Profile Text
Birth Name: James Child Drury, Jr.
Date of Birth: April 18, 1934
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: April 6, 2020
Place of Death: Houston, Texas, U.S.
Ethnicity: * father – Irish * mother – English, smaller amounts of Irish, Scottish, French, more distant Welsh
James Drury was an American actor. He was known for starring on the Western series The Virginian , and appearing on Gunsmoke ; and for his roles in the films The Tender Trap , Forbidden Planet , The Last Wagon (1956), Love Me Tender , Bernardine (1957), Good Day for a Hanging , Toby Tyler , Pollyanna , Ten Who Dared , Ride the High Country , and The Young Warriors , and in the made-for-tv movie The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw .
James was the son of Hattie Beatrice, who owned a farm in Salem, Oregon; and James Child Drury, a New York University professor of marketing. He was raised in New York City and Salem. He was married to Carl Ann Head, until her death. James had two children, including composer, keyboardist, guitarist, and vocalist Timothy Drury, with his former wife Cristall Othones.
James’ paternal grandfather was James Joseph Drury (the son of James Drury and Honora Reilly). James’ grandfather James was an Irish emigrant, who was born in County Roscommon, to parents who were also born the county. James’ great-grandfather James was the son of William Drury and Jane McGarry.
James’ paternal grandmother was Julia Mary Child (the daughter of Patrick Child and Johanna Carey). Julia was born in New York City, New York, the daughter of Irish parents. Patrick was the son of John Child and Barbara McCarthy. Johanna was the daughter of Thomas Carey and Margaret McCarthy.
James’ maternal grandfather was John Hezekiah Crawfor (the son of Lunsford Crawford and Sarah Elizabeth Sallee). John was born in Mercer, Kentucky, to parents who were also born there. Lunsford was the son of Thomas Crawford, whose father was from Ayrshire, Scotland; and of Lavinia Noel. Sarah was the daughter of John Bottom Salle and Nancy Prewitt Key.
James’ maternal grandmother was Lillie Josephine Hanna (the daughter of Christopher Columbus Hanna and Sophia J. McGerity). Lillie was born in Foster, Missouri. Christopher was born in Ohio, the son of Alexander Hanna and Nancy Ross. Sophia was born in Maryland, to a mother named Esther.
Source: Genealogy of James Drury – https://www.familysearch.org