James Noble (actor)

James Wilkes Noble (March 5, 1922 – March 28, 2016) was an American actor, best known for his portrayal of sweet-natured, naive Governor Eugene X. Gatling on ABC's 1979–1986 sitcom Benson.[1]

James Noble
Born(1922-03-05)March 5, 1922
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
DiedMarch 28, 2016(2016-03-28) (aged 94)
Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1950–2011
Spouse(s)
Carolyn Coates
(m. 1956; died 2005)
Children1

Life and career

Noble was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Lois Frances (née Wilkes) and Ralph Byrne Noble.[2] He studied acting and engineering at Southern Methodist University before leaving to serve in the United States Navy during World War II.[3]

Returning from the war, Noble studied acting under Lee Strasberg and made appearances in Broadway theatre, and his television career started in soap operas, such as The Brighter Day, As the World Turns, The Doctors and A World Apart. His big screen roles included: Reverend John Witherspoon in the film version of the Broadway musical 1776 (1972); assorted roles as doctors in films such as One Summer Love (1976), 10 (1979) and Promises in the Dark (1979); Kaufman, the president's chief of staff, in Being There (1979); Father O'Flanagan in the comedy sequel Airplane II: The Sequel (1982); Sinclair in A Tiger's Tale (1987); Chief Wilkins in the comedy Paramedics (1988) and Dr. Bailey in Chances Are (1989). He was also the spokesman in various commercials for Pepto-Bismol in the 1970s.

In 2005, he co-founded Open the Gate Pictures with actress Colleen Murphy, and produced and starred in the short film Glacier Bay which won several awards at film festivals in the United States. Noble played the live action version of Archie Comics character Hiram Lodge in the movie, Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again (1990).

Personal life

Noble was married to actress Carolyn Coates from 1956 until her death in 2005.[3] They had one child, a daughter.

Noble had lived with his family in Leonia, New Jersey before moving to California in 1980.[4]

Death

Noble died on March 28, 2016, twenty-three days after his 94th birthday, in Connecticut. A spokesman for Noble's family said that the actor had suffered a stroke the week before his death.[1][3]

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1968What's So Bad About Feeling Good?Board MemberUncredited
1971The Sporting ClubCanon Pritchard
1971Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to MeFather Pettis
19721776Rev. John Witherspoon (NJ)
1974Who?General Deptford
1976One Summer LoveDr. Lee
1976Death PlayNorman
1978Summer of My German SoldierFBI Agent Pierce
197910Dr. Miles
1979Promises in the DarkDr. Blankenship
1979Being ThereKaufman
1982Airplane II: The SequelFather O'Flanagan
1987A Tiger's TaleSinclair
1987You Talkin' to Me?Peter Archer
1988ParamedicsChief Wilkins
1989Chances AreDr. Bailey
1995BangRooftop Dealer
2011FakeMssr. Rousseau

References
  1. Hipes, Patrick. "James Noble Dies: 'Benson' Governor Was 94". Deadline. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  2. Profile, filmreference.com; accessed March 28, 2016.
  3. Stack, Liam (March 29, 2016). "James Noble, Absent-Minded Governor on 'Benson,' Dies at 94". The New York Times. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  4. "James Noble: A Relaxed and Clever Actor". The Daily Union Democrat. February 27, 1980. Retrieved May 12, 2016. But the family still is in the process of becoming accustomed to living in California after moving from their permanent home in Leonia, N.J., which they've rented out.
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