr. Keller in the 1966 episode "The Blind Man's Bluff Raid" of ABC's The Rat Patrol, a World War II drama starring Christopher George. His last film roles were in some dozen foreign westerns, primarily through 1969, with two others in 1975.^[2]

Philbrook died in Los Angeles, California.^[2]

References