Clifton James obit

Clifton James, Sheriff in James Bond Films, Dies at 96

 

 He was not on the list.

Clifton James, a veteran actor who appeared as Sheriff J.W. Pepper in two James Bond films, died Saturday morning at age 96.

James died just blocks away from his childhood home, surrounded by friends and family, loved ones told Variety in a statement.

Clifton was born in 1920, the eldest child of Grace and Harry James, and grew up just outside Portland, Oregon during the heart of the Great Depression.

According to relatives, he fought for five years on the front lines of the South Pacific, earning two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star for his service during World War II.

His acting career spanned nearly six decades, and included theater, film, and television. First appearing on stage in “The Time of Your Life,” he would go on to perform in several Broadway shows, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “All The Way Home.”

James most famous role came on film. He appeared in two James Bond films opposite Roger Moore: “Live and Let Die” (1973) and “The Man with the Golden Gun” (1974). He portrayed the crowing Louisiana sheriff, J.W. Pepper (pictured). James would play similar Southern lawman in numerous other roles during his career, including “Silver Streak” and “Superman II”

James was the district attorney who prosecuted Al Capone in the film The Untouchables (1987). He played a Navy master-at-arms in The Last Detail (1973), starring Jack Nicholson, and Chicago White Sox baseball team owner Charles Comiskey in the true story Eight Men Out (1988), a drama about the corrupt 1919 Chicago White Sox.

Among his other film credits included “Cool Hand Luke,” “Eight Men Out” and “The Bonfire of the Vanities.”

James enjoyed celebrating holidays with his wife Laurie. He is survived by his sisters, Cicely and Beverley; his five children, Cory, Winkie, Hardy, Lynn, and Mary; fourteen grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

Actor (100 credits)

 2006 Raising Flagg

Ed McIvor

 2002 Sunshine State

Buster Bidwell

 2000 Interstate 84

Buddy

 1996 The Summer of Ben Tyler (TV Movie)

Chief Sam Thompkins

 1996 All My Children (TV Series)

Red Kilgren (aka Kris Kringle)

- Episode dated 23 October 1996 (1996) ... Red Kilgren (aka Kris Kringle)

 1996 Lone Star

Hollis

 1994 The Vernon Johns Story (TV Movie)

Judge Blake

 1991 Carolina Skeletons (TV Movie)

Dexter Cody

 1991 Gabriel's Fire (TV Series)

Jimmy Williams

- Truth and Consequences (1991) ... Jimmy Williams

 1991 Monsters (TV Series)

Inspector

- Leavings (1991) ... Inspector

 1990 The Bonfire of the Vanities

Albert Fox

 1990 Night Court (TV Series)

Rev. Lester Sinclair

- It's Just a Joke (1990) ... Rev. Lester Sinclair

 1990 Dallas (TV Series)

Duke Carlisle

- Tunnel of Love (1990) ... Duke Carlisle

- Terminus (1990) ... Duke Carlisle

- Charade (1990) ... Duke Carlisle

- April in Paris (1990) ... Duke Carlisle

 1989 She-Devil

Bob's Father (uncredited)

 1989 Walter & Carlo i Amerika

Tex

 1988 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series)

Ray Dressler

- The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel (1988) ... Ray Dressler

 1988 Eight Men Out

Charles Comiskey

 1987 The Untouchables

District Attorney (uncredited)

 1986 Whoops Apocalypse

Maxton S. Pluck

 1986 Where Are the Children?

Chief Coffin

 1985 Stiffs

Uncle Leo

 1984 Highway to Heaven (TV Series)

Nick Claybourne

- Song of the Wild West (1984) ... Nick Claybourne

 1984 Kidco

Orville Peterjohn

 1983 The A-Team (TV Series)

Sheriff Jake Dawson / Warden Beale

- The White Ballot (1983) ... Sheriff Jake Dawson

- Pros and Cons (1983) ... Warden Beale

 1979-1982 Trapper John, M.D. (TV Series)

Lewis / Bobby Joe Brady

- Thanks for Giving (1982) ... Lewis

- Taxi in the Rain (1979) ... Bobby Joe Brady

 1982 The Fall Guy (TV Series)

Sheriff Taylor

- Mighty Myron (1982) ... Sheriff Taylor

 1982 Talk to Me

State Trooper

 1981-1982 Lewis & Clark (TV Series)

Silas Jones

- Tex Hex (1982) ... Silas Jones

- In Charm's Way (1982) ... Silas Jones

- Yellow Stu of Texas (1982) ... Silas Jones

- Friends (1982) ... Silas Jones

- Dear John (1982) ... Silas Jones

1981-1982 Texas (TV Series)

Striker Bellman #2

- Episode #1.484 (1982) ... Striker Bellman #2

- Episode #1.469 (1982) ... Striker Bellman #2

- Episode #1.434 (1982) ... Striker Bellman #2

- Episode #1.433 (1982) ... Striker Bellman #2

- Episode #1.430 (1982) ... Striker Bellman #2

1980 Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

Sheriff

 1980 Superman II

Sheriff

 1980 Quincy M.E. (TV Series)

Cliff Webb

- Last Rights (1980) ... Cliff Webb

 1980 Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (TV Movie)

Barber Charlie Amos

 1980 The Contender (TV Mini Series)

Tompkins

- Pilot (1980) ... Tompkins

 1980 The Dukes of Hazzard (TV Series)

Sheriff Lester Crabb

- Treasure of Hazzard (1980) ... Sheriff Lester Crabb

 1980 Cabo Blanco

Lorrimer

 1979 Young Maverick (TV Series)

Judge Stebbins

- A Fistful of Oats (1979) ... Judge Stebbins

 1979 Undercover with the KKK (TV Movie)

Jimmy Eakin

 1979 Hart to Hart (TV Series)

Highway Cop

- Hart to Hart (1979) ... Highway Cop

 1979 Supertrain (TV Series)

- Where Have You Been Billy Boy (1979)

 1977 The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training

Sy Orlansky

 1977 The November Plan (TV Movie)

 1976 Silver Streak

Sheriff Chauncey

 1976 Captains and the Kings (TV Mini Series)

Gov. Skerritt

- Chapter VIII (1976) ... Gov. Skerritt

 1976 City of Angels (TV Series)

Quint / Lt. Murray Quint / Lt. Quint

- Match Point (1976) ... Lt. Murray Quint

- The Bloodshot Eye (1976) ... Quint

- Say Goodbye to Yesterday (1976) ... Quint

- The Castle of Dreams (1976) ... Lt. Quint

- Palm Springs Answer (1976) ... Quint

1975 From Hong Kong with Love

Bill

 1975 The Deadly Tower (TV Movie)

Captain Fred Ambrose

 1975 Friendly Persuasion (TV Movie)

Sam Jordan

 1975 The Runaway Barge (TV Movie)

Sooey

 1975 Rancho Deluxe

John Brown

 1974 The Man with the Golden Gun

J.W. Pepper

 1974 The Six Million Dollar Man (TV Series)

Walter 'Shadetree' Burns

- The Deadly Replay (1974) ... Walter 'Shadetree' Burns

 1974 Juggernaut

Corrigan

 1974 The Bank Shot

Streiger

 1974 Buster and Billie

Jake

 1973 The Laughing Policeman

Maloney

 1973 The Last Detail

M.A.A.

 1973 The Werewolf of Washington

Attorney General

 1973 The Iceman Cometh

Pat McGloin

 1973 Live and Let Die

Sheriff Pepper

 1973 Kid Blue

Mr. Hendricks

 1972 The New Centurions

Whitey

 1972 Particular Men (TV Movie)

Boesch

 1972 The Biscuit Eater

Mr. Eben

 1968-1971 Bonanza (TV Series)

Mr. Quarry / Lawson

- Winter Kill (1971) ... Mr. Quarry

- The Real People of Muddy Creek (1968) ... Lawson

 1958-1970 Gunsmoke (TV Series)

Sam Wickes / Tenner Jackson / Sam Hare / ...

- Snow Train: Part 2 (1970) ... Sam Wickes

- Snow Train: Part 1 (1970) ... Sam Wickes

- The Wrong Man (1966) ... Tenner Jackson

- The Lady (1965) ... Sam Hare

- Letter of the Law (1958) ... Teek

 1970 WUSA

Speed - Sailor in Bar

 1970 Tick, Tick, Tick

D.J. Rankin

 1969 The Reivers

Butch Lovemaiden

 1969 Ironside (TV Series)

Frank Bollo

- Rundown on a Bum Rap (1969) ... Frank Bollo

 1968 Mannix (TV Series)

Barney Ford, Police Chief

- A Copy of Murder (1968) ... Barney Ford, Police Chief

 1967 Will Penny

Catron

 1967 Cimarron Strip (TV Series)

Sheriff Jack Hawkes

- Till the End of Night (1967) ... Sheriff Jack Hawkes

 1967 Cool Hand Luke

Carr

 1967 The Caper of the Golden Bulls

Philippe

 1967 The Happening

O'Reilly

 1966 The Virginian (TV Series)

Big Ben Albright

- Linda (1966) ... Big Ben Albright

 1966 The Chase

Lem

 1965 Slattery's People (TV Series)

Harry Means

- Rally Round Your Own Flag, Mister (1965) ... Harry Means

 1964 Invitation to a Gunfighter

Tuttle

 1964 Black Like Me

Eli Carr

 1964 Another World (TV Series)

Striker Bellman (1980)

 1963 East Side/West Side (TV Series)

Dave Meltzer

- Go Fight City Hall (1963) ... Dave Meltzer

 1963 The Doctors and the Nurses (TV Series)

Lou Cutler

- Strike (1963) ... Lou Cutler

 1963 Route 66 (TV Series)

George Simmons

- Soda Pop and Paper Flags (1963) ... George Simmons

 1962 David and Lisa

John

 1962 Experiment in Terror

Capt. Moreno

 1961 Something Wild

Detective Bogart

 1961 Cain's Hundred (TV Series)

Tom Larch

- Comeback (1961) ... Tom Larch

 1961 Brenner (TV Series)

Mack the Dispatcher

- Good Friend (1961) ... Mack the Dispatcher

 1961 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series)

Ralph Follet

- Episode #14.34 (1961) ... Ralph Follet

 1959-1960 Naked City (TV Series)

Officer Fennelli / Jacoby / George Haskel

- Killer with a Kiss (1960) ... Officer Fennelli

- A Death of Princes (1960) ... Jacoby

- The Scorpion Sting (1959) ... George Haskel (uncredited)

 1959 The Last Mile

Harris

 1958 Armchair Theatre (TV Series)

Blick

- Time of Your Life (1958) ... Blick

 1958 Kraft Theatre (TV Series)

Jack Haines

- Death Wears Many Faces (1958) ... Jack Haines

 1957 The Phil Silvers Show (TV Series)

State Trooper / Natiional Guard Sergeant

- Bilko at Bay (1957) ... State Trooper (uncredited)

- Bilko Buys a Club (1957) ... Natiional Guard Sergeant (as Cliff James)

 1957 Decoy (TV Series)

Patrolman Raymond

- Escape into Danger (1957) ... Patrolman Raymond

 1957 The Strange One

Colonel Ramey

 1955 Goodyear Playhouse (TV Series)

- Tangled Web (1955)

 1954 The Secret Storm (TV Series)

Wes Glenway (Year Unknown)