James Luisi
A native New Yorker, James Luisi attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights on a basketball scholarship. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He then played one season (1953-54) with the Baltimore Bullets in the National Basketball Association. His acting career began on the stage with early parts coming in the Broadway musicals "Sweet Charity" and "Zorba". His early movies were minor, though his "beefcake" appeal was evident in 1973's I Escaped from Devil's Island (1973) in which he rarely wore a shirt. Most of his later work was on TV. In 1976 he shared a "best actor" daytime Emmy for playing George Washington in a daytime drama special titled First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington (1975). Also in 1976 he started his four-season role as Jim Rockford's (James Garner) nemesis Lt. Chapman in The Rockford Files (1974). In 1983 he played the cop in charge of some street-gang-members-turned-undercover-agents in the short-lived series The Renegades (1983), which provided a boost for Patrick Swayze, who played one of the gang members. Along with guest spots on numerous TV shows, Luisi also appeared in the soap operas Days of Our Lives (1965) and Another World (1964).
In the 1990s he returned to acting in and directing stage work in the Los Angeles area. Stricken with cancer he passed away on 7 June 2002 and is survived by his wife of 41 years, the former Georgia Phillips.
Photos
Films (31)
The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play
1996 · Capt. Doug Chapman
The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...
1996 · Capt. Doug Chapman
Lethal Woman
1989 · Colonel Jerry Maxim
Feds!
1988 · Sperry
The Hidden
1987 · Ferrari Salesman
Murphy's Law
1986 · Ed Reineke
The Red-Light Sting
1984 · Renny Lucas
Star 80
1983 · Roy
Sunset Limousine
1983 · Angel
China Lake
1983 · Watch Commander
The Renegades
1982 · Lt. Joe Marciano
Our Family Business
1981 · Frank
The Asphalt Cowboy
1980 · Lt. Lassiter
Fade to Black
1980 · Capt. M.L. Gallagher
Norma Rae
1979 · George Benson
Moment by Moment
1978 · Dan Santini
One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
1978 · Jimmy Karalla
Love Is Not Enough
1978 · Harry Foreman
Killer's Delight
1978 · Sgt. Vince De Carlo
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story
1978 · Lazzeri
Contract on Cherry Street
1977 · Al Palmini / Arnold Palmer
Stunts
1977 · Alvin Blake
Future Cop
1976 · Paterno
First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington
1975 · George Washington
The Take
1974 · Benedetto
Honky Tonk
1974 · Blackie
The Man from Independence
1974 · Stranger
Cry Rape
1973 · Det. Kroger
I Escaped from Devil's Island
1973 · Dazzas
Ben
1972 · Ed
Cat Ballou
1971 · Spider Levinsky
Séries (49)
Baywatch Nights
1995 · Murray
Silk Stalkings
1991
Dark Justice
1991
L.A. Law
1986 · Paul Viola
The Hogan Family
1986
Hell Town
1985
Partners in Crime
1984
Finder of Lost Loves
1984 · Jordan Hollis
The Renegades
1983 · Lt. Marciano
The A-Team
1983 · Jimmy Durkee
Knight Rider
1982 · D.G. Grebs
Matt Houston
1982
T. J. Hooker
1982 · George Laszlo, Vincent Hazzard
The Fall Guy
1981
Here's Boomer
1981
Magnum, P.I.
1980 · John Walter Costa
Knots Landing
1979 · Lieutenant Gilbert Garcia
Hart to Hart
1979
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
1979 · Hood
Harris and Company
1979
Vega$
1978
Sword of Justice
1978
The Eddie Capra Mysteries
1978
Fantasy Island
1978 · Arbogast
CHiPs
1977
Hunter
1977
Quincy, M.E.
1976
Spencer's Pilots
1976
Good Heavens
1976
City of Angels
1976
Wonder Woman
1975 · George
Starsky & Hutch
1975
S.W.A.T.
1975
The Rockford Files
1974 · Doug Chapman, Burt Stryker
Kojak
1973 · Det. Geno Alessi, Capt. Henry 'Hank' Rosseau
Police Story
1973
Hawkins
1973 · Andy Tyler
Barnaby Jones
1973 · Nick Gorman, Burt Logan
The Streets of San Francisco
1972
Ghost Story
1972 · Rick
The Rookies
1972
Cannon
1971
Adam-12
1968 · Antonio Minetti
Ironside
1967 · Mike Purcell
The F.B.I.
1965 · Sam Kehoe, Little Julio
Another World
1964
Naked City
1958 · Mark Andrew
The Rifleman
1958
Gunsmoke
1955 · Ivers