James Craig (actor)

James Craig

Craig in Boys' Ranch (1946)
Born James Henry Meador
(1912-02-04)February 4, 1912
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died June 28, 1985(1985-06-28) (aged 73)
Santa Ana, California, U.S.
Occupation Film actor
Years active 1937–1972
Spouse(s) Sumie Jassi (1969-1980)
Jill Jarmyn (1959-1962) (divorced)
Mary June Ray (?-?)

James Craig (February 4, 1912 – June 28, 1985), born James Henry Meador, was an American actor.

Biography

After graduating from the Rice Institute, Craig began appearing in films in 1937, most often in B-movies and serials. In 1939, he appeared in the Three Stooges film Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise.

Craig received critical praise (and a step up to A-movies) when he played a New Hampshire farmer who sells his soul in All That Money Can Buy, also titled The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941). He also appeared in the films Kitty Foyle (1940), The Human Comedy (1943), Lost Angel (1943), and Kismet (1944).

Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, thought Craig resembled the studio's most popular male star Clark Gable. Mayer signed Craig to a seven-year contract to potentially fill in for Gable when he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces.[1] In 1944, Craig co-starred with William Powell and Hedy Lamarr in The Heavenly Body. That year exhibitors voted him the second most likely to be a "star of tomorrow".[2]

With the advent of television, Craig guest-starred on several TV series from the early-50s until the early-70s, which include Daniel Boone. In 1957, he starred opposite Audrey Totter in 20th Century Fox's adventure movie Ghost Diver. Both his last film and television performance came in 1972: he played Dr. Hainer in the sci-fi movie Doomsday Machine and John Rodman on the The ABC Afternoon Playbreak episode "This Child Is Mine".

Personal life

Craig was married three times and had two sons and a daughter. After retiring from acting in 1972, Craig became a successful real estate agent. He died of lung cancer in 1985.

Partial filmography

Radio appearances

Year Program Episode/source
1943 Lady Esther Screen Guild Theatre Men in White[3]

References

  1. ↑ Services, From Times Wire (9 July 1985). "James Craig, Once Billed as 2nd Gable, Dies". Retrieved 14 August 2016 – via LA Times.
  2. ↑ "SAGA OF THE HIGH SEAS.". The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954). Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 11 November 1944. p. 9. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "Allbritton, Louise". radioGOLDINdex. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
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