James Gammon

Biography

James Richard Gammon (Newman, Illinois, April 20, 1940 – Costa Mesa, California, July 16, 2010) was an American actor known for playing weathered, plainspoken men, often rural or working-class types from the Western and the American South. Working across film, television, and stage, he became a dependable presence in Westerns and sports comedies, as well as in harder-edged dramas.

Before acting he worked for a local television station in Orlando, Florida, as a cameraman and director. In his twenties he moved to Hollywood looking for work. In the 1970s he helped found the Met Theatre in Los Angeles, where a representative of The Public Theater noticed him and helped secure his role as Weston in Sam Shepard's Curse of the Starving Class in 1978. The production led to a friendship with the playwright, who later said Gammon embodied the kind of drifting, hard-drinking father figure found in his plays. He also appeared on Broadway in a revival of Buried Child, earning a Tony nomination for his performance.

His film work includes Cool Hand Luke (1967), Urban Cowboy (1980), Silverado (1985), and Wyatt Earp (1994). He became especially well known for Major League (1989), playing Lou Brown, the manager of a fictional version of the Cleveland Indians. On television he played Nick Bridges, the father of Don Johnson's character, in the CBS series Nash Bridges. His later film appearances included Cold Mountain (2003).

Gammon was married to Nancy Jane Kapusta from 1972 until his death, and the couple had no mention of further children beyond his two daughters from his life. He died in 2010 at the age of 70 of liver and adrenal gland cancer. His legacy rests largely on a long career in supporting roles that gave texture and authenticity to many genres.

Key films

• Major League (1989): Lou Brown, the manager of the team at the center of the story, one of his best-known roles.
• Silverado (1985): a supporting part in Lawrence Kasdan's ensemble Western.
• Wyatt Earp (1994): Mr. Sutherland in the biography of the famous lawman starring Kevin Costner.
• Cold Mountain (2003): a role in Anthony Minghella's Civil War drama.
• Natural Born Killers (1994): an uncredited appearance in Oliver Stone's film.
• The Iron Giant (1999): voice work for two animated characters in the Warner Bros. feature.