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.
Star 80
(Roy)
Murphy's Law
(Ed Reineke)
The Hidden
(Ferrari Salesman)
Fade to Black
(Capt. M.L. Gallagher)
Future Cop
(Paterno)
Killer's Delight
(Sgt. Vince De Carlo)
I Escaped from Devil's Island
(Dazzas)
The Man from Independence
(Stranger)
Moment by Moment
(Dan Santini)
Contract on Cherry Street
(Al Palmini / Arnold Palmer)
The Renegades
(Lt. Joe Marciano)
Our Family Business
(Frank)
Love Is Not Enough
(Harry Foreman)
One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
(Jimmy Karalla)
The Take
(Benedetto)
Norma Rae
(George Benson)
Lethal Woman
(Colonel Jerry Maxim)
Stunts
(Alvin Blake)
The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play
(Capt. Doug Chapman)
Ben
(Ed)
The Red-Light Sting
(Renny Lucas)
Feds
(Sperry)
Sunset Limousine
(Angel)
Cry Rape
(Det. Kroger)
Honky Tonk
(Blackie)
Cat Ballou
(Spider Levinsky)
The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...
(Capt. Doug Chapman)
First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington
(George Washington)
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story
(Lazzeri)
Magnum, P.I.
The Rockford Files
(Lt. Doug Chapman)
The Rookies
T. J. Hooker
(Vincent Hazzard / George Laszlo)
L.A. Law
(Paul Viola)
The A-Team
(Jimmy Durkee)
Starsky & Hutch
The F.B.I.
(Sam Kehoe)
Baywatch Nights
(Murray)
Knight Rider
(D.G. Grebs)
Quincy, M.E.
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
(Hood)
The Streets of San Francisco
Hawkins
(Andy Tyler)
Naked City
(Mark Andrew)
Knots Landing
(Lieutenant Gilbert Garcia)
Kojak
(Det. Geno Alessi)
Silk Stalkings
Hart to Hart
Gunsmoke
(Ivers)
Wonder Woman
(George)
Cannon
Another World
The Hogan Family
The Fall Guy
Vega$
Police Story
S.W.A.T.
Sword of Justice
City of Angels
Here's Boomer
Matt Houston
Dark Justice
Good Heavens
The Rifleman
Spencer's Pilots
Hell Town
The Renegades
(Lt. Marciano)
Harris and Company
Ghost Story
(Rick)
Hunter
The Eddie Capra Mysteries
Partners in Crime
CHiPs
The F.B.I.
(Little Julio)
Adam-12
(Antonio Minetti)
Kojak
(Capt. Henry 'Hank' Rosseau)
The Rockford Files
(Burt Stryker)
Finder of Lost Loves
(Jordan Hollis)
Ironside
(Mike Purcell)
Barnaby Jones
(Nick Gorman)
Barnaby Jones
(Burt Logan)