James Franciscus, vintage Hollywood beefcake
The tall, fit and beautiful blond haired actor was a mostly tv actor but did a few B-films too. He was mostly known for his roles in these six television series: Mr. Novak, Naked City , The Investigators, Longstreet, Doc Elliott, and Hunter. He also did many guest spots and tv movies. In the 1980s he became upset by the lack of roles offered to him so he started working in screen writing.
He was born in Clayton, Missouri in 1934. He graduated from Yale University, where he graduated magna cum laude.
He dated Jane Fonda in 1956. In 1960 he married his first wife, Kitty Wellman, and had four kids with her. They later divorced, and in 1980 he married Carla Ankney, who he remained married to until he died from emphysema in 1991 at 57 years old.
| by Anonymous | reply 30 | October 28, 2023 11:00 PM
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With his first wife, Kitty, in their backyard.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | October 28, 2023 2:26 AM
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Beautiful man but he looked and acted like discount Robert Redford.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | October 28, 2023 2:31 AM
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Yes. He was a heavy and longtime smoker. As many were then
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | October 28, 2023 2:44 AM
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Gorgeous guy. He must have smoked like a chimney to die that young.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | October 28, 2023 2:47 AM
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He was gorgeous. Any sizemeat verificatia? Or perhaps a Burt Reynolds / Lyle Waggoner style Playgirl spread showing all his goodies...except the most important and delicious one?
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | October 28, 2023 2:47 AM
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He was very intelligent and hard working, as well as very vain. I remember an actress who worked with him in the 60s saying years later she never met a man who spent as much time in front of a mirror than him. He was always in front of a mirror looking at his own reflection.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | October 28, 2023 2:49 AM
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He was a very heavy smoker and started from a young age. But everyone’s bodies react differently to smoking.
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | October 28, 2023 2:50 AM
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R13 NOOOOO. This was a Yale graduate who loved acting and literature. I don’t think he would go the Wagner or Reynolds route. When the roles were no longer offered he didn’t resort to what they did, he used his brain and started screenwriting.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | October 28, 2023 2:51 AM
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He was great in “Beneath the Planet of the Apes”. Fortunately, the action figure/gay totem of his loin cloth clad character, Brent, was manufactured for gaylings and collectors to enjoy. Wasn’t he also the Finder of Lost Loves?
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | October 28, 2023 2:52 AM
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An interview from when he starred as JFK.
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | October 28, 2023 2:58 AM
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Mr. Novak intro, starring yours truly.
| by Anonymous | reply 19 | October 28, 2023 3:01 AM
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The Dream Makers, TV movie of the week from 1975 (full movie)
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | October 28, 2023 3:04 AM
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Mr. Novak was my first TV crush as a young gayling. What a dreamboat!
| by Anonymous | reply 22 | October 28, 2023 3:07 AM
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R22 why does your age keep changing? Pick an age and stick with it if you’re gonna lie.
| by Anonymous | reply 23 | October 28, 2023 3:09 AM
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“Youngblood Hawke” (1964) original trailer
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | October 28, 2023 3:09 AM
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He bore a strong resemblance to Simon MacCorkindale, neither of them had great careers
You really don’t see actors who look like this anymore.
| by Anonymous | reply 25 | October 28, 2023 3:12 AM
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Outside of the blonde hair they look nothing alike r25
| by Anonymous | reply 26 | October 28, 2023 3:13 AM
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He was one gorgeous "Youngblood Hawke!" Limited, but sincere. A great cast backs up James in this highly entertaining, highly campy Delmer Daves melodrama. My take here...
| by Anonymous | reply 27 | October 28, 2023 3:17 AM
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I never missed an episode of Mr Novak, same with Dr Kildaire.
| by Anonymous | reply 28 | October 28, 2023 3:18 AM
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R27 you keep saying limited but he wasn’t that bad and had TONS of charisma and charm on screen.
| by Anonymous | reply 29 | October 28, 2023 3:20 AM
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One of the great beauties of the golden age of tv
| by Anonymous | reply 30 | October 28, 2023 11:00 PM
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