James Brolin | |
|---|---|
 Brolin in 1974 | |
| Born | Craig Kenneth Bruderlin (1940-07-18)July 18, 1940 (age 84) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Other names |
|
| Education | University High School |
| Alma mater | Santa Monica City College University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1960–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3, includingJosh |
| Relatives | Eden Brolin (granddaughter) |
| Awards | Hollywood Walk of Fame |
Craig Kenneth Bruderlin (born July 18, 1940),[1] known professionally asJames Brolin, is an American actor. Brolin has won twoGolden Globes and anEmmy. He received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame on August 27, 1998. Brolin is the father of actorJosh Brolin and the husband ofBarbra Streisand.
Brolin is best known for his TV roles such as Steven Kiley onMarcus Welby, M.D.(1969–1976), Peter McDermott onHotel (1983–1988), John Short onLife in Pieces (2015–2019), and the Narrator onSweet Tooth and his film roles such as Sgt. Jerome K. Weber inSkyjacked (1972), John Blane inWestworld (1973), General Ralph Landry inTraffic (2000),[2] Jack Barnes inCatch Me If You Can (2002), andEmperor Zurg in the 2022Toy Story spin-off filmLightyear.
Brolin was born Craig Kenneth Bruderlin inWestwood Village, Los Angeles, California.[3][4] The eldest of two brothers and two sisters, he is the son of Helen Sue (née Mansur) (1916–2014), a housewife, and Henry Hurst Bruderlin (1911–2002), a building contractor.[5] As a young child, Brolin was interested in animals and in model aeroplanes, which he began building and flying when he was 10. As a teenaged filmgoer in the mid-1950s, Brolin was particularly fascinated with actorJames Dean, and he began shooting8 mm films.[3] When his parents invited a director over to his family's house for dinner before auditioning, Brolin met another fellow actor and classmate,Ryan O'Neal, who was about a year younger than Brolin. The two clicked and later enrolled inUniversity High School located inWest Los Angeles. However, Brolin's own acting exposed his stifling shyness. His assurance grew when O'Neal invited him to a casting agency. Brolin graduated from high school in 1958, and his family was already encouraging him to become an actor like O'Neal.[citation needed]
Brolin attendedSanta Monica City College and studied drama at theUniversity of California Los Angeles before signing a contract with20th Century Fox in 1960. At Fox, he started out as a contract player inSandra Dee movies.[6] Brolin appeared on an episode ofBus Stop in 1961. The part led to parts in other television productions such asVoyage to the Bottom of the Sea;Margie;Love, American Style;Twelve O'Clock High; andThe Long, Hot Summer. He made three guest appearances on the popular 1960s seriesBatman, alongsideAdam West andBurt Ward, as well as roles inThe Virginian, andOwen Marshall: Counselor at Law alongsideArthur Hill andLee Majors. He also had a recurring role on the short-lived television seriesThe Monroes.
At age 20, Brolin changed his surname from "Bruderlin" to "Brolin" to become James Brolin ("Bruder" is the German word for "brother"). While in school struggling to make it big, he met actorClint Eastwood. Brolin also had small roles in several films includingTake Her, She's Mine (1963),Dear Brigitte (1965),Von Ryan's Express (1965), andFantastic Voyage (1966). The following year, his first big role was inThe Cape Town Affair (1967), but it did not receive any success at the box office. Brolin was ultimately fired by 20th Century Fox.In 1969, he co-starred in the TV seriesMarcus Welby, M.D., portraying a doctor.
In the 1970s, Brolin was 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and began appearing in leading roles in films, includingSkyjacked (1972)[7] andWestworld (1973). By the mid-1970s, he was a regular leading man in films, starring inGable and Lombard (1976),The Car (1977),Capricorn One (1978, in which he costarred withElliott Gould, Streisand's ex-husband),The Amityville Horror (1979),Night of the Juggler (1980), andHigh Risk (1981). WhenRoger Moore expressed his desire to vacate the role ofJames Bond, Brolin undertook screen tests to replace him inOctopussy (1983). It has been reported that not only were these successful, but Brolin was about to move to London to begin work on the film when the producers persuaded Moore to continue.[8]
In 1985, Brolin parodied his near-hiring asJames Bond in the filmPee-wee's Big Adventure. In a film within the film, Brolin merged the characters of Bond andPee-wee Herman, the "real" version of whom was played byPaul Reubens. He is referred to as "PW" and the role of Pee-wee's girlfriend "Dottie" is played byMorgan Fairchild.
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While contracted to Fox, Brolin had three small roles on the television seriesBatman, in the episodes "The Cat and the Fiddle", "The Catwoman Goeth", and "Ring Around the Riddler".
In 1968, Brolin transferred toUniversal Studios, where he auditioned for a co-starring role opposite seasoned actorRobert Young in the popularmedicaldramaMarcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976). The series was one of the top-rated television shows of the day. Brolin became widely known for his portrayal of youthful, skilled assistant physician Dr. Steven Kiley. The chemistry between Young & Brolin clicked, and even came to attract young women for its medical interest throughout the show's run. In its first season in 1970, Brolin won theEmmy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role and was subsequently nominated thrice more. He was also nominated forGolden Globes three times for Best Supporting Actor and won twice between 1971 and 1973. Brolin also starred in the television filmsShort Walk to Daylight (1972) andTrapped (1973). He and his first wife Jane also appeared on several episodes of the 1970s game showTattletales.
In 1983, Brolin returned to television to star in another series and teamed with producerAaron Spelling'sprime-timesoap opera,Hotel, forABC.[9] OnHotel, Brolin played Peter McDermott, a hotel manager.[10]
ForHotel, Brolin was nominated twice forGolden Globes between 1983 and 1984 for Best Performance By an Actor in a TV Series but lost both times. He would also eventually serve as a director on the show. On one episode ofHotel, Brolin invited his future wifeJan Smithers to guest-star on the show as the writers suggested that they develop a storyline for them, as Brolin was going through a difficult divorce at the time. By 1988, after five seasons,Hotel was about to close its doors for good and the show was cancelled. That same year, his co-star, Nathan Cook had died of an allergic reaction to penicillin, and Brolin along with the rest of the cast attended Cook's funeral.
ActressConnie Sellecca said of Brolin's on-screen chemistry with her onHotel, "I remember instantly feeling comfortable with Jim, and that's the thing that Jim has as to women, most women, they need to feel safe, and Jim gets that." Sellecca also said, "To have him in a different role and have that confidence, it was a wonderful experience." After the show's cancellation, Sellecca continues to be good friends with Brolin. In 1992, her mentor was in attendance at her wedding toJohn Tesh.
As the new decade approached, Brolin starred in bothAngel Falls forCBS andExtreme forABC, although neither matched the popularity of his earlier series.
In 1997, Brolin's luck changed with the syndicated television seriesPensacola: Wings of Gold. He played the role of Lt. Col. Bill "Raven" Kelly, whose job was to teach young Marines in a special unit, before being promoted to work with a group of talented Marine fighter pilots. Brolin served as an executive producer and director on the series. However, the show was cancelled in 2000 after 66 episodes due to low ratings.
In 1997, Brolin also hostedBeyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, a television series that shows five stories which have to do with the paranormal and supernatural.Jonathan Frakes took his place after the first season of the show. That same year, Brolin guest-starred onRoseanne. In Part 1 ("Lanford's Elite"), Roseanne & Jackie go to a luncheon at the Lanford Country Club, where they meet the son of their old boss Edgar Wellman Jr. (Brolin) of the Wellman Plastics factory. It appears that the factory is in need of financial help and Roseanne's money could save the factory. In Part 2 ("Some Enchanted Merger"), once the Wellman Plastics buyout is completed, Roseanne is at a loss for what to do when a mutual attraction springs between herself and Wellman.
Brolin has had a number of supporting roles in major cinema releases since 2000. These include (amongst others) the role of General Ralph Landry, outgoing director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy inSteven Soderbergh's Oscar-winningTraffic (2000); as Jack Barnes in Steven Spielberg'sCatch Me If You Can (2002); a minor role in the 2003 comedyA Guy Thing; as philandering husband Robert Hatch in the 2006 comedyThe Alibi (released in the UK asLies and Alibis); as Jack Jennings in the 2007 filmThe American Standards; as TV network anchor Frank Harris in Richard Shepard'sThe Hunting Party (2007); and as Brian inJoel Hopkins' 2008 filmLast Chance Harvey with Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman.
In 2002, Brolin played GovernorRobert Ritchie of Florida, the Republican opponent of PresidentJed Bartlet, on the TV seriesThe West Wing.
In late 2003, Brolin portrayedRonald Reagan in the television filmThe Reagans. The film was originally meant to air on CBS, but after creative differences, scripts controversies, and rising costs, CBS passed on the film, and it aired on cable channelShowtime, also owned byViacom. The role earned Brolin his fifthEmmy Award nomination, as well as his fifthGolden Globe nomination.
In 2005, Brolin guest starred on the TV seriesMonk as casino owner Daniel Thorn. In 2006, Brolin appeared in theA&E Network filmWedding Wars, playing an anti-gay marriage governor. In 2008, Brolin guest starred onLaw & Order: SVU as astronaut Col. Dick Finley. The same year, Brolin also starred in the lead role in the Sci-Fi Channel filmLost City Raiders.
Brolin appeared in the 2009 comedy filmThe Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard. He also appeared in a 2009 episode ofPsych, titled "High Noon-ish", where Brolin played the sheriff of a tourist-attracting "Wild West" town. The episode was in part a parody of the 1973 filmWestworld, in which he had starred.
Brolin has playedRichard Castle's mysterious father in two episodes of ABC'sCastle, in 2013 and 2014.[11] He appeared in the NBC sitcomCommunity as William Winger, Jeff Winger's estranged father.
From 2015 until 2019, Brolin played the role of John, the family patriarch, in the CBS comedyLife in Pieces.[12]
In his first role in an animated film, Brolin portrayedEmperor Zurg in the 2022Toy Story spin-off filmLightyear.
Brolin has been married three times and has three children.
In 1966, Brolin married Jane Cameron Agee, a wildlife activist and aspiring actress atTwentieth Century Fox, 12 days after they first met.[13] The couple had their first child,Josh, in 1968, and a second child in 1972. They were divorced in 1984. Jane died in a car accident on February 13, 1995, a day after Josh's 27th birthday.[14] Josh said on the October 14, 2008, episode of theLate Show with David Letterman that his parents met on the TV seriesBatman, where his mother was assistant casting director.[15]
In the late 1970s, Brolin started a brief but relatively successful career insports car racing. After success in several celebrity auto races, he entered the 197924 Hours Nürburgring as part of theAMC Spirit team. Brolin's two-car team, which included accomplished racerLyn St. James, finished both first and second in class.[16][17]
In 1985, Brolin met actressJan Smithers on the set ofHotel, and they married in 1986. The couple had a daughter in 1987. Smithers filed for divorce from Brolin in 1995.[citation needed]
In 1996, Brolin metBarbra Streisand through a friend, and they got married on July 1, 1998. The couple resides inMalibu, California. Brolin is the stepfather of Streisand's only child,Jason Gould.[citation needed] Streisand revealed in her 2023 memoirMy Name Is Barbra that a comment made by Brolin just after their marriage inspiredDiane Warren to write the songI Don't Want to Miss a Thing for the 1998 science fiction disaster filmArmageddon.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Take Her, She's Mine | Mel | Uncredited |
| 1965 | Dear Brigitte | Student | |
| Von Ryan's Express | Private Ames | ||
| 1966 | Our Man Flint | GALAXY technician | Uncredited |
| Fantastic Voyage | Technician | ||
| 1967 | The Cape Town Affair | Skip McCoy | |
| 1968 | The Boston Strangler | Detective Sgt. Phil Lisi | |
| 1972 | Skyjacked | Sgt. Jerome K. Weber | |
| 1973 | Westworld | John Blane | |
| 1976 | Gable and Lombard | Clark Gable | |
| 1977 | The Car | Captain Wade Parent | |
| Capricorn One | Colonel Charles Brubaker | ||
| 1979 | The Amityville Horror | George Lutz | |
| 1980 | Night of the Juggler | Sean Boyd | |
| 1981 | High Risk | Stone | |
| 1985 | Pee-wee's Big Adventure | P.W. Herman | Cameo appearance |
| 1987 | Deep Dark Secrets | Michael Wakefield | |
| 1989 | Voice of the Heart | Victor Mason | |
| 1990 | Bad Jim | B. D. Sweetman | |
| 1991 | Ted & Venus | Max Waters | |
| 1992 | Gas Food Lodging | John Evans | |
| 1993 | Paper Hearts | Henry | |
| 1994 | The Visual Bible: Acts | Simon Peter | |
| 1997 | My Brother's War | John Hall | Also director |
| 1998 | A Marriage of Convenience | Manson | |
| 2000 | Traffic | General Ralph Landry | |
| 2002 | Catch Me If You Can | Jack Barnes | |
| The Master of Disguise | Fabbrizio Disguisey | ||
| 2003 | A Guy Thing | Ken Cooper | |
| 2006 | The Alibi | Robert Hatch | |
| 2007 | The American Standards | Jack Jennings | |
| The Hunting Party | Franklin Harris | ||
| Bad Girl Island | Terry Bamba | ||
| 2008 | Last Chance Harvey | Brian | |
| 2009 | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard | Ben Selleck | |
| Bitter/Sweet | Calvert Jenkins | ||
| 2010 | Burlesque | Mr. Anderson | |
| Standing Ovation | Also producer | ||
| 2011 | Last Will | Det. Sloan | |
| A Fonder Heart | Craig | ||
| Love, Wedding, Marriage | Bradley | ||
| 2014 | Elsa & Fred | Max Hayes | |
| 2015 | Accidental Love | Senator Bramen | |
| The Steps | Ed | ||
| The 33 | Jeff Hart | ||
| Sisters | Bucky Ellis | ||
| 2019 | Being Rose | Max | |
| 2022 | Lightyear | Zurg / OldBuzz Lightyear | Voice |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Follow the Sun | Teenager | Episode: "The Highest Wall" |
| Bus Stop | Unknown | Episode: "The Resurrection of Annie Ahearn" | |
| 1962 | Margie | Freddie Coates | Episode: "Madame President" |
| 1964–1965 | Valentine's Day | Harry / Charles "Charlie" Falwell Jr. | Episodes: "The Seasick Sailor" and "Two Weeks with Pay" |
| 1965 | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Spencer | Episode: "The Saboteur" |
| The Patty Duke Show | Hank | Episode: "Patty Meets the Great Outdoors" | |
| Daniel Boone | Member of the Lost Colony, Mark | Episode: "The Lost Colony" | |
| 1966–1967 | The Monroes | Dalton Wales | 4 episodes |
| Batman | Various | 3 episodes | |
| 1969 | The Virginian | Ned Trumbull | Episode: "Crime Wave in Buffalo Springs" |
| 1969–1976 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Steven Kiley | 172 episodes |
| 1972 | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Zack Jamison | Episode: "Shine a Light on Me" |
| 1973 | Trapped | Chuck Brenner | Television movie |
| 1974 | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Steven Kiley | Episode: "I've Promised You a Father, Part 2" |
| 1978 | Steel Cowboy | Clayton Ray Dennis | Television movie |
| 1982 | The Ambush Murders | Paul Marshall | |
| Mae West | Jim Timony | ||
| 1983 | White Water Rebels | Mike McKay | |
| Cowboy | Ward McNally | ||
| 1983–1988 | Hotel | Peter McDermott | 115 episodes |
| 1986–1987 | Hold the Dream | Ross Nelson | TV mini series |
| 1989 | Finish Line | Martin Shrevelow | Television movie |
| 1990 | Nightmare on the 13th Floor | Alan Lanier | |
| The Earth Day Special | Doctor | Television special | |
| 1991 | And the Sea Will Tell | Mac Graham | Television movie |
| 1992 | City Boy[18] | Tom McLean | |
| 1993 | Gunsmoke: The Long Ride | John Parsley | |
| Visions of Murder | Hal | ||
| 1994 | A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Grimacing Governor | Governor Ryan Allison | |
| Parallel Lives | Nick Dimas | ||
| 1995 | Extreme | Reese Wheeler | 7 episodes |
| 1996 | Hart to Hart: Harts in High Season | Elliot | Television movie |
| 1997 | Roseanne | Edgar Wellman, Jr. | 2 episodes |
| Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | Host | 6 episodes | |
| 1997–2000 | Pensacola: Wings of Gold | Lt. Colonel Bill Kelly | 66 episodes |
| 1998 | A Marriage of Convenience | Mason Whitney | Television movie |
| 2002 | The West Wing | Governor Robert Ritchie | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | The Reagans | Ronald Reagan | Television movie |
| 2005 | Monk | Daniel Thorn | Episode: "Mr. Monk Goes to Vegas" |
| Widow on the Hill | Hank Cavanaugh | Television movie | |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Colonel Richard Finley | Episode: "Lunacy" |
| Lost City Raiders | John Kubiak | Television movie | |
| 2009 | Psych | Sheriff Hank Mendel | Episode: "High Noon-ish" |
| 2010 | Blackout | Terrance Danfield | 3 episodes |
| 2013–2016 | Castle | Jackson Hunt | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Community | William Winger | Episode: "Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations" |
| Christmas with Tucker | Bo McCray | Television movie | |
| 2014 | When Calls the Heart | Circuit Judge Jedidiah Black | Episode: "Prelude to a Kiss" |
| 2015–2019 | Life in Pieces | John Short | 79 episodes |
| 2016 | I'll Be Home For Christmas | Jack Foster | Television movie (also executive producer & director) |
| 2017 | Royal Hearts | Hank Pavlik | Television movie (also director) |
| 2021–2024 | Sweet Tooth | Narrator (Older Gus) | Voice; Netflix TV series |
