Who Are Those Guys? ~ James Franciscus

 

James Grover Franciscus was an American actor and producer renowned for his leading roles in several prominent television series during the 1960s and 1970s, as well as appearances in feature films, including the science fiction sequel “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” (1970). Born in Clayton, Missouri on January 31, 1934, to John Dennis Franciscus, a U.S. Army captain, and Charlotte Loraine Grover Franciscus, he grew up in a military family that moved frequently before settling in the Midwest.

Franciscus attended preparatory schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut before enrolling at Yale University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and theater. He launched his acting career in summer stock theater and made his film debut in the crime drama “Four Boys and a Gun” (1957). His early television work included guest spots and a regular role as Detective Jim Halloran on the crime anthology ‘Naked City’ (1958–1959), followed by the lead in the short-lived detective series ‘The Investigators’ (1961). He gained widespread recognition for portraying idealistic high school teacher John Novak in the NBC drama ‘Mr. Novak’ (1963–1965), a role that showcased his charismatic, all-American persona and earned praise for addressing social issues like civil rights and education.

Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, Franciscus starred in additional series such as the Western medical drama ‘Doc Elliott’ (1973–1974) and the action-crime show ‘Hunter’ (1977), while also appearing in films like the adventure-fantasy “The Valley of Gwangi” (1969) and the political thriller “The Greek Tycoon” (1978). He received an Emmy nomination in 1969 for Outstanding Dramatic Program as a producer on the Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation of ‘Heidi’ (1968). In his personal life, Franciscus was married to actress Kathleen "Kitty" Wellman from 1960 to 1972, with whom he had four daughters—Jamie, Kellie, Korie, and Jolie—before wedding his second wife, Carla, in 1980. A longtime smoker, he died of emphysema at age 57 in North Hollywood, California.

FRANCISCUS, James  (James Francicus, Jim Franciscus) (James Grover Franciscus) [1/31/1934, Clayton, Missouri, U.S.A. – 7/8/1991, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. (emphysema)] – producer, writer, theater, film, TV actor, married to actress Kathleen 'Kitty' Wellman [1939-2019] (1960-1979) father of Jamie Franciscus [1961-    ], Kellie Franciscus [1963-    ], Korie Franciscus [1973-    ], and Jolie Franciscus [1975-    ], married to Carla Deen Ankney [1951-    ] (1980-1991), co-founded Omnibus Productions [1968].

The Valley of Gwangi – 1968 (Tuck Kirby)