James Olson - Actor Profile

James Olson

Acting
Updated: Apr 12, 2026
36Total Films
7.1 Highest Rated
Born: Oct 8, 1930
Birth Place: Evanston, Illinois, USA

About 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.

James Olson Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of James Olson reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 36 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of James Olson's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 19% of James Olson's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.

One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains The Andromeda Strain, which stands out as a key performance.

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Best James Olson Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from James Olson's career based on audience ratings.

Full Filmography

Every movie James Olson has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
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 Hit 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 7.1/10.

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 "The Three Sisters".

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