Biography for
James Franciscus More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

31 January 1934, Clayton, Missouri, USA

Date of Death

8 July 1991, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (emphysema)

Birth Name

James Grover Franciscus

Nickname

Jimmy
Goey

Height

5' 10½" (1.79 m)

Mini Biography

James Grover Franciscus graduated magna cum laude from Yale University in 1957 with a B.A. in English and theater. His father, John Allen Franciscus, was a pilot killed in action during WWII. His mother was named Loraine (nee Grover) and he had one sibling, a brother named John. Mr. Franciscus is best known for his work in television, including "Naked City" (1958), "The Investigators" (1961), "Mr. Novak" (1963) and "Longstreet" (1971). He also made numerous guest appearances in other popular television programs, starred in numerous television movies, and appeared in numerous feature films. In the mid 1980s, he became dissatisfied with the roles offered to him and turned his attention to screen writing. As co-founder of Omnibus Productions, he produced many classic films, such as Heidi (1968) (TV), Jane Eyre (1970) (TV), "David Copperfield" (1986), Kidnapped (1987), and The Red Pony (1973) (TV). An avid tennis player, he founded the James Franciscus Celebrity Tennis Tournament in the mid 1970s to raise money for multiple sclerosis research and victims (his mother suffered from this disease). He also enjoyed sky diving and scuba diving. He married Kathleen 'Kitty' Wellman, daughter of director William A. Wellman, on March 28, 1960, and fathered four daughters (Jamie, Kellie, Corie and Jolie). A devoted family man, his contracts often stipulated that he not be required to work past 6:00 pm. After his divorce from Wellman, he married second wife Carla in 1980 and continued to live on his two acre North Hollywood estate until his death.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous

Spouse

Carla Ankney Franciscus	(1980 - 8 July 1991) (his death)
Kathleen 'Kitty' Wellman	(28 March 1960 - 21 February 1979) (divorced) 4 children

Trivia

Daughter born on 2 January 1975

Partners with Frederick H. Brogger in Omnibus Productions (founded in 1968).

Was the first choice to play Dr. Kildare in the 1961 TV series, but he was committed to another series (that never materialized) so the producers went with Richard Chamberlain.

In 1959 Norman Lear produced a pilot for a situation comedy called "Band of Gold" in which James and Suzanne Pleshette played a different couple each week. The program was considered too "experimental" and was never broadcast.

Ex-brother-in-law of William Wellman Jr..

A student under Jun Fan (Bruce) Lee, at his dojo of Chinese Gung Fu in California.

Twice portrayed President John F. Kennedy, or a character directly based on him: The Greek Tycoon (1978) and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (1981) (TV).

Ex-uncle-in-law of Cathy Wellman.

Was cast as Brent in Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) because of his resemblance to Charlton Heston, star of Planet of the Apes (1968).

Fathered four daughters with Kathleen 'Kitty' Wellman (Jamie, Kellie, Corie and Jolie).

Ex-son-in-law of William A. Wellman.