James Gregory (actor)

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For other people with the same name, see James Gregory.

James Gregory (December 23, 1911 – September 16, 2002) was an American character actor noted for playing brash roles such as McCarthy-like Senator Joseph Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate (1962), the audacious General Ursus in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, and loudmouthed Inspector Luger in Barney Miller (TV-Series 1975 - 1982). He also played Dean Martin's spy boss MacDonald, in the Matt Helm movie series, and is fondly remembered for his role as Dr. Tristan Adams, the villainous director of the Tantalus IV Penal Colony on the Star Trek Original Series episode, Dagger of the Mind. Another of his roles many recall was playing the father of Elvis Presley in the 1967 musical Clambake.

[edit] Biography

Gregory was born in The Bronx, New York City, New York and grew up in New Rochelle, New York. In high school he was president of the Drama Club. He briefly worked on Wall Street as a runner in 1929 and thought of being a stockbroker but, by 1935, had become a professional actor instead. In 1939, he made his Broadway debut in a production of Key Largo and did about twenty-five more Broadway productions over the next sixteen years. Gregory served three years in the United States Navy and Marine Corps during World War II. His early acting work included Army training films; one such appearance is excerpted in The Atomic Café.