James Hampton (actor)
James Wade Hampton ( born July 9, 1936 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ) is an American actor, television director and screenwriter.
Life
James Hampton grew up near Dallas, Texas, where his father owned a cleaning business. He studied theater at the University of North Texas, where he was a member of the fraternity Kappa Alpha Order. To work after a few unsuccessful attempts, as a bodyguard, bartender or photo journalist, he joined the United States Army, where he was assigned to the 6th Cavalry. While serving in Germany, he played for the United Service Organizations. After his service he performed at Summer stock theater up in Texas and moved to New York City, where he starred alongside Burt Reynolds in the Oscar nominated short film The Cliff Dwellers and among other things, in the television series Gunsmoke later.
Since 2002, Hampton is married to actress Mary Deese.