James Callahan (actor)

James T. Callahan
Callahan as seen in the opening credits of Charles in Charge
Born
James Thomas Callahan

October 4, 1930
DiedAugust 3, 2007(2007-08-03) (aged 76)
Spouse
Peggy Cannon
(m. 1994)

James Thomas Callahan (October 4, 1930 – August 3, 2007) was an American film and television actor who appeared in more than 120 films and television programs between 1959 and 2007. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal from 1987 to 1990 of Walter Powell on the syndicated sitcom Charles in Charge, starring Scott Baio.

Early years

One of three children, Callahan was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to William and Elenora Callahan on October 4, 1930. After his service in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953, he worked for the United States Postal Service. While attending school in the Midwest, he discovered acting and on the advice of a teacher, he enrolled at the University of Washington in Seattle He studied drama and graduated in the late 1950s.[1][2]

Career

Callahan played a doomed soldier/journalist in the M*A*S*H episode "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet". He also had recurring roles in three 1960s series, as Danny Adams in ABC's Wendy and Me, with a cast including George Burns, Connie Stevens, Ron Harper, and J. Pat O'Malley, as Lieutenant O'Connell on NBC's 13-episode war drama, Convoy, with John Gavin and John Larch, and as the governor's press secretary in The Governor and J.J., which starred Dan Dailey and Julie Sommars. He appeared in "The Twilight Zone" S5 E12 "Ninety Years Without Slumbering" which aired 12/18/1963. Callahan portrayed a small role in Barnaby Jones in an episode titled "Counterfall" (02/04/1975).

Personal life

Callahan did not marry until he was sixty-three, when he wed Peggy Cannon in 1994. They were married until his death in 2007.

Death

In February 2007, Callahan was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Six months later, on August 3, 2007, Callahan died at his home in Fallbrook, California at age 76.[1]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1959 The Californians James McFadden Episode: "The Fur Story"
1959 Steve Canyon Lt. Hageman Episode: "Operation Firebee"
1959 Battle of the Coral Sea Australian Prisoner Uncredited
1959 Man on a String C.B.I. Agent Uncredited
1960 Bourbon Street Beat Detective Episode: "Twice Betrayed"
1960 Dennis the Menace Officer Holt Episode: "Dennis Runs Away"
1960 Manhunt Willie Episode: "A Rose for Willie"
1960 Two Faces West Cleve Episode: "Prognosis: Death"
1960 The Walking Target Al Kramer
1961 National Velvet Johnny Episode: "The Bridegroom"
1961 The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor Phil Episode: "Hit and Miss"
1961 The Jim Backus Show Lou 2 episodes
1962 Perry Mason Bookkeeper Fred Carlyle Episode: "The Case of the Shapely Shadow"
1962 Route 66 Smudge Episode: "City of Wheels"
1962 Have Gun - Will Travel Albert Eubanks Episode: "Don't Shoot the Piano Player"
1962 All Fall Down Gas Station Attendant Uncredited
1962 Experiment in Terror FBI Agent Uncredited
1962 G.E. True Detective Floyd Wright Episode: "Hercule Poirot"
1962 Saints and Sinners Edgar Episode: "Judgement in Jazz Alley"
1962 The Untouchables Miles Henning Episode: "The Economist"
1962 Stoney Burke Bert Episode: "Spin a Golden Web"
1962-1964 Dr. Kildare Dr. Yates Atkinson 6 episodes
1963 Combat! Reischer Episode: "The Squad"
1963 Empire Redford Episode: "A House in Order"
1963 Grindl Mike Episode: "Grindl and the Counterfeiters"
1963 The Eleventh Hour Matt Hopewell Episode: "I Feel Like a Rutabaga"
1963 The Twilight Zone Doug Kirk Episode: "Ninety Years Without Slumbering"
1963 The Lieutenant Markley Episode: "Fall from a White Horse"
1964 My Favorite Martian Jack Episode: "Unidentified Flying Uncle Martin"
1964-1965 Wendy and Me Danny Adams 34 episodes
1965 Convoy Lt. Dick O'Connell TV series
1965 Profiles in Courage Barnes Episode: "General Alexander William Doniphan", with Peter Lawford as Doniphan
1966 The Fugitive Joe Donovan / Russ Haynes 2 episodes
1966 The Time Tunnel Navy Ensign Beard Episode: "One Way To The Moon"
1967 Mosby's Marauders Sam Chapman
1967 The Invaders Dr. Harry Mills / Ed Gidney 2 episodes
1967 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Sam Chapman Episodes: "Willie and the Yank: The Mosby Raiders" and "Willie and the Yank: The Deserter"
1968 A Man Called Gannon Bo
1969 Adam-12 Miles Wellman Episode: "Log 92: Tell Him He Pushed a Little Too Hard"
1969-1970 The Governor & J.J. George Callison 3 episodes
1970 Tropic of Cancer Fillmore
1971 Cade's County Llewellyn Burton Episode: "Safe Deposit"
1972 Lady Sings the Blues Reg Hanley
1972 Love, American Style Jim Episodes: "Love and the Confession"
1973 Love, American Style Malcolm Episodes: "Love and the Hand Maiden"
1973 Marcus Welby, M.D. Allen Lawrence Episode: "A More Exciting Case"
1973 M*A*S*H Cpl. Tommy Gillis Episode: "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet"
1973 The Wonderful World of Disney Sheriff Wyndham Episode: "The Mystery of Dracula's Castle"
1974 The Missiles of October Dave Powers TV movie
1975 Cannon Police Lieutenant Episode: "The Victim"
1976 The Practice Jim Episode: "Molly and Jim"
1976 Holmes & Yoyo Weston Episode “Dental Dynamiter”
1977 Outlaw Blues Garland Dupree
1977 The Rockford Files Leslie Hartman Episode: "New Life, Old Dragons"
1977 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Haggarty 2 episodes
1978 Black Sheep Squadron Col. Maurice Parker Episode: "Sheep in the Limelight"
1978-1979 The Runaways Sgt. Hal Grady 13 episodes
1980 The Ropers Tom Cummins Episode: "Old Flames"
1980 Cloud Dancer Walt Lawson
1980-1982 Benson Dr. Phillips 2 episodes
1980-1982 Quincy, M.E. Adrian Mercer / Larry Bridges 2 episodes
1981 Bosom Buddies Dr. Leonard Bob Episode: "What Price Glory?"
1981 Inchon General Almond
1981 CBS Children's Mystery Theatre Walter Ames Episode: The Haunting of Harrington House
1981-1982 Alice Vinnie 2 episodes
1982 Knight Rider Cheriff Bruckner Episode: "Good Day at White Rock"
1983 Little House on the Prairie: A Look Back to Yesterday Doctor Houser TV movie
1983 Remington Steele Emmett DeVore Episode: "Steele's Gold"
1983 Too Close for Comfort Marvin Rowe Episode: "Out to Lunch"
1984 The A-Team Captain Fallone Episode: "The Island"
1984 The Burning Bed Berlin Hughes TV movie
1985 Knight Rider Jeff Barnes Episode: "Circus Knights"
1985 A Bunny's Tale Phil TV movie
1985 Copacabana (musical) Dennis Riley TV Musical
1986 Highway to Heaven Jack Brent Episode: "Children's Children"
1986 Growing Pains Uncle Bob Episode: "Extra Lap"
1987-1990 Charles in Charge Walter Powell Seasons 2 through 5
1992 The Golden Girls Malcolm Gordon Episode: "Goodbye, Mr. Gordon"
1992 Hero Police Chief
1993 Return of the Living Dead 3 Colonel Peck
1994 Mei zhen Mr. Platt
1995 Return to Two Moon Junction Mr. Bowman
1995 Midnight Man Chief Massey
1995 A Norman Rockwell Christmas Story Samuel Cavanaugh TV movie
1996 Caroline in the City Mayor Paisley Episode: "Caroline and the Twenty-Eight-Pound Walleye"
1996 Promised Land Warren Dempsey Episode: "Christmas"
1997 ER Oliver Episode: "Something New"
1999 Every Dog Has Its Day Father Quinn
1999 The Practice Trevor Wayne Episode: "Oz"
2000 ER Mr. Bristol Episode: "Homecoming"
2001 Extreme Honor Randolph Brascoe
2005 Medium Jury Foreman Episode: "Judge, Jury and Executioner"
2006 Wild Hearts Arliss - Mayor of Hope Hallmark TV movie
2006 7th Heaven Father Mulligan Episode: "And More Secrets"
2006 The Standard Principal Watson
2007 Born Albert Martino (final film role)

References

  1. ^ a b Nelson, Valerie J. (August 6, 2007). "James Callahan, 76; played grandfather on TV's 'Charles in Charge'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  2. ^ "Remembering Charles in Charge's James T. Callahan". Sitcoms Online. August 8, 2007.