James Daly (actor)

James Daly

Daly in Medical Center, 1969
Born James Firman Daly
(1918-10-23)October 23, 1918
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, USA
Died July 3, 1978(1978-07-03) (aged 59)
Nyack, New York
Cause of death Heart failure
Alma mater Cornell College
Occupation Actor
Television Medical Center, Twelve O'Clock High
Spouse(s) Hope Newell (m. 1942–65)
Children 4
Awards Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor - Drama
1966 Eagle in a Cage

James Firman Daly (October 23, 1918 July 3, 1978) was an American theater, film and television actor, who is perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Paul Lochner in the hospital drama series Medical Center, in which he played Chad Everett's superior.[1]

Early life

Daly was born in Wisconsin Rapids in Wood County in central Wisconsin, to a working-class family: his mother, Dorothy Ethelbert (Hogan) Mullen, later worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, and his father, Percifer Charles Daly, was a fuel merchant.[2] During the 1930s, Daly studied drama and acted in shows before he worked for the armed services, and served with the United States Navy as World War II ended.

Daly was a music major at the University of Wisconsin, a drama major at Iowa State University, and attended Carroll College before receiving a degree from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.[3] Cornell College later presented him with an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.[3]

Career

Between 1953 and 1955 Daly appeared in the TV series Foreign Intrigue. He also guest starred on many television series, among them Appointment with Adventure (two episodes), Breaking Point, Mission: Impossible, The Twilight Zone ("A Stop at Willoughby"), The Tenderfoot (1964) for Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, The Road West (1966 episode "The Gunfighter"), Custer, Gunsmoke, Combat, The Fugitive, The Virginian, and Twelve O'Clock High. He portrayed "Mr. Flint" (an apparently immortal human) in the Star Trek episode "Requiem for Methuselah" (1969).[4]

In 1958, Daly signed a contract with the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company to do television commercials for Camel cigarettes. He served as the Camel representative for seven years, being flown by Reynolds throughout the United States to be filmed smoking a Camel at various locations.[3]

Daly was also an accomplished stage actor, starting out in 1946 as Gary Merrill's understudy in Born Yesterday.[3] Among his starring Broadway roles were in Archibald MacLeish's Pulitzer Prize- winning J.B. and Tennessee Williams' Period of Adjustment.

In addition to his acting career, Daly was one of the hosts on NBC Radio's weekend Monitor program in 1963-1964.

Daly's last screen role was as "Mr. Boyce" in the mini-series Roots: The Next Generations.

Personal life

According to his son Tim Daly during the interview at the CBS News Sunday Morning, James Daly came out to Tim as gay a decade after divorcing his wife Hope. His struggle to come to terms with his sexual orientation nearly put a rift between him and his family. As homosexuality was still considered a mental illness until the early-1970s, he and his wife tried and failed at "curing" him. After their divorce, Daly decided to limit his contact with his children out of fear that they would end up mentally ill themselves.[5]

Death

Daly died on July 3, 1978 of heart failure in Nyack, New York,[6] two years after Medical Center ended, and while he was preparing to star in the play Equus in Tarrytown, New York.[7] His ashes were sprinkled into the Atlantic Ocean.

Legacy

Two of Daly's children, Tyne Daly and Tim Daly, and his granddaughter, Kathryne Dora Brown, and grandson, Sam Daly, are actors. Tyne appeared on Daly's TV series, Foreign Intrigue, as a child. The elder Daly and his daughter both guest-starred separately in the original Mission: Impossible TV series. Tim appeared as a child with his father in Henrik Ibsen's play, An Enemy of the People. Daly had two other children - daughters, Mary Glynn and Pegeen Michael.[6]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Other notes
1954 Westinghouse Studio One Major Gaylord Episode: The Strike
1960 A Stop at Willoughby Gart Williams Twilight Zone : Season 1, Episode 30
1961–1967 Hallmark Hall of Fame Barabbas, Owen Wister, Dr. O'Meara, Dunois Episodes: "Give Us Barabbas", "The Magnificent Yankee, "Eagle in a Cage", "Saint Joan""
Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1966 An Enemy of the People Dr. Thomas Stockmann American Playhouse production
The Fugitive Michael Ballinger

Arthur Brame

Episodes: "Running Scared", "The Evil Men Do"
1967 The Invaders Alan Landers Episode: Beachhead
1968 The Invaders General Samuel ConCannon Episodes: The Peacemaker
1969 Star Trek Flint Episode: Requiem for Methuselah
1969–1976 Medical Center Dr. Paul Lochner
1970 Ironside Judge McIntire Episode: People Against Judge McIntire

Theatre

Year Production Role Notes and awards
1963 Jenny Kissed Me by Jean Kerr Performances: Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, Pennsylvania

Awards

Year Award Category Film Result
1966 Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Hallmark Hall of Fame Won
(Source: IMDb.com)

References

  1. "TV, Stage Actor James Daly Dies; Was State Native". Milwaukee Journal. Google.com. 5 July 1978. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  2. 1 2 3 4 See, Carolyn. (1970, February 21–27). Nothing Personal: James Daly will talk about anything – except himself. TV Guide, pp 26-30.
  3. "James Daly: Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  4. Interview with Tim Daly. CBS News Sunday Morning (June 19, 2016). Via YouTube.
  5. 1 2 "Actor James Daly Dead". Ocala Star Banner. Google.com. 5 July 1978. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  6. "James Daly, Actor, Is Dead at 59; Took Many TV Character Roles; Had Part in 'Roots II' Won an Emmy Award". Retrieved 26 July 2012.
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