James Franciscus

Biography

James Franciscus was an American actor who worked across feature films and six television series. Born in Clayton, Missouri, he earned a degree in English and theater arts from Yale University in 1957 before taking his first major role as a detective in ABC's Naked City. He went on to lead the series The Investigators, and he was best remembered for the title parts in Mr. Novak and Longstreet, as well as for voicing Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973). His film work included Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Marooned (1969), The Valley of Gwangi (1969), The Greek Tycoon (1978), Snow Treasure (1968) and When Time Ran Out... (1980), plus Italian productions such as The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971) and Killer Fish (1979). He also hosted Waterworld, wrote screenplays and produced, with 29th Street his final project in 1991, the year he died.

57years old at death

Born January 31, 1934Clayton
Died July 8, 1991North Hollywood
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
Also credited as James Grover Franciscus

Movie Career

Films: 15
Career span: 30 years1963 to 1993

Genres

Drama47%, 7 films
Action33%, 5 films
Adventure27%, 4 films
Family20%, 3 films
Sci-Fi20%, 3 films

First and latest

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Early training
Franciscus graduated magna cum laude from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1957, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and theater arts. Dick Cavett and Bill Hinnant were among his classmates.
First role
Franciscus landed his first big part as Detective Jim Halloran in ABC's Naked City, the half-hour version of the show.

James Franciscus movies on Netflix

La Classe américaine1993IMDb rating 7.8as Professeur Hammond
The Last Shark1981IMDb rating 4.3as Peter Benton
When Time Ran Out...1980IMDb rating 4.6as Bob Spangler
City on Fire1979IMDb rating 4.5as Jimbo
Concorde Affaire '791979IMDb rating 5.5as Moses Brody
Killer Fish1979IMDb rating 4.2as Paul Diller
Good Guys Wear Black1978IMDb rating 5.2as Conrad Morgan
The Greek Tycoon1978IMDb rating 5.4as President James Cassidy
Jonathan Livingston Seagull1973IMDb rating 5.7as Jonathan Livingston Seagull (voice)
The Cat o' Nine Tails1971IMDb rating 6.6as Carlo Giordani
Beneath the Planet of the Apes1970IMDb rating 6.0as Brent
Marooned1969IMDb rating 5.9as Clayton Stone
The Valley of Gwangi1969IMDb rating 6.2as Tuck
Snow Treasure1968IMDb rating 6.1as 2nd Lt. H. Kalasch
Miracle of the White Stallions1963IMDb rating 6.5as Maj. Hoffman

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Beneath the Planet of the Apes1970 Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fias Brent
IMDb rating 6.057K votes
The Cat o' Nine Tails1971 Horror, Mystery, Thrilleras Carlo Giordani
IMDb rating 6.615K votes
The Valley of Gwangi1969as Tuck
IMDb rating 6.25.8K votes
The Last Shark1981as Peter Benton
IMDb rating 4.33.6K votes
Marooned1969as Clayton Stone
IMDb rating 5.96.6K votes
Jonathan Livingston Seagull1973as Jonathan Livingston Seagullvoice
IMDb rating 5.72.5K votes
Good Guys Wear Black1978as Conrad Morgan
IMDb rating 5.24.5K votes
When Time Ran Out...1980as Bob Spangler
IMDb rating 4.63.6K votes

Most often with

Ted Post directed two of these films. Jacqueline Bisset appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Jacqueline Bisset

Ernest Borgnine

Henry Fonda

Richard Crenna

Edward Albert

Ted PostDirector, 2 films

Films together

Jacqueline Bisset3 films together, 1978 to 1993
Jacqueline Bisset's page
- La Classe américaine1993IMDb rating 7.8Franciscus as Professeur HammondBisset as La femme de l'hélicoptère
- When Time Ran Out...1980IMDb rating 4.6Franciscus as Bob SpanglerBisset as Kay Kirby
- The Greek Tycoon1978IMDb rating 5.4Franciscus as President James CassidyBisset as Liz Cassidy
Ernest Borgnine2 films together, 1980 to 1993
Ernest Borgnine's page
- La Classe américaine1993IMDb rating 7.8Franciscus as Professeur HammondBorgnine as Ernest
- When Time Ran Out...1980IMDb rating 4.6Franciscus as Bob SpanglerBorgnine as Tom Conti
Henry Fonda2 films together, 1979 to 1993
Henry Fonda's page
- La Classe américaine1993IMDb rating 7.8Franciscus as Professeur HammondFonda as Hugues
- City on Fire1979IMDb rating 4.5Franciscus as JimboFonda as Fire Chief Albert Risley
Richard Crenna2 films together, 1969 to 1973
Richard Crenna's page
- Jonathan Livingston Seagull1973IMDb rating 5.7Franciscus as Jonathan Livingston SeagullvoiceCrenna as Fathervoice
- Marooned1969IMDb rating 5.9Franciscus as Clayton StoneCrenna as Jim Pruett
Edward Albert2 films together, 1978 to 1980
Edward Albert's page
- When Time Ran Out...1980IMDb rating 4.6Franciscus as Bob SpanglerAlbert as Brian
- The Greek Tycoon1978IMDb rating 5.4Franciscus as President James CassidyAlbert as Nico Tamasis
Ted PostDirector, 2 films, 1970 to 1978
All films by Ted Post
- Good Guys Wear Black1978IMDb rating 5.2Franciscus as Conrad Morgan
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes1970IMDb rating 6.0Franciscus as Brent

Box office

What James Franciscus's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$79.9 million

8 of the 15 films have a worldwide figure.

8Worldwide figure
1US gross only
1Never in cinemas
5Figure not found

Top grosser

Beneath the Planet of the Apes1970Brent$19.0 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Beneath the Planet of the Apes1970as Brent
$19M23.8% of the total
2
Good Guys Wear Black1978as Conrad Morgan
$18M22.9% of the total
3
The Last Shark1981as Peter Benton
$18M22.5% of the total
4
The Greek Tycoon1978as President James Cassidy
$14M17.5% of the total
5
Marooned1969as Clayton Stone
$4.0M5.0% of the total
6
When Time Ran Out...1980as Bob Spangler
$3.8M4.7% of the total
7
Jonathan Livingston Seagull1973as Jonathan Livingston Seagull (voice)
$1.6M2.0% of the total
8
The Cat o' Nine Tails1971as Carlo Giordani
$1.2M1.5% of the total