J. Kenneth Campbell

James Kenneth Campbell II is an American film, stage, and television actor who has been cast in over 80 roles. He was born in Flushing, New York. Campbell studied acting under theatrical fight director Patrick Crean, and was an acting instructor himself at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

Early life Campbell was born in Flushing, Queens to Dorothea Burke and lawyer James Kenneth Campbell. The second of seven children, Campbell was raised on Long Island and graduated from Cheshire Academy.

Campbell began his studies at the University of Arizona, but left to study under Sanford Meisner. Having been drafted into the United States Army in 1967, Campbell enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Wounded in action during the Vietnam War, Campbell was awarded a Purple Heart and honorably discharged.

Career

Television Campbell has made several appearances in television shows, made-for-TV movies, miniseries, and specials. Campbell appeared on the daytime soap operas: The Edge of Night, Another World and Search for Tomorrow in the 1980s. He also had guest appearances on several popular TV series through the years as well, including: The Mod Squad, The Rookies and Baa Baa Black Sheep in the 1970s. In the 1980s, he appeared in Spenser: For Hire, Matlock and Cheers. The 1990s saw him appearing in popular series L.A. Law, Touched by an Angel, Melrose Place, and Walker, Texas Ranger. Then in the 2000s, he landed guest roles in Diagnosis: Murder, Charmed and Frasier. He starred as King Henry VIII in A Man for All Seasons alongside Charlton Heston in 1986 and 1987, at the Union Square Theatre, as part of the Roundabout Theatre Company.

In 2017, Campbell portrayed President Lyndon Baines Johnson in an Actors' Playhouse production of All the Way in Miami.

Personal life Campbell is a grandnephew of Clay Clement, an actor who was one of the earliest members of the Screen Actors Guild, and the grandson of The Long Whip author Eugene Campbell. Campbell's niece through his sister Carol is author Kim Gruenenfelder, and his niece through his sister Barbara is media executive Emma Rosenblum.

Filmography

Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes