James Drury, Star of TV Classic ‘The Virginian,’ Dies at 85

James Drury, who starred in one of many longest working Westerns in TV historical past, “The Virginian,” has died. He was 85.

His assistant, Karen Lindsey, shared the information on Facebook Monday, writing that he “passed away this morning of natural causes.” TheWrap reached out to his agent for added remark.

While his most well-known function was “The Virginian,” Drury additionally starred in Westerns on the large display, together with 1959’s “Good Day for Hanging,” 1960’s “Ten Who Dares” and “Ride the High Country.” His different credit embody “Love Me Tender,” alongside Elvis Presley, and “Bernardine,” reverse Pat Boone.

“The Virginian” was based mostly on Owen Wister’s 1902 novel of the identical identify and ran on NBC for 9 seasons, from 1962 to 1971. It was launched by govt producer Roy Huggins (“Maverick,” “The Fugitive”) and his father-in-law Frank Price, who would go on to run Columbia and Universal Pictures. Drury, together with co-star Doug McClure, was the one solid member to look on all 249 episodes.

Drury was born on April 18 in New York City and, on the age of 10, contracted polio. Just two years later, he started his skilled appearing profession in a tour firm of “Life With Father.” He then signed a contract with MGM in 1954, the place he had roles in “The Tender Trap” with Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds and the sci-fi traditional “The Forbidden Planet.”

Additional TV credit embody the sequence “Richard Diamon, Private Detective,” “Black Saddle,” “Death Valley Days,” “The Rebel,” “Wagon Train,” “Bourbon Street Beat” and “Perry Mason.”

In 1991, Drury was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers on the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

See the Facebook put up under.