{{short description|American actor}} {{Infobox person | name = James Wheaton | image = JamesLWheaton.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = Wheaton {{circa}} 1968 | birth_name = James Lorenzo Wheaton | birth_date = {{birth date|1924|1|11}} | birth_place = Meridian, Mississippi, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2002|6|9|1924|1|11}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | occupation = Actor, director, writer | years_active = 1950–2001 | family = Frank Wheaton (son)<br>Jesse E. Holmes (grandfather)<br>T. D. Jakes (first cousin twice removed)<br>H. H. Brookins (second cousin) | spouse = Helen Alford (divorced) }}
'''James Lorenzo Wheaton''' (January 11, 1924 – June 9, 2002) was an American motion picture, stage, and television actor. Wheaton's credits include ''THX 1138'', ''Trouble Comes to Town'' and ''Sanford and Son''.
In the early 1950s, he moved from his native Mississippi to Los Angeles, where he found work in local radio productions. His big break came when he was selected to join the Bishop's Company, a repertory theatre company which toured churches in the United States."<ref name='LAT-11Sep1955'>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Bishop's Company to make northern tour |url=https://www.proquest.com/|work=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=11 Sep 1955 |page=A14|access-date=1 Sep 2020 |url-access=registration }}</ref> Wheaton appeared in their first production, Christopher Fry's "The Boy with a Cart," which premiered at the Vermont Square Methodist Church in Los Angeles on January 11, 1953."<ref name='LAT-10Jan1953'>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title='Church drama group to stage 'Boy with Cart' |url=https://www.proquest.com/|work=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=10 Jan 1953 |page=A8|access-date=1 Sep 2020 |url-access=registration }}</ref> As the only African-American member of the group, he was given the opportunity to play a wide range of roles, which was rare for black actors at the time. One of his best known roles with the company was as "Scratch" in "The Devil and Daniel Webster." Later, he would become a leading actor with the Ebony Showcase Theatre in Los Angeles. He would also direct several productions for the theatre.<ref name='NegroDigest-Apr1970'>{{cite journal |last=Fuller |first=Hoyt W. |editor1-first=John H. |editor1-last=Johnson |date= Apr 1970 |title=A report: on black theatre in America |journal=Negro Digest |volume=19 |issue=6 |page=36 |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. |location=Chicago, Illinois }}</ref> Regarding his staging of ''The Odd Couple,'' ''Los Angeles Times'' theatre critic Margaret Harford wrote "James Wheaton's slick direction makes the overall production all one could ask."<ref name='LAT-7Jun1968'>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Negro version of 'Couple' to open |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/164898284/ |work=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=7 Jun 1968 |page=99|access-date=11 Sep 2017 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name='LAT-17Jun1968'>{{cite news |last=Harford |first=Margaret |title='The Odd Couple' at Ebony Showcase |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/165124017/|work=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=17 Jun 1968 |page=82|access-date=11 Sep 2017 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> His role as "J.B. Mongoose" in the Ebony Showcase production of "Carnival Island" was so popular, that he was soon appearing on television.
However, his biggest success on stage was the West Coast premiere of ''Norman, Is That You?'' at the Ebony Showcase Theater in Los Angeles. This production, in which he both directed and starred as the father was enormously popular with audiences and critics alike. At one time, it was the longest running play in the history of the Los Angeles theatre.<ref name='LAT-14Mar1973'>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Student rates at Ebony Showcase |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/166025152/ |work=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=14 Mar 1973 |page=90|access-date=11 Sep 2017|quote=...the Ron Clark-Sam Bobrick comedy is the longest-running stage play in Los Angeles. |url-access=subscription }}</ref> "With a blend of shock and bruised vanity, Wheaton gives a richly flavored performance" wrote John C. Mahoney in his ''Los Angeles Times'' review. "Wheaton's assured direction keeps featherweight ingredients afloat and on target."<ref name='LAT-23Oct1971'>{{cite news |last=Mahoney |first=John C. |title='Norman, Is That You' put together for laughs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/165110593/|work=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=23 Oct 1971 |page=30|access-date=11 Sep 2017 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name='LAT-13Jun1972'>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Anniversary Date for 'Is That You?' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=13711634 |work=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=13 Jun 1972 |page=15|access-date=11 Sep 2017 |quote=James Wheaton, who also directed, stars in the Ebony production...|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
During the late 1960s and 1970s, Wheaton appeared on some of the most popular television programs of the day including ''Room 222'', ''Kojak'', ''Good Times'', and the final episode of ''Ironside''. He had a recurring role as Nelson B. Davis, "The Friendly Undertaker", on ''Sanford and Son''. Other feature film credits included ''Black Belt Jones'' and lastly, ''Gun Crazy'' with Drew Barrymore. He also reteamed with Bill Cosby in ''A Piece of the Action'', which also starred and was directed by Sidney Poitier.<ref name="imdb_1">[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0923720/ Credits], ''[Internet Movie Database]'', Retrieved on 2007-08-18.</ref>
In the early 1970s he taught at Figueroa Street Elementary School and Parmelee Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles.
==Selected credits==
===Theatre===
====Directing==== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Production ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Theatre(s) ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |- |1968 |''The Odd Couple''<ref name='LAT-7Jun1968'/> |Ebony Showcase Theater |Larry McCormick's acting debut<ref name='LAT-21May1968'>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Negro version of 'Odd Couple' set |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/164523009/ |work=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=21 May 1968 |page=64|access-date=11 Sep 2017 |quote=Larry McCormick, KGFJ disc jockey, will make his acting debut in the show.|url-access=subscription }}</ref> |- |1971 |''Norman, Is That You?''<ref name='LAT-23Oct1971'/><ref name='LAT-13Jun1972'/> |Ebony Showcase Theater |Also starred. One of the longest running plays in Los Angeles theatre history.<ref name='LAT-14Mar1973'/> |}
===Films=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |- |1971|| ''THX 1138'' || OMM || Voice |- |1974|| ''Black Belt Jones'' || Eulogizing Minister || Uncredited |- |1977|| ''A Piece of the Action'' || Voisin Waiter || |- |1992|| ''Guncrazy'' || Parole Officer #2 || |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0923720}} *{{Tcmdb name|0%7C207680|James Wheaton}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wheaton, James}} Category:1924 births Category:2002 deaths Category:American male film actors Category:American male stage actors Category:American male television actors Category:People from Meridian, Mississippi Category:20th-century American male actors