James Luisi
Acting • Born 1928-11-11 – Died 2002-06-07
Biography
A native New Yorker, James Luisi attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights on a basketball scholarship. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He then played one season (1953-54) with the Baltimore Bullets in the National Basketball Association. His acting career began on the stage with early parts coming in the Broadway musicals "Sweet Charity" and "Zorba". His early movies were minor, though his "beefcake" appeal was evident in 1973's I Escaped from Devil's Island (1973) in which he rarely wore a shirt. Most of his later work was on TV. In 1976 he shared a "best actor" daytime Emmy for playing George Washington in a daytime drama special titled First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington (1975). Also in 1976 he started his four-season role as Jim Rockford's (James Garner) nemesis Lt. Chapman in The Rockford Files (1974). In 1983 he played the cop in charge of some street-gang-members-turned-undercover-agents in the short-lived series The Renegades (1983), which provided a boost for Patrick Swayze, who played one of the gang members. Along with guest spots on numerous TV shows, Luisi also appeared in the soap operas Days of Our Lives (1965) and Another World (1964). In the 1990s he returned to acting in and directing stage work in the Los Angeles area. Stricken with cancer he passed away on 7 June 2002 and is survived by his wife of 41 years, the former Georgia Phillips.
Filmography
83 credits
Star 80
Movie • 1983
Roy
Murphy's Law
Movie • 1986
Ed Reineke
The Hidden
Movie • 1987
Ferrari Salesman
Fade to Black
Movie • 1980
Capt. M.L. Gallagher
Future Cop
Movie • 1976
Paterno
Killer's Delight
Movie • 1978
Sgt. Vince De Carlo
I Escaped from Devil's Island
Movie • 1973
Dazzas
The Man from Independence
Movie • 1974
Stranger
Moment by Moment
Movie • 1978
Dan Santini
Contract on Cherry Street
Movie • 1977
Al Palmini / Arnold Palmer
The Renegades
Movie • 1982
Lt. Joe Marciano
Our Family Business
Movie • 1981
Frank
Love Is Not Enough
Movie • 1978
Harry Foreman
One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
Movie • 1978
Jimmy Karalla
The Take
Movie • 1974
Benedetto
Norma Rae
Movie • 1979
George Benson
Lethal Woman
Movie • 1989
Colonel Jerry Maxim
Stunts
Movie • 1977
Alvin Blake
The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play
Movie • 1996
Capt. Doug Chapman
Ben
Movie • 1972
Ed
The Red-Light Sting
Movie • 1984
Renny Lucas
Feds!
Movie • 1988
Sperry
Sunset Limousine
Movie • 1983
Angel
Cry Rape
Movie • 1973
Det. Kroger
Honky Tonk
Movie • 1974
Blackie
Cat Ballou
Movie • 1971
Spider Levinsky
The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...
Movie • 1996
Capt. Doug Chapman
First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington
Movie • 1975
George Washington
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story
Movie • 1978
Lazzeri
The Asphalt Cowboy
Movie • 1980
Lt. Lassiter
Magnum, P.I.
TV • 1980
John Walter Costa
The Rockford Files
TV • 1974
Lt. Doug Chapman
The Rookies
TV • 1972
L.A. Law
TV • 1986
Paul Viola
The A-Team
TV • 1983
Jimmy Durkee
Starsky & Hutch
TV • 1975
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Sam Kehoe
Baywatch Nights
TV • 1995
Murray
Knight Rider
TV • 1982
D.G. Grebs
Quincy, M.E.
TV • 1976
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
TV • 1979
Hood
The Streets of San Francisco
TV • 1972
Hawkins
TV • 1973
Andy Tyler
Naked City
TV • 1958
Mark Andrew
Knots Landing
TV • 1979
Lieutenant Gilbert Garcia
Kojak
TV • 1973
Det. Geno Alessi
Silk Stalkings
TV • 1991
Hart to Hart
TV • 1979
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Ivers
Wonder Woman
TV • 1975
George
Cannon
TV • 1971
Another World
TV • 1964
The Hogan Family
TV • 1986
The Fall Guy
TV • 1981
Vega$
TV • 1978
Police Story
TV • 1973
S.W.A.T.
TV • 1975
Sword of Justice
TV • 1978
City of Angels
TV • 1976
Here's Boomer
TV • 1981
Matt Houston
TV • 1982
Dark Justice
TV • 1991
Good Heavens
TV • 1976
The Rifleman
TV • 1958
Spencer's Pilots
TV • 1976
The Renegades
TV • 1983
Lt. Marciano
Hell Town
TV • 1985
Harris and Company
TV • 1979
Ghost Story
TV • 1972
Rick
Hunter
TV • 1977
The Eddie Capra Mysteries
TV • 1978
Partners in Crime
TV • 1984
CHiPs
TV • 1977
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Little Julio
Adam-12
TV • 1968
Antonio Minetti
Kojak
TV • 1973
Capt. Henry 'Hank' Rosseau
The Rockford Files
TV • 1974
Burt Stryker
Finder of Lost Loves
TV • 1984
Jordan Hollis
Ironside
TV • 1967
Mike Purcell
Barnaby Jones
TV • 1973
Nick Gorman
Barnaby Jones
TV • 1973
Burt Logan
T. J. Hooker
TV • 1982
George Laszlo
T. J. Hooker
TV • 1982
Vincent Hazzard