Occupation Actor Children Jessica Lee Noble Education Actors Studio | Role Actor Name James Noble | |
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Spouse Carolyn Coates (m. 1956–2005) Movies and TV shows Similar People Inga Swenson, Caroline McWilliams, Missy Gold, Robert Guillaume, Ethan Phillips | ||
James noble 1922 2016
James Wilkes Noble (March 5, 1922 – March 28, 2016) was an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the sweet-natured, naive governor on ABC's 1979–86 sitcom Benson.
Contents
Life and career
Noble was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Lois Frances (née Wilkes) and Ralph Byrne Noble. He studied acting and engineering at Southern Methodist University before leaving to serve in the United States Navy during World War II.
Returning from the war, Noble studied acting under Lee Strasberg and made appearances in Broadway theatre, and his television career started in soap operas, such as The Brighter Day, As the World Turns, The Doctors and A World Apart. His big screen roles included: Reverend John Witherspoon in the film version of the Broadway musical 1776 (1972); assorted roles as doctors in films such as One Summer Love (1976), 10 (1979) and Promises in the Dark (1979); Kaufman, the president's chief of staff, in Being There (1979); Father O'Flanagan in the comedy sequel Airplane II: The Sequel (1982); Sinclair in A Tiger's Tale (1987); Chief Wilkins in the comedy Paramedics (1988) and Dr. Bailey in Chances Are (1989).
In 2005, he co-founded Open the Gate Pictures with actress Colleen Murphy, and produced and starred in the short film Glacier Bay which won several awards at film festivals in the United States. Noble played the live action version of Archie Comics character Hiram Lodge in the movie, Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again (1990).
Personal life
Noble was married to actress Carolyn Coates from 1956 until her death in 2005. They had one child, a daughter.
Noble had lived with his family in Leonia, New Jersey before moving to California in 1980.
Noble died on March 28, 2016, twenty-three days after his 94th birthday, in Connecticut. A spokesman for Noble's family said that the actor had suffered a stroke the week before his death.
Filmography
Actor
2011
Consequential Lies (Short) as
Father Easter
2011
Fake as
Mssr. Rousseau
2006
Glacier Bay (Short) as
Artie
1995
Bang as
Rooftop Dealer
1993
Harry (TV Series) as
Chapel
- Episode #1.1 (1993) - Chapel
1993
Peak Practice (TV Series) as
Mr. Naughton
- Outsiders (1993) - Mr. Naughton
1991
Law & Order (TV Series) as
Judge Nelson Kurland
- God Bless the Child (1991) - Judge Nelson Kurland
1990
Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again (TV Movie) as
Mr. Hyrum Lodge
1989
Perfect Strangers (TV Series) as
Walter Appleton
- Father Knows Best?: Part 2 (1989) - Walter Appleton
- Father Knows Best?: Part 1 (1989) - Walter Appleton
1989
Chances Are as
Dr. Bailey
1988
The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) as
Dr. Gilmore Blount
- The Absent-Minded Professor: Trading Places (1989) - Dr. Gilmore Blount
- The Absent-Minded Professor (1988) - Dr. Gilmore Blount
1989
Father Dowling Mysteries (TV Series) as
Judge Karnes
- What Do You Call a Call Girl Mystery (1989) - Judge Karnes
1988
First Impressions (TV Series) as
Raymond Voss
- The Selling of Frank (1988) - Raymond Voss
- The Audition (1988) - Raymond Voss
- Poor Clara (1988) - Raymond Voss
- On His Own (1988) - Raymond Voss
- The Public Trust (1988) - Raymond Voss
- Raymond vs. the Computer (1988) - Raymond Voss
- Frank's Date (1988) - Raymond Voss
- Pilot (1988) - Raymond Voss
1988
Paramedics as
Chief Wilkins
1983
ABC Afterschool Specials (TV Series) as
Max Smiley / Dr. Edwards
- The Day My Kid Went Punk (1987) - Max Smiley
- The Woman Who Willed a Miracle (1983) - Dr. Edwards
1987
Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam (TV Movie) as
Leonard Weeks
1987
You Talkin' to Me? as
Peter Archer
1987
A Tiger's Tale as
Sinclair
1987
Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) as
Paul Carlisle
- No Accounting for Murder (1987) - Paul Carlisle
1987
Deadly Deception (TV Movie) as
Ed Shoat
1987
Scarecrow and Mrs. King (TV Series) as
Harry Beaumont
- Any Number Can Play (1987) - Harry Beaumont
1986
When the Bough Breaks (TV Movie) as
Dr. Warren Towle
1979
Benson (TV Series) as
Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- And the Winner Is- (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Friends and Enemies (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Three on a Mismatch (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Hi, Society (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Pardon Me (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Bucks Stop Here (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Hat and the Ring (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Reel Murder: Part 2 (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Reel Murder: Part 1 (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Parade Rest (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Summer of Discontent (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Secret Love (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Last Man on Earth (1986) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Two Boys and Their Dog (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Flight of the Dodo: Part 2 (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Flight of the Dodo: Part 1 (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- $1,000,000 an Hour (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- We Spy (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Stranger (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Uncle Jack (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Love and Politics (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Benson the Hero (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Jung at Heart (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Bookburner (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Katie's Cousin (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Dubois: Portrait of a Politician (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Scenario (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Mid-life Cowboy (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Oval Office (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Solid Gold (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Making Change (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Take This Job and Love It (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- On the Road (1985) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Home for Christmas (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Make War, Not Love (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Reunion (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Taking It to the Max (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Double Date (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Hello, We Must Be Going (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Made in Hong Kong: Part 2 (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Made in Hong Kong: Part 1 (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Election (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Campaign (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Let's Get Physical (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Inheritance (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Scandal (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Let's Play Doctor (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Little Hotel That Could (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Endicott Dynasty (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- We Deliver (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Beauty and the Beef (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Take My Life, Please (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Embarrassing Moments (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- In All the Wrong Places (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Too Pooped to Pip (1984) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- A Real Gone Daddy (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Governor's Brain Is Missing (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Unlisted Love (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Labor Pains (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Katie's Cookies (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- You Can't Give It Away (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- It Ain't Sheik (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Down the Drain (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Full Court Press (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Who's Arnold? (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- God, I Need This Job (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Human Element (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Band of Gold (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Love in a Funny Phase (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- A View from the Roof (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Half-Court Trap (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Kraus Sings the Blues (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Calamity Kraus (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Family Tree (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Boys Night Out (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Royal Painting (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Katie's Boyfriend (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Close Encounters on the Third Hole (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Honeymooners (1983) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Pen Pal (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Mary and Her Lambs (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Crimes of the Hearth (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Benson's New Home (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Benson's Army Reunion (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Teacher's Pest (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Quest for Retire (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Thy Brother's Keeper (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- What a Revoltin' Development (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Death in a Funny Position: Part 2 (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Death in a Funny Position: Part 1 (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Black Tuesday (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Lumber Mill (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Party's Over (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Teed Off (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- In the Red (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Pete the Hero (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Getting Even (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Clayton's Condo (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Katie's Romance (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Street Gangs (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Sweet Irish Rose (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Kraus's Deadly Mistake (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Stocks & Options (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Kraus Falls in Love (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Once in a Blue Moon (1982) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Rainbow's End (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Stress (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Lobbyist (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Double Exposure (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Sit-In (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Grass Ain't Greener (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Benson's Appointment (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Lifesaver (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- All Shook Up (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Governor's House Call (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Handwriting on the Wall (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Homework (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Easy Kid Stuff (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Clayton, Go Home (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- No Sad Songs (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Rivals (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Marcy's Wedding (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Fireside Chat (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Big Buddy (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Apartment (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Old School Ties (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- In High Places (1981) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Benson's Groupie (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Citizen Kraus (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- First Lady (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Masquerade (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Fool's Gold (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Benson in the Hospital (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Thick as Thieves (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Marcy's Vacation (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Army Wants You (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Takin' It to the Streets (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Power Play (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Old Man Gatlin' (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Cold Storage (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Checkmate (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Kraus Affair (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Bugging the Governor (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Chain of Command (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Just Friends (1980) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- One Strike, You're Out (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Taylor's Bid (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Ghost Story (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- War Stories (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Don't Quote Me (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Jessica (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Snowbound (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The Layoff (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Conflict of Interest (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Benson in Love (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- The President's Double (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Trust Me (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Pilot (1979) - Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
1985
Faerie Tale Theatre (TV Series) as
King Rupert III
- Cinderella (1985) - King Rupert III
1981
The Love Boat (TV Series) as
Malcolm Bosworth / Dr. Elliot Norton / Martin 'Blinky' Corell
- Ace Meets the Champ/Why Justin Can't Read/Call Me a Doctor (1984) - Malcolm Bosworth
- Doc's Big Case/Senior Sinners/A Booming Romance (1983) - Dr. Elliot Norton
- Country Blues/Daddy's Little Girl/Jackpot (1981) - Martin 'Blinky' Corell
1983
Benson: The U.S. Goes to Market as
Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
1983
Dempsey (TV Movie) as
Gavin McNab
1982
Airplane II: The Sequel as
Father O'Flanagan
1982
Fantasy Island (TV Series) as
Bradford
- Roller Derby Dolls/Thanks a Million (1982) - Bradford
1982
This Is Kate Bennett... (TV Movie) as
Tom Fairmont
1980
Baby Comes Home (TV Movie) as
Dr. Elliott Losen
1979
Being There as
Kaufman
1979
Promises in the Dark as
Dr. Blankenship
1979
10 as
Dr. Miles
1979
Hart to Hart (TV Series) as
Dr. Metz
- Hart to Hart (1979) - Dr. Metz
1978
Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II (TV Movie) as
Ed
1978
Summer of My German Soldier (TV Movie) as
Pierce
1978
Starsky and Hutch (TV Series) as
Treasury Agent Kendall
- Moonshine (1978) - Treasury Agent Kendall
1978
Breaking Up (TV Movie) as
Haberle
1977
Equal Justice Under Law (TV Movie) as
Thomas Jefferson
1977
The Andros Targets (TV Series) as
Tierney
- Requiem for a Stolen Child: Part 2 (1977) - Tierney
- Requiem for a Stolen Child: Part 1 (1977)
1976
One Life to Live (TV Series) as
Dr. Morris
- A day after the birth of Joe & Vikki's new baby (1976) - Dr. Morris
1976
Death Play as
Norman
1976
Dragonfly as
Dr. Lee
1976
The Adams Chronicles (TV Mini Series) as
Jonathan Sewall
- Chapter I: John Adams, Lawyer (1976) - Jonathan Sewall
1974
McCloud (TV Series) as
Harbor Patrolman Harris
- The Barefoot Girls of Bleecker Street (1974) - Harbor Patrolman Harris (uncredited)
1974
Who? as
General Deptford
1972
1776 as
Rev. John Witherspoon (NJ)
1971
Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me as
Father Pettis
1971
A World Apart (TV Series) as
Dr. Edward Sims
- Episode #1.322 (1971) - Dr. Edward Sims
- Episode #1.314 (1971) - Dr. Edward Sims (credit only)
1971
The Sporting Club as
Canon Pritchard
1969
New York Television Theatre (TV Series)
- Hard Travelin' (1969)
1967
N.Y.P.D. (TV Series) as
Fingerprint Detective / Witness / The Man
- Face on the Dart Board (1969) - Fingerprint Detective
- The Night Watch (1969) - Witness
- The Screaming Woman (1967) - The Man
1968
What's So Bad About Feeling Good? as
Board Member (uncredited)
1967
The Doctors (TV Series) as
Dr. Bill Winters
1967
Coronet Blue (TV Series) as
Lt. Stevens
- A Time to Be Born (1967) - Lt. Stevens
1966
Directions (TV Series) as
Ralph Waldp Emerson
- The Wilderness of Walden (1966) - Ralph Waldp Emerson
1964
Another World (TV Series) as
Rev. Harris (1977)
1964
The Doctors and the Nurses (TV Series) as
Mr. Teller
- Nurse Is a Feminine Noun (1964) - Mr. Teller
1963
The Defenders (TV Series) as
Ron Mayberry
- Old Lady Ironsides (1963) - Ron Mayberry
1963
East Side/West Side (TV Series) as
Tony Morgan
- My Child on Monday Morning (1963) - Tony Morgan
1956
As the World Turns (TV Series) as
Donald 'Don' Hughes #3 (1962)
1956
The Edge of Night (TV Series) as
Vic Price #1 (1964)
1954
The Brighter Day (TV Series) as
Grayling Dennis #2 (1959-1960)
1952
Studio One (TV Series) as
Edward Goring
- They Came to Baghdad (1952) - Edward Goring
1950
Actor's Studio (TV Series)
- The Good Companions (1950)
Producer
2010
Frederick Douglass: Pathway from Slavery to Freedom (TV Movie) (associate producer)
2006
Glacier Bay (Short) (producer)
Self
1985
Night of 100 Stars II (TV Special) as
Self
1983
The Love Boat Fall Preview Special (TV Special) as
Self
1982
The 34th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Presenter
1979
All-Star Family Feud Special (TV Series) as
Self - Celebrity Contestant
- Special #8: Dallas vs. Benson; WKRP vs. Angie (1980) - Self - Celebrity Contestant
- Special #5: One Day at a Time vs. Benson; Dallas vs. Eight is Enough (1979) - Self - Celebrity Contestant
References
James Noble (actor) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA