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James Anderson (American actor)

James O. Anderson Jr.[citation needed] (July 13, 1921 – September 14, 1969), sometimes billed as Kyle James and known as Buddy Anderson, was an American television and film actor of the 1950s and 1960s. He is probably best known for his role as Bob E. Lee Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).

Early life

Anderson was born to J. O. Anderson and his wife. His sister was Mary Anderson, who also became an actor.[1]

In 1938, while attending Shades-Cahaba High School, he played halfback on the football team.[2] He later studied acting for a year at the University of Alabama.[3]

Career

After leaving Alabama for Los Angeles, Anderson trained under Max Reinhardt for six months. While there, he starred in the play Zero Hour,[3] written by George Sklar and Albert Maltz.[4] Weeks after starring in the play, in November 1940, Anderson signed a contract with Warner Bros.[3]

He made more than 120 appearances, mostly in television and several films between 1941 and 1969. He made three guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of murder victim Frank Anderson in the 1958 episode, "The Case of the Pint-Sized Client," and murder victim Stanley Piper in the 1960 episode, "The Case of the Ill-Fated Faker." He appeared in a number of westerns throughout his career, often playing a gun-for-hire or outlaw...including "Sanctuary at Crystal Springs", the controversial 1963 episode of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series The Dakotas, that led to the series' cancellation, where he played the main antagonist.[citation needed]. He also appeared on Gunsmoke in 1963, playing outlaw named “Harmon” in S12E7’s “The Wrong Man”. That same year he guest starred on Alfred Hitchcock Presents in the 1963 episode “Last Seen Wearing Blue Jeans” (S1E28).

Death

On September 14, 1969 in Billings, Montana, Anderson died suddenly while on location for Little Big Man. He was survived by his mother and sister.[5][6]

Legacy

In 2010, Mary Badham, who starred alongside Anderson in To Kill a Mockingbird, praised his method acting style: "[W]hen he walked on the set, he was that character. He gave everybody the willies and we were all intimidated by him".[7]

Filmography

Television

References

  1. ^ Croft, Lulu (April 10, 1957). "Birmingham star, hubby stop here between dates". The Birmingham News. p. 5. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Hollywood Star Buys Own Ducat to Game". The Birmingham News. October 19, 1941. p. 19. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Bebe Anderson's Brother Buddy Goes Into Movies; Warner Bros. Sign Him". The Birmingham Post. November 25, 1940. p. 5. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "'Zero Hour' Due Tonight". Los Angeles Times. November 8, 1940. p. 17. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "Obituaries: James Anderson". Variety. October 1, 1969. p. 79. ProQuest 1014854140. James Anderson, age unreported, screen actor, died suddenly Sept. 14 in Billings, Montana while on location for Cinema Center Films' 'Little Big Man.' Among credits were 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and 'Take the Money and Run.' Mother survives.
  6. ^ Noland, Claire (April 8, 2014). "OBITUARIES; MARY ANDERSON, 1918 - 2014; Actress had role in 'Gone With the Wind'". Los Angeles Times. p. AA5. ProQuest 1513289253. Her brother, James, became an actor who specialized in westerns. He died in 1969.
  7. ^ Rotstein, Gary (July 4, 2010). "Scout recalls bonding with actors on the set". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. E4. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  8. ^ Caldwell, Lily May (August 3, 1951). "Buddy Anderson steals show from vet actor". The Birmingham News. p. 36. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Nickel, John (2004). "Disabling African American Men: Liberalism and Race Message Films". Cinema Journal. 44 (1): 40. ISSN 0009-7101. Retrieved February 5, 2024.

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