James Olson obit

Obituary: James R. Olson

 

He was not on the list.

James Olson died peacefully at his home in Malibu Sunday, April 17, at age 91. Born in Evanston, IL, Olson was a graduate of Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University. From the mid-1950s until his retirement in 1990, Olson had a distinguished career as an actor on stage, film, and television. Beginning his career as a child actor recording radio jingles in Chicago, Olson started working in theatre while still an undergraduate at Northwestern.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Olson moved to New York to study in Lee Strasberg’s Actor’s Studio. He subsequently starred in several Broadway productions in the 1950s and 1960s, including J.B. (1958), Romulus (1962), The Three Sisters (1964), and Of Love and Remembrance (1967). He also appeared in numerous touring productions throughout North America.

While theater was always his first love, Olson became a familiar face in film and television, appearing in over 90 productions. His film credits include The Sharkfighters (1956), The Strange One (1957), The Three Sisters (1966, reprising his role from the Broadway production), Moon Zero Two (1969), Wild Rovers (1971), The Mafu Cage (1978), Amityville II: The Possession (1982), Commando (1985), and Rachel River (1987). He co-starred with Joanne Woodward in the 1968 academy award nominated best picture, Rachel, Rachel, and had memorable starring roles in The Andromeda Strain (1971) and Ragtime (1981). From the late 1950s through the 1980s, Olson was a recognizable guest star on numerous television shows, including Kraft Television Theatre, Playhouse 90, Route 66, Ironside, Mannix, Lancer, Hawaii Five-O, The F.B.I., McCloud, Columbo, McMillan and Wife, Bonanza, Maude, The Streets of San Francisco, Battlestar Galactica, Little House on the Prairie, and Murder, She Wrote. He also co-starred in numerous TV movies, including The Missiles of October (1974), Someone I Touched (1975), The Spell (1977), The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer (1977), and The Silent Lovers (1980). After his retirement, he remained an avid follower of film and theater, regularly traveling to London and New York to see productions. He enjoyed sharing reflections on his acting career with his family. 

Olson was born in Evanston, Illinois. From 1952 until 1954, he was a military policeman in the United States Army. He performed stage work in and around Chicago before his 1956 film debut in The Sharkfighters.

His Broadway credits include Of Love Remembered (1967), Slapstick Tragedy (1966), The Three Sisters (1964), The Chinese Prime Minister (1964), Romulus (1962), J.B. (1958), The Sin of Pat Muldoon (1957), and The Young and Beautiful (1955).

He starred alongside Joanne Woodward in the Academy Award nominee for Best Picture Rachel, Rachel in 1968. He made numerous stage, feature film, and TV appearances from the mid-1950s until 1990, when he retired.

On television, Olson portrayed Mickey Mantle in The Life of Mickey Mantle. His other TV appearances included guest roles on scores of shows, including episodes of Kraft Television Theatre; Ironside; Murder, She Wrote; Little House on the Prairie; Hawaii Five-O; Battlestar Galactica; Lou Grant; The Bionic Woman; Wonder Woman; Mannix; Bonanza; Have Gun-Will Travel; Marcus Welby, M.D.; Police Woman; Barnaby Jones; The New Land; Columbo; Maude; The Virginian; and The Streets of San Francisco " Cannon".

Olson is survived by two nieces, Susan Baker (Chuck Baker) and Robin Olson (Christopher Evans), a nephew, David James Olson (Caryn Olson), and three grandnephews, Peter Olson Evans, Andrew Olson Evans, and Calvin James Olson. He is predeceased by his parents, Leroy and Florence Olson, and a brother, Lee Olson. He is also survived by longtime friends from their days together at Northwestern, Inga and Lowell Harris.  He died in Malibu, California.

A celebration of Jim’s life is planned for a later date this spring.

Selected filmography

 

    The Sharkfighters (1956) as Ens. Harold Duncan

    The Strange One (1957) as Roger Gatt

    The Three Sisters (1966) as Baron Tuzenbach

    Rachel, Rachel (1968) as Nick Kazlik

    The Stalking Moon (1968) as Cavalry Officer (uncredited)

    Moon Zero Two (1969) as Kemp

    Crescendo (1970) as Georges Ryman / Jacques Ryman

    The Andromeda Strain (1971) as Dr. Mark Hall

    Wild Rovers (1971) as Joe Billings

    Paper Man (1971) as Art Fletcher

    Columbo: Etude in Black (1972, TV movie) as Paul Rifkin

    The Groundstar Conspiracy (1972) as Sen. Stanton

    The Missiles of October (1974, TV movie) as McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant for National Security Affairs

    The Spell (1977) as Glenn

    The Mafu Cage (1978) as David

    Ragtime (1981) as Father

    Amityville II: The Possession (1982) as Father Adamsky

    Cave-In! (1983) as Tom Arlen

    Commando (1985) as Major General Franklin Kirby

    Rachel River (1987) as Jack Canon