James Gammon

James Richard Gammon (April 20, 1940 – July 16, 2010) was an American actor, known for playing grizzled "good ol' boy" types in numerous films and television series. Gammon portrayed Lou Brown, the manager of fictionalized versions of the Cleveland Indians in the movies Major League and Major League II. He was also known for his role as the retired longshoreman Nick Bridges on the CBS television crime drama Nash Bridges.

Biography

Early life Gammon was born in Newman, Illinois, the son of Doris Latimer (née Toppe), a farm girl, and Donald Gammon, a musician. After his parents divorced, he made his way to Orlando, Florida. He worked at Orlando's ABC TV affiliate WLOF-TV (Channel 9), as a cameraman and director. In his 20s, he moved to Hollywood to find work.

His friend Sam Shepard paid tribute to Gammon, saying: "You're probably aware of the notorious father figures in my plays, alcoholic Midwesterners who leave their families and get lost in the Southwestern desert. Jimmy had that familiarity about him with the way I grew up, the guys with the voice and the face and the whiskey. He definitely rang a bell with me."

Filmography Film

Television + James Gammon television credits Year Title Role Episodes Notes1966 The Wild Wild West Egan The Night of the Freebooters Episodic character The Monroes Stennis Night of the Wolf 1966-1967 The Road West Deputy Virgil Bramley / Pete Fowler The Agreement (1967) / The Gunfighter (1966) 1966-1973 Gunsmoke Arnie Jeffords / Dudley My Father, My Son (1966) / Susan Was Evil (1973)1967 Captain Nice — Whatever Lola Wants Bonanza Harry Jeffers The Man Without Land The Invaders Hal The Spores Batman Osiris The Unkindest Tut of All Felony Squad Mickey Ordeal by Terror The Virginian Cal Mason A Small Taste of Justice 1968-1969 Lancer Clint Meek / Wes Blind Man's Bluff (1969) / Chase a Wild Horse (1968) 1970 The High Chaparral Lafe Only the Bad Come to Sonora (1970) 1971-1974 The F.B.I. Cauldwell / Ben McCarty Diamond Run (1974) / Turnabout (1971) 1971-1976 Cannon Sheriff Ryder / Keely The Quasar Kill (1976) / Country Blues (1971) 1973 Dusty's Trail Roy Horse of Another Color (1973) 1973-1975 The Waltons Zack Rosswell 8 Episodes (1973–1975) Recurring Character 1974 Kung Fu Jake The Nature of Evil (1974) Episodic character 1975 Barnaby Jones Andy Lucker The Final Burial (1974)1976 Petrocelli Harry Blood Money (1976) Most Wanted — The Torch (1976) 1977-1978 Charlie's Angels Gates / Billy Angels in the Stretch (1978) / Angels on Ice (1977) 1979 Lou Grant — Samaritan (1979)1984 The Master — A Place to Call Home (1984) Cagney & Lacey Brian Holgate Old Debts (1984) 1985 Murder, She Wrote Billy Don Baker Armed Response (1985) 1986 The Equalizer Michael Cub Episode: "Out of the Past"1987 Crime Story Jack Claymore The Pinnacle; The Survivor (1987) American Playhouse Clate Connaloe Stacking (1987) 1988 Lincoln General Ulysses S. Grant 2 episodes television film1989 Midnight Caller Pete Hanrahan Tarnished Shield (1989) Episodic character In the Heat of the Night Sheriff Ketch Monroe A Trip Upstate (1986) Episodic character 1990-1991 Bagdad Cafe Rudy 15 Episodes (1990–1991) Recurring Character 1991 The Young Riders Elias Mills The Blood of Others (1991) Episodic Character 1992 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Teddy Roosevelt British East Africa, September 1909 (1992) 1992-1993 Homefront Coach Zelnick 8 Episodes (1992–1993) Recurring Character 1993-1994 L.A. Law Reverend Joseph Halliday / Thomas Quinn God is My Co-Counsel (1994) / F.O.B. (1993) Episodic Character 1996-2001 Nash Bridges Nick Bridges 49 Episodes (1996–2001) Recurring Character 1999 Tracey Takes On... Uncle Shep "Hype" (1999) Episodic Character 2003 Fillmore! "Doc" Hemlock Two Wheels, Full Throtle, No Brakes (2003) Voice2004 LAX Bill Barkley The Longest Morning (2004) Episodic Character Crossing Jordan Olin Price Justice Delayed (2004)2007 Monk Oates Mr. Monk Visits a Farm (2007) Grey's Anatomy Mr. Scofield Scars and Souvenirs (2007)