James F. Nolan (November 29, 1915 – July 29, 1985) was an American film, stage and television actor. Nolan was born in

San Francisco, California San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...

. After serving in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

he began his acting career in New York, performing in stage plays such as ''

A Streetcar Named Desire ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a play written by Tennessee Williams and first performed on Broadway on December 3, 1947. The play dramatizes the experiences of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle who, after encountering a series of pers ...

'' and '' Bus Stop''. Nolan then moved to

Hollywood, California Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Its name has come to be a shorthand reference for the U.S. film industry and the people associated with it. Many notable film studios, such as Columbia Pictures, ...

James Nolan-Winifred Ainslee in Bus Stop

Nolan guest-starred in numerous television programs including '' Gunsmoke'', ''

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from October 3, 1952, to April 23, 1966, and starred the real-life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was brought to television, where it ...

'', '' The Fugitive'', ''

Get Smart ''Get Smart'' is an American comedy television series parodying the secret agent genre that had become widely popular in the first half of the 1960s, with the release of the ''James Bond'' films. It was created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, an ...

'', ''

Harbor Command ''Harbor Command'' is an American police series that was syndicated from October 11, 1957, to July 4, 1958. The series stars Wendell Corey as Captain Ralph Baxter, an officer of the Harbor Police of a large coastal city (the city is unnamed, b ...

'', '' The Wild Wild West'', ''

McHale's Navy ''McHale's Navy'' is an American sitcom starring Ernest Borgnine that aired 138 half-hour episodes over four seasons, from October 11, 1962, to April 12, 1966, on the ABC television network. The series was filmed in black and white and originate ...

'', '' Leave It to Beaver'', ''

Emergency! ''Emergency!'' is an American action-adventure medical drama television series jointly produced by Mark VII Limited and Universal Television. Debuting on NBC as a midseason replacement on January 15, 1972, replacing the two short-lived situa ...

'', ''

The Jack Benny Program ''The Jack Benny Program'', starring Jack Benny, is a radio-TV comedy series that ran for more than three decades and is generally regarded as a high-water mark in 20th century American comedy. He played one role throughout his radio and televis ...

'', ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II. It was created by Earl Hamner Jr., based on his 1961 book '' Spencer's Mountain'' and the 1963 fil ...

'', ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, sup ...

'', ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...

'', '' Adam-12'' and ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977. Moor ...

''. He also appeared in films, including ''

Charley Varrick ''Charley Varrick'' (a.k.a.''The Last of the Independents'' and ''Kill Charley Varrick'') is a 1973 American neo-noir crime film directed by Don Siegel and starring Walter Matthau, Andrew Robinson, Joe Don Baker and John Vernon. ''Charley Varric ...

'', '' Support Your Local Gunfighter'', ''

Dirty Harry ''Dirty Harry'' is a 1971 American neo-noir action thriller film produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the ''Dirty Harry'' series. Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first outing as San Francisco Police Department (SFP ...

'', '' All Night Long'', '' The Toolbox Murders'' and ''

The Shootist ''The Shootist'' is a 1976 American Western film directed by Don Siegel and based on Glendon Swarthout's 1975 novel of the same name.Swarthout, Glendon (1975). ''The Shootist'', New York, New York: Doubleday. It is John Wayne's final film ro ...

''. He played the role of the

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...

Father Steven Lonigan in the 1970 film ''

Airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface ...

''. Nolan died in July 1985 of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

at the

Motion Picture & Television Fund The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) is a charitable organization that offers assistance and care to those in the motion picture and television industries and their families with limited or no resources, including services such as tempo ...

cottages in

Woodland Hills, California Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Geography Woodland Hills is in the southwestern region of the San Fernando Valley, which is located east of Ca ...

, at the age of 69.

Selected filmography

*''

Torchy Blane in Panama ''Torchy Blane in Panama'' is a 1938 American mystery film directed by William Clemens and starring Lola Lane, Paul Kelly, and Tom Kennedy. Released on May 7, 1938, the fifth film in a series of Torchy Blane movies by Warner Bros. It is foll ...

'' (1938) - Ship's Officer Nelson *''

Little Miss Thoroughbred ''Little Miss Thoroughbred'' is a 1938 film directed by John Farrow. Peggy Ann Garner made her debut in the film. It was also known as Little Lady Luck. Plot Knowing her father's out there somewhere, little Janet runs away from an orphanage. A co ...

'' (1938) - First Intern at General Hospital *''

When Were You Born ''When Were You Born'' is a 1938 murder mystery film directed by William C. McGann and starring Anna May Wong as an astrologer who helps the police. Each of the twelve principal characters was born under a different astrological sign. Plot On an ...

'' (1938) - Ship Passenger (uncredited) *''

Cowboy from Brooklyn ''Cowboy from Brooklyn'' is a 1938 American Western musical romantic comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and written by Earl Baldwin. It stars Dick Powell, Pat O'Brien and Priscilla Lane. The film was based on the 1937 Broadway play ''Howdy S ...

'' (1938) - Alvey's Secretary (uncredited) *''

Racket Busters ''Racket Busters'' is a 1938 film about crime in the trucking industry starring Humphrey Bogart and George Brent. The film was directed by Lloyd Bacon. Plot summary Attorney Hugh Allison (Walter Abel) is appointed Special Prosecutor to invest ...

'' (1938) - Jim Smith - Allison's Secretary (uncredited) *'' Boy Meets Girl'' (1938) - Young Man Brought in for Susie (uncredited) *'' Garden of the Moon'' (1938) - Sound Man with Microphone (uncredited) *''

Girls on Probation ''Girls on Probation'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by William C. McGann and written by Crane Wilbur. The film stars Jane Bryan, Ronald Reagan, Anthony Averill, Sheila Bromley, Henry O'Neill and Elisabeth Risdon. The film was relea ...

'' (1938) - Dave Warren - Connie's Date (uncredited) *''

Winged Victory The ''Winged Victory of Samothrace'', or the ''Nike of Samothrace'', is a votive monument originally found on the island of Samothrace, north of the Aegean Sea. It is a masterpiece of Greek sculpture from the Hellenistic era, dating from the beg ...

'' (1944) - Stranger on Street (uncredited) *'' Because of Him'' (1946) - Reporter (uncredited) *''

Little Miss Big ''Little Miss Big'' is a 1946 American comedy film directed by Erle C. Kenton and written by Erna Lazarus. The film stars Beverly Simmons, Frederick Brady, Fay Holden, Frank McHugh, Dorothy Morris and Milburn Stone. The film was released on Aug ...

'' (1946) - Detective Lieutenant (uncredited) *''

The Brute Man ''The Brute Man'' is a 1946 American horror thriller film starring Rondo Hatton as the Creeper, a murderer seeking revenge against the people he holds responsible for the disfigurement of his face. Directed by Jean Yarbrough, the film features ...

'' (1946) - Police Dispatcher (uncredited) *''

Lady in the Lake ''Lady in the Lake'' is a 1947 American film noir starring Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully, Leon Ames and Jayne Meadows. An adaptation of the 1943 Raymond Chandler murder mystery ''The Lady in the Lake'', the picture ...

'' (1946) - Party Guest (uncredited) *''

Abie's Irish Rose ''Abie's Irish Rose'' is a popular comedy by Anne Nichols, which premiered in 1922. Initially a Broadway play, it has become familiar through repeated stage productions, films and radio programs. The basic premise involves an Irish Catholic g ...

'' (1946) - Policeman *''

Alias Mr. Twilight ''Alias Mr. Twilight'' is a 1946 crime drama film directed by John Sturges and starring Michael Duane, Trudy Marshall, and Lloyd Corrigan. Plot Cast * Michael Duane as Tim Quaine * Trudy Marshall as Corky Corcoran * Lloyd Corrigan as Geoffrey ...

'' (1946) - Customs Guard (uncredited) *''

The Beginning or the End ''The Beginning or the End'' is a 1947 American docudrama film about the development of the atomic bomb in World War II, directed by Norman Taurog, starring Brian Donlevy, Robert Walker, and Tom Drake, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. T ...

'' (1947) - President Roosevelt's Bodyguard (uncredited) *''

Dark Delusion ''Dark Delusion'' is a 1947 American drama film directed by Willis Goldbeck and starring James Craig, Lionel Barrymore, and Lucille Bremer. Produced and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the last film in the Dr. Kildare film series which st ...

'' (1947) - Orderly (uncredited) *'' Unconquered'' (1947) - Villager (uncredited) *''

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome ''Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome'' (also known as ''Dick Tracy Meets Karloff'' and ''Dick Tracy's Amazing Adventure'' (UK) ) is a 1947 thriller film starring Boris Karloff, Ralph Byrd, and Anne Gwynne. The film is the fourth and final installment of ...

'' (1947) - Dan Sterne *''

The Miracle of the Bells ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1948) - Tod Jones *''

Berlin Express ''Berlin Express'' is a 1948 American drama film starring Robert Ryan, Merle Oberon and Paul Lukas, and directed by Jacques Tourneur. Thrown together by chance, a group of people search a city for a kidnapped peace activist. Set in Allied-occupi ...

'' (1948) - ROT Captain on First Train (uncredited) *'' Fighting Father Dunne'' (1948) - Policeman Danny Briggs *''

The Arizona Ranger ''The Arizona Ranger'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by John Rawlins and starring Tim Holt and his father Jack.Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, ''The RKO Story.'' New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982. p228 RKO head of produc ...

'' (1948) - Nimino Welch *''

Guns of Hate ''Guns of Hate'' is a 1948 Western film''Guns of Hate''
at

'' (1948) - Sheriff Bradley *''

Race Street ''Race Street'' is a 1948 American crime film noir directed by Edwin L. Marin. The drama features George Raft, William Bendix and Marilyn Maxwell. It was one of several collaborations between Raft and Marin. Plot When his bookie pal Hal is k ...

'' (1948) - Herbie *'' They Live by Night'' (1948) - Schreiber *''

Sons of Adventure ''Sons of Adventure'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Yakima Canutt, written by Franklin Adreon and Sol Shor, and starring Lynne Roberts, Russell Hayden, Gordon Jones, Grant Withers, George Chandler and Roy Barcroft. It was rel ...

'' (1948) - Frank - Publicity Man (uncredited) *''

Night Time in Nevada '' Night Time in Nevada '' is a 1948 American Western film directed by William Witney and starring Roy Rogers. Plot Ran Farrell kills his mining partner and instead of giving the money to his partner's (Jim Andrews) daughter he steals it. Joan ...

'' (1948) - Jim Andrews *''

Son of God's Country ''Son of God's Country'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Paul Gangelin and Robert Creighton Williams. The film stars Monte Hale, Pamela Blake, Paul Hurst, James Nolan, Jay Kirby and Steve Darrell ...

'' (1948) - Bill Sanger *''

Rogues' Regiment ''Rogues' Regiment'' is a 1948 film noir action film directed by Robert Florey and starring Dick Powell, Märta Torén, and Vincent Price. It is the first American feature film to be set in the First Indochina War. Plot An American Intelligence ...

'' (1948) - American Colonel *''

He Walked by Night ''He Walked by Night'' is a 1948 American police procedural film noir directed by Alfred L. Werker and an uncredited Anthony Mann. The film, shot in semidocumentary tone, was loosely based on newspaper accounts of the real-life actions of Erwin ...

'' (1948) - Harry (uncredited) *'' The Countess of Monte Cristo'' (1948) - Lieutenant (uncredited) *'' One Sunday Afternoon'' (1948) - Henry (uncredited) *''

Wake of the Red Witch ''Wake of the Red Witch'' is a 1948 American adventure film directed by Edward Ludwig, produced by Edmund Grainger and starring John Wayne, Gail Russell, Gig Young, Adele Mara and Luther Adler. It is based upon the 1946 novel of the same name wri ...

'' (1948) - First Diver (uncredited) *''

The Lucky Stiff ''The Lucky Stiff'' is a 1949 American comedy crime film directed by Lewis R. Foster, starring Dorothy Lamour, Brian Donlevy, and Claire Trevor. The film is based on the 1945 novel of the same name by Craig Rice (author), Craig Rice. ''The Lucky ...

'' (1949) *''

Siren of Atlantis ''Siren of Atlantis'', also known as ''Atlantis the Lost Continent'', is a 1949 American black-and-white fantasy-adventure film, distributed by United Artists, that stars Maria Montez and her husband Jean Pierre Aumont. It was the first feature ...

'' (1949) - Major *'' Daughter of the Jungle'' (1949) - Lamser *''

The Clay Pigeon ''The Clay Pigeon'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by Richard Fleischer and written by Carl Foreman, based on a true story. The drama features Bill Williams and Barbara Hale, a real-life husband and wife. Plot Jim Fletcher (Williams), ...

'' (1949) - Faber (uncredited) *''

Outpost in Morocco ''Outpost in Morocco'' is a 1949 American action adventure film directed by Robert Florey, starring George Raft and Marie Windsor. Paul Gerard (Raft), a Moroccan Spahi officer and his French Foreign Legion garrison, holds off attacks from the na ...

'' (1949) - Legionnaire Colonel's Aide (uncredited) *''

Death Valley Gunfighter ''Death Valley Gunfighter'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Robert Creighton Williams. The film stars Allan Lane, Eddy Waller, James Nolan, Gail Davis, William "Bill" Henry, Harry Harvey, Sr. and Ma ...

'' (1949) - Shad *''

The Stratton Story ''The Stratton Story'' is a 1949 American biographical film directed by Sam Wood that tells the true story of Monty Stratton, a Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1934 to 1938. The film is the first of thre ...

'' (1949) - Reporter (uncredited) *'' The Window'' (1949) - Stranger on Street (uncredited) *''

Illegal Entry Illegal entry is the act of foreign nationals arriving in or crossing the borders into a country in violation of its immigration law. Human smuggling is the practice of aiding people in crossing international borders for financial gain, often i ...

'' (1949) - Agent Benson *''

Too Late for Tears ''Too Late for Tears'' is a 1949 film noir directed by Byron Haskin and starring Lizabeth Scott, Arthur Kennedy, Dan Duryea, and Don DeFore. It concerns a ruthless femme fatale's murderous attempt to hold on to a suitcase containing US$60,000 ($ ...

'' (1949) - Detective Parker (uncredited) *''

Bandit King of Texas ''Bandit King of Texas'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and written by Olive Cooper. The film stars Allan Lane, Eddy Waller, Helene Stanley, James Nolan, Harry Lauter and Robert Bice. The film was released on Augus ...

'' (1949) - Dan McCabe *''

Thieves' Highway ''Thieves' Highway'' is a 1949 film noir directed by Jules Dassin. The screenplay was written by A. I. Bezzerides, based on his novel ''Thieves' Market''. The film was released on DVD as part of the Criterion Collection in 2005. Plot A war-ve ...

'' (1949) - Smaller Cop at Roadside Bar (uncredited) *'' Flame of Youth'' (1949) - Policeman (uncredited) *'' Strange Bargain'' (1949) - Policeman (uncredited) *'' The Woman on Pier 13'' (1949) - Policeman (uncredited) *''

Alias the Champ ''Alias the Champ'' is a 1949 American crime film directed by George Blair and written by Albert DeMond. The film stars Robert Rockwell, Barbra Fuller, Audrey Long, James Nolan, John Harmon, Sammy Menacker and Joseph Crehan. The film was rel ...

'' (1949) - Al Merlo *''

Rusty's Birthday ''Rusty's Birthday'' is a black-and-white American juvenile drama, released by Columbia Pictures in November 1949. Structured as an hour-long second feature, it is the final entry in the eight-film low-budget series which centers on the bond bet ...

'' (1949) - Motor Officer (uncredited) *''

Mary Ryan, Detective ''Mary Ryan, Detective'' is a 1949 American crime drama, directed by Abby Berlin, which stars Marsha Hunt, John Litel, and June Vincent. Cast list * Marsha Hunt as Mary Ryan, also known as Mae Smith * John Litel as Captain Billings * June Vinc ...

'' (1949) - Detective Johnson (uncredited) *''

Adam's Rib ''Adam's Rib'' is a 1949 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor from a screenplay written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. It stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as married lawyers who come to oppose each other in ...

'' (1949) - Dave (uncredited) *'' Port of New York'' (1949) - Charles Lindsay (uncredited) *'' Paid in Full'' (1950) - Charlie Malloy - Lawyer (uncredited) *'' Riding High'' (1950) - Deputy (uncredited) *''

Double Dynamite ''Double Dynamite'' is a 1951 American musical comedy film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Jane Russell, Groucho Marx, and Frank Sinatra. The film was written by Leo Rosten (story), Melville Shavelson (screenplay), Mannie Manheim (bas ...

'' (1951) - Detective (uncredited) *'' The Boss'' (1956) - Matt's Lawyer (uncredited) *''

The Big Caper ''The Big Caper'' is a 1957 American film noir crime film directed by Robert Stevens and starring Rory Calhoun, Mary Costa and James Gregory. Plot His portion of the loot from a recent heist squandered, minor-league criminal Frank Harper talks ...

'' (1957) - Police Sgt. Waldo Harris (uncredited) *''

The Big Circus ''The Big Circus'' is a 1959 film starring Victor Mature as a circus owner struggling with financial trouble and a murderous unknown saboteur. It was produced and cowritten by Irwin Allen, later known for a series of big-budget disaster films. Pl ...

'' (1959) - Police Lieutenant (uncredited) *''

Portrait in Black ''Portrait in Black'' is a 1960 American neo-noir melodrama film directed by Michael Gordon, and starring Lana Turner and Anthony Quinn. Produced by Ross Hunter, the film was based on the play of the same by name by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts, w ...

'' (1960) - Detective *'' An American Dream'' (1966) - Monsignor Jim (uncredited) *''

Madigan ''Madigan'' is a 1968 American neo-noir crime drama thriller film directed by Don Siegel (as Donald Siegel) and starring Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda and Inger Stevens The screenplay—originally titled ''Friday, Saturday, Sunday''—wa ...

'' (1968) - Detective (uncredited) *''

'' (1970) - Father Steven Lonigan *'' Support Your Local Gunfighter'' (1971) - Train Conductor (uncredited) *''

'' (1971) - Liquor Proprietor *''

'' (1973) - Clerk *''

'' (1976) - Gambler (uncredited) *'' Telefon'' (1977) - Appliance Store Clerk *'' The Toolbox Murders'' (1978) - Bartender *'' All Night Long'' (1981) - Grandfather Gibbons *''

Jinxed! ''Jinxed!'' (also branded as ''Jinxed'' on promotional media) is a 1982 American comedy film starring Bette Midler, Rip Torn and Ken Wahl. The film was the last to be directed by Don Siegel, who suffered a heart attack during production. Sam Peck ...

'' (1982) - Father

References

External links

* * *
Rotten Tomatoes profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nolan, James 1915 births 1985 deaths People from San Francisco Male actors from San Francisco American male film actors American male television actors American male stage actors 20th-century American male actors