# James Callahan (actor)

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American actor (1930–2007)

This article is about the actor who lived 1930-2007. For the actor who lived 1891-1957, see [Jimmy Callahan (actor)](/source/Jimmy_Callahan_(actor)).

James T. Callahan Callahan as seen in the opening credits of Charles in Charge Born James Thomas Callahan October 4, 1930 Grand Rapids, Michigan, US Died August 3, 2007(2007-08-03) (aged 76) Fallbrook, California, US Spouse Peggy Cannon ​ (m. 1994)​

**James Thomas Callahan** (October 4, 1930 – August 3, 2007) was an American [film](/source/Film) and [television](/source/Television) actor who appeared in more than 120 films and television programs between 1959 and 2007. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal from 1987 to 1990 of Walter Powell on the [syndicated](/source/Broadcast_syndication) [sitcom](/source/Sitcom) *[Charles in Charge](/source/Charles_in_Charge)*, starring [Scott Baio](/source/Scott_Baio).

## Early years

One of three children, Callahan was born in [Grand Rapids, Michigan](/source/Grand_Rapids%2C_Michigan), to William and Elenora Callahan on October 4, 1930. After his service in the [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army) from 1951 to 1953, he worked for the [United States Postal Service](/source/United_States_Postal_Service). While attending school in the Midwest, he discovered acting and on the advice of a teacher, he enrolled at the [University of Washington](/source/University_of_Washington) in [Seattle](/source/Seattle) He studied drama and graduated in the late 1950s.[1][2]

## Career

Callahan played a doomed soldier/journalist in the *[M*A*S*H](/source/M*A*S*H_(TV_series))* episode "[Sometimes You Hear the Bullet](/source/Sometimes_You_Hear_the_Bullet)". He also had recurring roles in three 1960s series, as Danny Adams in [ABC](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company)'s *[Wendy and Me](/source/Wendy_and_Me)*, with a cast including [George Burns](/source/George_Burns), [Connie Stevens](/source/Connie_Stevens), [Ron Harper](/source/Ron_Harper_(actor)), and [J. Pat O'Malley](/source/J._Pat_O'Malley), as Lieutenant O'Connell on [NBC](/source/NBC)'s 13-episode war drama, *[Convoy](/source/Convoy_(TV_series))*, with [John Gavin](/source/John_Gavin) and [John Larch](/source/John_Larch), and as the governor's press secretary in *[The Governor and J.J.](/source/The_Governor_and_J.J.)*, which starred [Dan Dailey](/source/Dan_Dailey) and [Julie Sommars](/source/Julie_Sommars). He appeared in "The Twilight Zone" S5 E12 "Ninety Years Without Slumbering" which aired 12/18/1963. Callahan portrayed a small role in *[Barnaby Jones](/source/Barnaby_Jones)* in an episode titled "Counterfall" (02/04/1975).

## Personal life

Callahan did not marry until he was sixty-three, when he wed Peggy Cannon in 1994. They were married until his death in 2007.

## Death

In February 2007, Callahan was diagnosed with [esophageal cancer](/source/Esophageal_cancer). Six months later, on August 3, 2007, Callahan died at his home in [Fallbrook, California](/source/Fallbrook%2C_California) at age 76.[1]

## Filmography

Year Title Role Notes 1959 The Californians James McFadden Episode: "The Fur Story" 1959 Steve Canyon Lt. Hageman Episode: "Operation Firebee" 1959 Battle of the Coral Sea Australian Prisoner Uncredited 1959 Man on a String C.B.I. Agent Uncredited 1960 Bourbon Street Beat Detective Episode: "Twice Betrayed" 1960 Dennis the Menace Officer Holt Episode: "Dennis Runs Away" 1960 Manhunt Willie Episode: "A Rose for Willie" 1960 Two Faces West Cleve Episode: "Prognosis: Death" 1960 The Walking Target Al Kramer 1961 National Velvet Johnny Episode: "The Bridegroom" 1961 The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor Phil Episode: "Hit and Miss" 1961 The Jim Backus Show Lou 2 episodes 1962 Perry Mason Bookkeeper Fred Carlyle Episode: "The Case of the Shapely Shadow" 1962 Route 66 Smudge Episode: "City of Wheels" 1962 Have Gun - Will Travel Albert Eubanks Episode: "Don't Shoot the Piano Player" 1962 All Fall Down Gas Station Attendant Uncredited 1962 Experiment in Terror FBI Agent Uncredited 1962 G.E. True Detective Floyd Wright Episode: "Hercule Poirot" 1962 Saints and Sinners Edgar Episode: "Judgement in Jazz Alley" 1962 The Untouchables Miles Henning Episode: "The Economist" 1962 Stoney Burke Bert Episode: "Spin a Golden Web" 1962-1964 Dr. Kildare Dr. Yates Atkinson 6 episodes 1963 Combat! Reischer Episode: "The Squad" 1963 Empire Redford Episode: "A House in Order" 1963 Grindl Mike Episode: "Grindl and the Counterfeiters" 1963 The Eleventh Hour Matt Hopewell Episode: "I Feel Like a Rutabaga" 1963 The Twilight Zone Doug Kirk Episode: "Ninety Years Without Slumbering" 1963 The Lieutenant Markley Episode: "Fall from a White Horse" 1964 My Favorite Martian Jack Episode: "Unidentified Flying Uncle Martin" 1964-1965 Wendy and Me Danny Adams 34 episodes 1965 Convoy Lt. Dick O'Connell TV series 1965 Profiles in Courage Barnes Episode: "General Alexander William Doniphan", with Peter Lawford as Doniphan 1966 The Fugitive Joe Donovan / Russ Haynes 2 episodes 1966 The Time Tunnel Navy Ensign Beard Episode: "One Way To The Moon" 1967 Mosby's Marauders Sam Chapman 1967 The Invaders Dr. Harry Mills / Ed Gidney 2 episodes 1967 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Sam Chapman Episodes: "Willie and the Yank: The Mosby Raiders" and "Willie and the Yank: The Deserter" 1968 A Man Called Gannon Bo 1969 Adam-12 Miles Wellman Episode: "Log 92: Tell Him He Pushed a Little Too Hard" 1969-1970 The Governor & J.J. George Callison 3 episodes 1970 Tropic of Cancer Fillmore 1971 Cade's County Llewellyn Burton Episode: "Safe Deposit" 1972 Lady Sings the Blues Reg Hanley 1972 Love, American Style Jim Episodes: "Love and the Confession" 1973 Love, American Style Malcolm Episodes: "Love and the Hand Maiden" 1973 Marcus Welby, M.D. Allen Lawrence Episode: "A More Exciting Case" 1973 M*A*S*H Cpl. Tommy Gillis Episode: "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet" 1973 The Wonderful World of Disney Sheriff Wyndham Episode: "The Mystery of Dracula's Castle" 1974 The Missiles of October Dave Powers TV movie 1975 Cannon Police Lieutenant Episode: "The Victim" 1976 The Practice Jim Episode: "Molly and Jim" 1976 Holmes & Yoyo Weston Episode “Dental Dynamiter” 1977 Outlaw Blues Garland Dupree 1977 The Rockford Files Leslie Hartman Episode: "New Life, Old Dragons" 1977 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Haggarty 2 episodes 1978 Black Sheep Squadron Col. Maurice Parker Episode: "Sheep in the Limelight" 1978-1979 The Runaways Sgt. Hal Grady 13 episodes 1980 The Ropers Tom Cummins Episode: "Old Flames" 1980 Cloud Dancer Walt Lawson 1980-1982 Benson Dr. Phillips 2 episodes 1980-1982 Quincy, M.E. Adrian Mercer / Larry Bridges 2 episodes 1981 Bosom Buddies Dr. Leonard Bob Episode: "What Price Glory?" 1981 Inchon General Almond 1981 CBS Children's Mystery Theatre Walter Ames Episode: The Haunting of Harrington House 1981-1982 Alice Vinnie 2 episodes 1982 Knight Rider Cheriff Bruckner Episode: "Good Day at White Rock" 1983 Little House on the Prairie: A Look Back to Yesterday Doctor Houser TV movie 1983 Remington Steele Emmett DeVore Episode: "Steele's Gold" 1983 Too Close for Comfort Marvin Rowe Episode: "Out to Lunch" 1984 The A-Team Captain Fallone Episode: "The Island" 1984 The Burning Bed Berlin Hughes TV movie 1985 Knight Rider Jeff Barnes Episode: "Circus Knights" 1985 A Bunny's Tale Phil TV movie 1985 Copacabana (musical) Dennis Riley TV Musical 1986 Highway to Heaven Jack Brent Episode: "Children's Children" 1986 Growing Pains Uncle Bob Episode: "Extra Lap" 1987-1990 Charles in Charge Walter Powell Seasons 2 through 5 1992 The Golden Girls Malcolm Gordon Episode: "Goodbye, Mr. Gordon" 1992 Hero Police Chief 1993 Return of the Living Dead 3 Colonel Peck 1994 Mei zhen Mr. Platt 1995 Return to Two Moon Junction Mr. Bowman 1995 Midnight Man Chief Massey 1995 A Norman Rockwell Christmas Story Samuel Cavanaugh TV movie 1996 Caroline in the City Mayor Paisley Episode: "Caroline and the Twenty-Eight-Pound Walleye" 1996 Promised Land Warren Dempsey Episode: "Christmas" 1997 ER Oliver Episode: "Something New" 1999 Every Dog Has Its Day Father Quinn 1999 The Practice Trevor Wayne Episode: "Oz" 2000 ER Mr. Bristol Episode: "Homecoming" 2001 Extreme Honor Randolph Brascoe 2005 Medium Jury Foreman Episode: "Judge, Jury and Executioner" 2006 Wild Hearts Arliss - Mayor of Hope Hallmark TV movie 2006 7th Heaven Father Mulligan Episode: "And More Secrets" 2006 The Standard Principal Watson 2007 Born Albert Martino (final film role)

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- [Television portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Television)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lat_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lat_1-1) Nelson, Valerie J. (August 6, 2007). ["James Callahan, 76; played grandfather on TV's 'Charles in Charge'"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-aug-08-me-callahan8-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. Retrieved June 22, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Remembering Charles in Charge's James T. Callahan"](http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2007/08/remembering-charles-in-charges-james-t.html). *Sitcoms Online*. August 8, 2007.

## External links

- [James Callahan](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0130210/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Callahan (actor)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Callahan_(actor)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Callahan_(actor)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.