Los Angeles Times
May 10, 2022
James Olson died peacefully at his home in Malibu, Sunday, April 17 at age 91. Born
in Evanston, IL, Olson was a graduate of Evanston Township High School and
Northwestern University. From the mid-1950s until his retirement in 1990, Olson
had a distinguished career as an actor on stage, film, and television.
Beginning his career as a child actor recording radio jingles in Chicago, Olson
started working in theater while still an undergraduate at Northwestern. After
serving in the U.S. army, Olson moved to New York to study in Lee Strasberg's
Actor's Studio. He subsequently starred in several Broadway productions in the
1950s and 1960s including J.B. (1958), Romulus (1962), The Three Sisters
(1964), and Of Love and Remembrance (1967). He also appeared in numerous
touring productions throughout North America.
While theater was always his first love, Olson became a familiar face in film
and television, appearing in over 90 productions. His film credits include The
Sharkfighters (1956), The Strange One (1957), The Three Sisters (1966,
reprising his role from the Broadway production), Moon Zero Two (1969), Wild
Rovers (1971), The Mafu Cage (1978), Amityville II: The Possession (1982),
Commando (1985), and Rachel River (1987). He co-starred with Joanne Woodward in
the 1968 academy award nominated best picture, Rachel, Rachel (photo is from this
set), and had memorable starring roles in The Andromeda Strain (1971) and
Ragtime (1981). From the late 1950s through the 1980s, Olson was a recognizable
guest star on numerous television shows, including Kraft Television Theatre,
Playhouse 90, Route 66, Ironside, Mannix, Lancer, Hawaii Five-O, The F.B.I.,
McCloud, Columbo, McMillan and Wife, Bonanza, Maude, The Streets of San
Francisco, Battlestar Galactica, Little House on the Prairie, and Murder, She
Wrote. He also co-starred in numerous TV movies including The Missiles of
October (1974), Someone I Touched (1975), The Spell (1977), The Court-Martial
of George Armstrong Custer (1977), and The Silent Lovers (1980). After his
retirement, he remained an avid follower of film and theater, regularly
traveling to London and New York to see productions. He enjoyed sharing
reflections on his acting career with his family.
Olson is survived by two nieces, Susan Baker (Chuck Baker) and Robin Olson
(Christopher Evans), a nephew, David James Olson (Caryn Olson) and three
grandnephews, Peter Olson Evans, Andrew Olson Evans, and Calvin James Olson. He
is predeceased by his parents, Leroy and Florence Olson, and a brother, Lee
Olson. He is also survived by longtime friends from their days together at
Northwestern, Inga and Lowell Harris. A celebration of Jim's life is planned
for a later date this spring.
OLSON, James (James Richard Olson)
Born: 10/8/1930, Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.
Died: 4/17/2022, Malibu, California, U.S.A.
James Olson’s westerns – actor:
Have Gun – Will Travel (TV) – 1958 (Owen Deaver)
The Stalking Moon – 1958 (cavalry officer)
Bonanza (TV) – 1969, 1972 (Vance, Kelly Adams)
Lancer (TV) – 1969 (Alton Gannett)
The Virginian (TV) – 1969 (Hosea McKinley)
Wild Rovers – 1971 (Joe Billings)
Gunsmoke (TV) – 1972 (Bebe Stalcup)
Kung Fu (TV) – 1974 (Damian)
The New Land (TV) – 1974
The Court Martial of General George Armstrong Custer (TV) – 1977 (George Armstron Custer)
Little House on the Prairie – 1979 (Reverend Jacob Danforth)
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