James Brolin

James Brolin

Birth name: Craig Kenneth Bruderlin
Born: July 18, 1940
Age: 84
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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Biography

James Brolin (/ˈbroʊlᵻn/; born July 18, 1940) is an American actor, producer and director, best known for his roles in film and television, including sitcoms and soap operas. He is the father of actor Josh Brolin and husband of singer/actress Barbra Streisand.

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Early life

Brolin was born Craig Kenneth Bruderlin in Los Angeles, California. The eldest of two brothers and two sisters, he was the son of Helen Sue (née Mansur), a housewife, and Henry Hurst Bruderlin, a building contractor. The family settled in Westwood after his birth. As a young child, he was apparently more interested in animals and airplanes, which he began building and flying when he was 10, than in acting. As a teenaged filmgoer in the mid-1950s, he was particularly fascinated with actor James Dean. When his parents invited a director over to his family's house for dinner before auditioning, he met another fellow actor and classmate, Ryan O'Neal, who was about a year younger than Brolin. The two clicked and later enrolled in University High School located in West Los Angeles. However, Bruderlin's own acting exposed his stifling shyness. His assurance grew when O'Neal invited him to a casting agency. Brolin graduated from high school in 1958, and his family was already encouraging him to become an actor like O'Neal.

Career

Early career

Prior to taking acting classes in school, Brolin started out as a character actor on an episode of Bus Stop in 1961. The part led to parts in other television productions such as Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Margie, Love, American Style, Twelve O'Clock High and The Long, Hot Summer. He made three guest appearances on the popular 1960s series Batman, alongside Adam West and Burt Ward, as well as roles in The Virginian, and Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law alongside Arthur Hill and Lee Majors. He also had a recurring role on the short-lived television series The Monroes.

At the age of 20 he changed his surname from "Bruderlin" to "Brolin" to become James Brolin. He signed a contract with 20th Century Fox. While in school struggling to make it big, he met actor Clint Eastwood. Brolin also had small roles in several films including Take Her, She's Mine (1963), Dear Brigitte (1965), Von Ryan's Express (1965), Fantastic Voyage (1966). The following year, his first big role was in The Cape Town Affair (1967), but it did not receive any success at the box office. Brolin was ultimately fired by 20th Century Fox.

Film work

During the 1970s, the 6 ft 4 inch Brolin began appearing in leading roles in films, including Skyjacked (1972), and Westworld (1973). By the mid 1970s, he was a regular leading man in films, starring in Gable and Lombard (1976), The Car (1977), Capricorn One (1978, in which he costarred with Elliott Gould, Streisand's ex-husband), The Amityville Horror (1979), Night of the Juggler (1980), and High Risk (1981). When Roger Moore expressed his desire to leave the role of James Bond, Brolin screen tested for the role in the next film Octopussy (1983). Ultimately, however, Moore decided to continue in the series.

In 1985, Brolin parodied his near-hiring as James Bond in the film Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. In a film within the film, he merged the characters of Bond and Pee-Wee Herman, the "real" version of whom was played by Paul Reubens. He is referred to as "PW" and the role of Pee-Wee Herman's girlfriend "Dottie" is played by Morgan Fairchild.

Television roles

In 1968, Brolin transferred to Universal Studios, where he auditioned for a co-starring role opposite seasoned actor Robert Young in the popular medical drama Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969-1976). The series was one of the top-rated television shows of the day. Brolin became widely known for his portrayal of youthful, skilled assistant physician Dr. Steven Kiley. The chemistry between Young & Brolin clicked, and even came to attract young women for its medical interest throughout the show's run. In its first season in 1970, Brolin won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, and was subsequently nominated three more times. He was also nominated for Golden Globes three times for Best Supporting Actor, and won twice between 1971 and 1973. Brolin also starred in the television films Short Walk to Daylight (1972) and Trapped (1973). He and his first wife Jane also appeared on several episodes of the 1970s game show Tattletales.

In 1983, Brolin returned to television to star in another popular series. He teamed with producer Aaron Spelling's prime-time soap opera, Hotel, for ABC. On this show he played Peter McDermott, a hotel manager who tried to help everyone solve their problems while letting love come into his own life at the same time. Among those co-starring on the show was a new actress, Shari Belafonte (the daughter of singer Harry Belafonte), first as a reservations clerk and then Director of Guest Relations, Julie Gillette, a familiar actress, Connie Sellecca, as Brolin's executive assistant and later General Manager, Christine Francis, and Nathan Cook as Billy Griffin, an ex-con who later became Peter's best friend. They each had a wonderful chemistry with Brolin on the set. As with Marcus Welby, this show was a ratings winner. Brolin was nominated twice for Golden Globes between 1983 and 1984 for Best Performance By an Actor in a TV Series, but didn't win either time. He would eventually serve as a director on the show, as well. On one episode of Hotel, he invited his future wife Jan Smithers to guest-star on the show as the writers suggested that they develop a storyline for them, as Brolin was going through a difficult divorce at the time. By 1988, after 5 seasons, Hotel was about to close its doors for good and the show was cancelled. That same year, his co-star, Cook had died of an allergic reaction to penicillin, and Brolin along with the rest of his cast attended his funeral.

Sellecca said of Brolin's on-screen chemistry with her on Hotel, "I remember instantly feeling comfortable with Jim, and that's the thing that Jim has as to women, most women, they need to feel safe, and Jim gets that." She also said, "To have him in a different role and have that confidence, it was a wonderful experience." After the show's cancellation, Sellecca continues to be good friends with Brolin. In 1992, her mentor was in attendance at her wedding to John Tesh.

As the new decade approached, Brolin starred in both Angel Falls for CBS and Extreme for ABC, although neither matched the popularity of his earlier series.

In 1997, Brolin's luck changed with the syndicated television series Pensacola: Wings of Gold. He played the role of Lt. Col. Bill "Raven" Kelly, whose job was to teach young Marines in a special unit, before being promoted to work with a group of talented Marine fighter pilots. Brolin served as an executive producer and director on the series. In 2000, however, the show was cancelled after 66 episodes due to low ratings.

In 1997, he also hosted Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, a television series that shows five stories which have to do with the paranormal and supernatural. Jonathan Frakes took his place after the first season of the show.

In 1997, Brolin guest-starred on Roseanne. In Part 1 ("Lanford's Elite"), Roseanne & Jackie go to a luncheon at the Lanford Country Club, where they meet the son of their old boss Edgar Wellman Jr. (Brolin) of the Wellman Plastics factory. It appears that the factory is in need of financial help and Roseanne's money could save the factory. In Part 2 ("Some Enchanted Merger"), once the Wellman Plastics buyout is completed, Roseanne is at a loss for what to do when a mutual attraction springs between herself and Wellman.

Recent work

Brolin has had a number of supporting roles in major cinema releases since 2000. These include (amongst others) the role of General Ralph Landry, outgoing director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in Steven Soderbergh's Oscar-winning Traffic (2000); as Jack Barnes in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can (2002); a minor role in the 2003 comedy A Guy Thing; as philandering husband Robert Hatch in the 2006 comedy The Alibi (released in the UK as Lies and Alibis); as Jack Jennings in the 2007 film The American Standards; as TV network anchor Frank Harris in Richard Shepard's The Hunting Party (2007); and as Brian in Joel Hopkins' 2008 film Last Chance Harvey with Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman.

In 2002, Brolin played Governor Robert Ritchie of Florida, the Republican opponent of President Jed Bartlet, on the TV series The West Wing.

In late 2003, Brolin portrayed Ronald Reagan in the television film The Reagans. The film was originally meant to air on CBS, but after creative differences, scripts controversies, and rising costs, CBS passed on the film, and it aired on cable channel Showtime, also owned by Viacom. The role earned Brolin his fifth Emmy Award nomination, as well as his fifth Golden Globe nomination.

In 2005, Brolin guest starred on the TV series Monk as casino owner Daniel Thorn. In 2006, Brolin appeared in the A&E Network film Wedding Wars, playing an anti-gay marriage governor. In 2008, Brolin guest starred on Law & Order: SVU as astronaut Col. Dick Finley. The same year, Brolin also starred in the lead role in the Sci-Fi Channel film Lost City Raiders.

Brolin appeared in the 2009 comedy film The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard.

He also appeared in a 2009 episode of Psych, titled "High Noon-ish", in which he played the sheriff of a tourist-attracting "Wild West" town. The episode was in part a parody of the 1973 film Westworld, in which he had starred.

Brolin has played Richard Castle's mysterious father in two episodes of ABC's Castle, in 2013 and 2014. He appeared in the NBC sitcom Community as William Winger, Jeff Winger's estranged father.

He is currently playing the role of John, the father, in the CBS comedy Life in Pieces.

Personal life

Brolin has been married three times and has three children.

In 1966, he married Jane Cameron Agee, an aspiring actress at Twentieth Century Fox, 12 days after they first met. The couple had two children, Josh (b. 1968), and Jess (b. 1972). They were divorced in 1984. Jane died in a car accident on February 13, 1995, one day after son Josh's 27th birthday. Josh said on the October 14, 2008, episode of the Late Show with David Letterman that his parents met on the TV series Batman, where his mother was a casting executive. James Brolin is the grandfather of Trevor (b. 1988) and Eden (b. 1993), from his son Josh's first marriage.

In 1985, Brolin met actress Jan Smithers on the set of Hotel, and they married in 1986. The couple had a daughter, Molly Elizabeth (b. 1987). Jan Smithers filed for divorce from Brolin in 1995.

In 1996, Brolin met singer, actress, and director Barbra Streisand through a friend, and the two were married on July 1, 1998. The couple reside in Malibu, California. Brolin is the stepfather of Streisand's only son, Jason Gould.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1963 Take Her, She's Mine Mel Uncredited
1965 Dear Brigitte Student Uncredited
1965 Von Ryan's Express Private Ames
1966 Fantastic Voyage Technician
1967 The Cape Town Affair Skip McCoy
1968 The Boston Strangler Detective Sgt. Phil Lisi
1972 Skyjacked Sgt. Jerome K. Weber
1973 Westworld John Blane
1976 Gable and Lombard Clark Gable
1977 The Car Captain Wade Parent
1978 Capricorn One Colonel Charles Brubaker
1978 Steel Cowboy Clayton Ray Dennis
1979 The Amityville Horror George Lutz
1980 Night of the Juggler Sean Boyd
1981 High Risk Stone
1985 Pee-wee's Big Adventure P.W. Herman Cameo appearance
1987 Deep Dark Secrets Michael Wakefield
1991 Ted & Venus Max Waters
1993 Paper Hearts Henry
1994 The Book of Acts Simon Peter
1994 Parallel Lives Nick Dimas
2000 Traffic General Ralph Landry Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2002 Catch Me If You Can Jack Barnes
2002 The Master of Disguise Febbrizio Disguisey
2003 A Guy Thing Ken Cooper
2006 The Alibi Robert Hatch
2007 The American Standards Jack Jennings
2007 The Hunting Party Franklin Harris
2007 Bad Girl Island Terry Bamba
2008 Last Chance Harvey Brian
2008 Lost City Raiders John Kubiak
2009 The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard. Ben Selleck
2010 Burlesque Mr. Anderson
2010 Standing Ovation Producer
2010 Last Will Det. Sloan
2011 A Fonder Heart Craig
2011 Love, Wedding, Marriage Bradley
2014 Elsa & Fred Max Hayes
2015 Accidental Love Senator Bramen
2015 The Steps Ed
2015 The 33 Jeff Hart
2015 Sisters Bucky Ellis

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1961 Follow the Sun Teenager Episode: "The Highest Wall"
1961 Bus Stop Unknown Episode: "The Resurrection of Annie Ahearn"
1962 Margie Freddie Coates Episode: "Madame President"
1965 Valentine's Day Unknown Episode: "Two Weeks with Pay"
1965 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Spencer Episode: "The Saboteur"
1965 The Patty Duke Show Hank Episode: "Patty Meets the Great Outdoors"
1965 Daniel Boone Member of the Lost Colony, Mark Episode: "The Lost Colony"
1966-1967 The Monroes Dalton Wales 4 episodes
1966-1967 Batman Various 4 episodes
1969-1976 Marcus Welby, M.D. Dr. Steven Kiley 172 episodes
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1972 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Zack Jamison Episode: "Shine a Light on Me"
1974 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Dr. Steven Kiley Episode: "I've Promised You a Father, Part 2"
1983-1988 Hotel Peter McDermott 115 episodes
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Drama
1990 Nightmare on the 13th Floor Dr. Alan Lanier Television movie
1990 The Earth Day Special Doctor
1993 Gunsmoke IV: The Long Ride John Parsley Television movie
1993 Visions of Murder Hal Television movie
1995 Extreme Reese Wheeler 7 episodes
1996 Hart to Hart: Hart's In High Season Elliot TV movie
1997 Roseanne Edgar Wellman, Jr. 2 episodes
1997-2000 Pensacola: Wings of Gold Lt. Colonel Bill Kelly 66 episodes
1997 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Host 6 episodes
2002 The West Wing Governor Robert Ritchie 2 episodes
2003 The Reagans Ronald Reagan Television movie
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
2005 Monk Daniel Thorn Episode: "Mr. Monk Goes to Vegas"
2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Colonel Richard Finley Episode: "Lunacy"
2009 Psych Sheriff Hank Mendel Episode: "High Noon-ish"
2010 Blackout Terrance Danfield 3 episodes
2013-2014 Castle Jackson Hunt 2 episodes
2013 Community William Winger Episode: "Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations"
2013 Christmas with Tucker Bo McCray Television movie
2015-present Life in Pieces John Short Current series

[ Source: Wikipedia ]


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