
James Olson
ActingAbout James Olson
James Olson (October 8, 1930 – April 17, 2022) was an American actor. From 1952 until 1954, he was a military policeman in the United States Army. He performed stage work in and around Chicago before his 1956 film debut in The Sharkfighters. His Broadway credits include Of Love Remembered (1967), Slapstick Tragedy (1966), The Three Sisters (1964), The Chinese Prime Minister (1964), Romulus (1962), J.B. (1958), The Sin of Pat Muldoon (1957), and The Young and Beautiful (1955). He starred alongside Joanne Woodward in the Academy Award nominee for Best Picture Rachel, Rachel in 1968. He made numerous stage, feature film, and TV appearances from the mid-1950s until 1990, when he retired. On television, Olson portrayed Mickey Mantle in The Life of Mickey Mantle. His other TV appearances included guest roles on scores of shows, including episodes of Kraft Television Theatre; Ironside; Murder, She Wrote; Little House on the Prairie; Hawaii Five-O; Battlestar Galactica; Lou Grant; The Bionic Woman; Wonder Woman; Mannix; Bonanza; Have Gun-Will Travel; Marcus Welby, M.D.; Police Woman; Barnaby Jones; The New Land; Columbo; Maude; The Virginian; The Streets of San Francisco; and Cannon. Description above from the Wikipedia article James Olson (actor), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of James Olson reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 36 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of James Olson's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 17% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), James Olson remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Andromeda Strain, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best James Olson Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from James Olson's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of James Olson.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Rachel River | Jack Canon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | One Police Plaza | Whitney Zangline | Flop | Similar → |
| 1985 | North Beach and Rawhide | Bill Cassidy | Flop | Similar → |
| 1985 | Commando | Major General Franklin Kirby | Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | The Parade | Andy Janacek | Flop | Similar → |
| 1983 | Cave-In! | Tom Arlen | Flop | Similar → |
| 1982 | Amityville II: The Possession | Father Adamsky | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Ragtime | Father | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Silent Lovers | Victor Seastrom | Flop | Similar → |
| 1979 | Visions of Christmas Past | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1978 | No Prince for My Cinderella | Burt Williams | Flop | Similar → |
| 1978 | The Mafu Cage | David | Average | Similar → |
| 1977 | The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer | Gen. George Armstrong Custer | Flop | Similar → |
| 1977 | The Spell | Glenn | Flop | Similar → |
| 1976 | Law and Order | Insp. Ed Shea | Flop | Similar → |
| 1975 | Strange New World | Surgeon | Flop | Similar → |
| 1975 | Man on the Outside | Gerald Griffin | Flop | Similar → |
| 1975 | Someone I Touched | Sam Hyatt | Flop | Similar → |
| 1975 | The Family Nobody Wanted | Carl Doss | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | The Sex Symbol | Calvin Bernard | Flop | Similar → |
| 1974 | A Tree Grows in Brooklyn | McShane | Flop | Similar → |
| 1974 | Manhunter | Walt Hovis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | Legend in Granite | Mas McGee | Flop | Similar → |
| 1973 | Incident on a Dark Street | Joe Dubbs | Flop | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Groundstar Conspiracy | Senator Stanton | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Paper Man | Art Fletcher | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Wild Rovers | Joe Billings | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Andromeda Strain | Dr. Mark Hall | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Crescendo | Georges Ryman / Jacques Ryman | Flop | Similar → |
| 1969 | Moon Zero Two | Capt. William H. Kemp | Flop | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Stalking Moon | Cavalry Officer (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | Rachel, Rachel | Nick Kazlik | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | An Enemy of the People | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1966 | The Three Sisters | Baron Tuzenbach | Flop | Similar → |
| 1957 | The Strange One | Roger Gatt | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Sharkfighters | Ens. Harold Duncan | Flop | Similar → |
James Olson - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of James Olson?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring James Olson is "The Andromeda Strain" with a rating of 7.0/10.
How many movies has James Olson acted in?
James Olson has been featured in at least 36 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by James Olson?
Other notable films include "Ragtime", "Rachel River", and "Commando".




