James Luisi
A native New Yorker, James Luisi attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights on a basketball scholarship. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He then played one season (1953-54) with the Baltimore Bullets in the National Basketball Association. His acting career began on the stage with early parts coming in the Broadway musicals "Sweet Charity" and "Zorba". His early movies were minor, though his "beefcake" appeal was evident in 1973's I Escaped from Devil's Island (1973) in which he rarely wore a shirt. Most of his later work was on TV. In 1976 he shared a "best actor" daytime Emmy for playing George Washington in a daytime drama special titled First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington (1975). Also in 1976 he started his four-season role as Jim Rockford's (James Garner) nemesis Lt. Chapman in The Rockford Files (1974). In 1983 he played the cop in charge of some street-gang-members-turned-undercover-agents in the short-lived series The Renegades (1983), which provided a boost for Patrick Swayze, who played one of the gang members. Along with guest spots on numerous TV shows, Luisi also appeared in the soap operas Days of Our Lives (1965) and Another World (1964).
In the 1990s he returned to acting in and directing stage work in the Los Angeles area. Stricken with cancer he passed away on 7 June 2002 and is survived by his wife of 41 years, the former Georgia Phillips.
Acted in
The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play
1996
as Capt. Doug Chapman
The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...
1996
as Capt. Doug Chapman
Baywatch Nights
1995
as Murray
Silk Stalkings
1991
Dark Justice
1991
Lethal Woman
1989
as Colonel Jerry Maxim
Feds
1988
as Sperry
The Hidden
1987
as Ferrari Salesman
L.A. Law
1986
as Paul Viola
Murphy's Law
1986
as Ed Reineke
The Hogan Family
1986
Hell Town
1985
Partners in Crime
1984
Finder of Lost Loves
1984
as Jordan Hollis
The Red-Light Sting
1984
as Renny Lucas
Star 80
1983
as Roy
Sunset Limousine
1983
as Angel
The Renegades
1983
as Lt. Marciano
The A-Team
1983
as Jimmy Durkee
Knight Rider
1982
as D.G. Grebs
Matt Houston
1982
The Renegades
1982
as Lt. Joe Marciano
T. J. Hooker
1982
as Vincent Hazzard / George Laszlo
T. J. Hooker
1982
as George Laszlo
The Fall Guy
1981
Our Family Business
1981
as Frank
Magnum, P.I.
1980
Fade to Black
1980
as Capt. M.L. Gallagher
Here's Boomer
1980
Knots Landing
1979
as Lieutenant Gilbert Garcia
Hart to Hart
1979
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
1979
as Hood
Harris and Company
1979
Norma Rae
1979
as George Benson
Moment by Moment
1978
as Dan Santini
One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
1978
as Jimmy Karalla
Vega$
1978
Sword of Justice
1978
The Eddie Capra Mysteries
1978
Love Is Not Enough
1978
as Harry Foreman
Killer's Delight
1978
as Sgt. Vince De Carlo
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story
1978
as Lazzeri
Contract on Cherry Street
1977
as Al Palmini / Arnold Palmer
CHiPs
1977
Stunts
1977
as Alvin Blake
Hunter
1977
Quincy, M.E.
1976
Spencer's Pilots
1976
Future Cop
1976
as Paterno
Good Heavens
1976
City of Angels
1976
Wonder Woman
1975
as George
First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington
1975
as George Washington
Starsky & Hutch
1975
S.W.A.T.
1975
The Rockford Files
1974
as Lt. Doug Chapman
The Rockford Files
1974
as Burt Stryker
The Take
1974
as Benedetto
Honky Tonk
1974
as Blackie
The Man from Independence
1974
as Stranger
Cry Rape
1973
as Det. Kroger
Kojak
1973
as Det. Geno Alessi
Kojak
1973
as Capt. Henry 'Hank' Rosseau
I Escaped from Devil's Island
1973
as Dazzas
Police Story
1973
Hawkins
1973
as Andy Tyler
Barnaby Jones
1973
as Nick Gorman
Barnaby Jones
1973
as Burt Logan
The Streets of San Francisco
1972
Ghost Story
1972
as Rick
The Rookies
1972
Ben
1972
as Ed
Cannon
1971
Cat Ballou
1971
as Spider Levinsky
Adam-12
1968
as Antonio Minetti
Ironside
1967
as Mike Purcell
The F.B.I.
1965
as Sam Kehoe
The F.B.I.
1965
as Little Julio
Another World
1964
Naked City
1958
as Mark Andrew
The Rifleman
1958
Gunsmoke
1955
as Ivers