James Stephens (born May 18, 1951) is an American actor best known for his starring role as James T. Hart in the

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...

'' The Paper Chase''.

Biography

Stephens was born in

Mount Kisco Mount Kisco is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The town of Mount Kisco is coterminous with the village. The population was 10,959 at the 2020 United States census over 10,877 at the 2010 census. It serves as a ...

, New York. He is best known for his role as idealistic Minnesota-born law student James T. Hart in ''The Paper Chase'' (1978–1979 and 1983–1986), taking on the role originated by

Timothy Bottoms Timothy James Bottoms (born August 30, 1951) is an American actor and film producer. He is best known for playing the lead in ''Johnny Got His Gun'' (1971); Sonny Crawford in ''The Last Picture Show'' (1971), where he and his fellow co-stars, Cy ...

in the movie of the same name. He is also known for his role in Tom Bosley's

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

television series, '' Father Dowling Mysteries'' (1989-1991), in which Stephens was cast as Father Philip Prestwick. His first role was as C. L. Bradley in the pilot and two episodes of the ABC

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

series, '' How the West Was Won'', starring

James Arness James Arness (born James King Aurness; May 26, 1923 – June 3, 2011) was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the CBS television series ''Gunsmoke''. Arness has the distinction of having played the ...

. He guest-starred in such series as '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', '' Diagnosis: Murder'', ''

L.A. Law ''L.A. Law'' is an American legal drama television series that ran for eight seasons on NBC, from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of a Los ...

'', '' Matlock'', ''

Moonlighting Moonlighting may refer to: * Side job A side job, also informally called a side hustle or side gig, is an additional job that a person takes in addition to their primary job in order to supplement their income. Side jobs may be done out of nec ...

'', ''

M*A*S*H ''M*A*S*H'' (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) is an American media franchise consisting of a series of novels, a film, several television series, plays, and other properties, and based on the semi-autobiographical fiction of Richard Hooker. Th ...

'', ''

Eischied ''Eischied'' (, ) is an American crime drama television series that aired on NBC from September 21, 1979, to July 1, 1980. It was based on the starring character from the 1978 miniseries ''To Kill a Cop'', which was based on the 1976 novel by R ...

'', multiple characters on '' Murder, She Wrote'', a recurring role on ''

Cagney & Lacey ''Cagney & Lacey'' is an American police procedural drama television series that aired on the CBS television network for seven seasons from March 25, 1982, to May 16, 1988. The show is about two New York City police detectives who lead very di ...

'', and the role of the young Doctor Auschlander in 1945 in flashbacks on '' St. Elsewhere''. His film appearances have included roles in '' True Grit: A Further Adventure'' (1978), ''

First Monday in October ''First Monday in October'' is a 1978 play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. The title refers to the day on which the United States Supreme Court traditionally convenes following its summer recess. Productions The play premiered on Broadway ...

'' (1981), '' The Getaway'' (1994), '' A Perry Mason Mystery:The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle'' (1994), and '' Against the Law'' (1997).

References

External links

* * 1951 births Living people American male film actors American male television actors Male actors from New York (state) People from Mount Kisco, New York {{US-tv-actor-1950s-stub