James Westerfield

Biography

James Westerfield was an American actor whose career took in theater, film, and television. He grew up in Detroit and took an interest in theater early, joining Gilmor Brown's Pasadena Community Playhouse in the 1930s. After his screen debut in 1940, he won two awards from the New York Drama Critics' Circle for supporting roles on Broadway in Detective Story and The Madwoman of Chaillot, then returned to Hollywood for more than 40 further films. These included On the Waterfront (1954), Decision at Sundown (1957), Cowboy (1958), The Shaggy Dog (1959), The Absent-Minded Professor (1961), Son of Flubber (1963), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), Hang 'em High (1968), and True Grit (1969). On television he played John Murrel on The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters from 1963 to 1964 and appeared on series such as Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, and The Twilight Zone. He also directed more than 50 musicals at a summer theater he owned in Danbury, Connecticut.

58years old at death

Born March 22, 1913New York City
Died September 20, 1971Woodland Hills
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19

Movie Career

Films: 28
Career span: 25 years1946 to 1971

Genres

Western50%, 14 films
Drama32%, 9 films
Comedy25%, 7 films
Romance18%, 5 films
Thriller18%, 5 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Early training
As a young man, Westerfield developed an interest in theater, and during the 1930s he appeared in dozens of plays at Gilmor Brown's Pasadena Community Playhouse. His screen debut came in 1940.
Behind the camera
Westerfield spent three seasons directing "Theatre Under the Stars" in Vancouver, British Columbia. He also took musical parts with the civic light opera companies of Detroit, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

James Westerfield movies on Netflix

Dead Aim1971IMDb rating 4.5as John Applebee
The Love God?1969IMDb rating 6.4as Rev. Wilkerson
True Grit1969IMDb rating 7.4as Judge Parker
Blue1968IMDb rating 6.1as Abe Parker
Hang 'em High1968IMDb rating 7.0as Prisoner
Scalplock1966IMDb rating 6.1as Nehemiah Mather
That Funny Feeling1965IMDb rating 6.5as Officer Brokaw
The Sons of Katie Elder1965IMDb rating 7.1as Mr. Vennar
Bikini Beach1964IMDb rating 5.5as Cop #2
Man's Favorite Sport?1964IMDb rating 7.0as Policeman
Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1as Police Officer Hanson
Birdman of Alcatraz1962IMDb rating 7.8as Jess Younger
Homicidal1961IMDb rating 6.8as Alfred S. Adrims
The Absent-Minded Professor1961IMDb rating 6.7as Police Officer Hanson
Wild River1960IMDb rating 7.5as Cal Garth
The Gunfight at Dodge City1959IMDb rating 6.2as Reverend Howard
The Hangman1959IMDb rating 6.6as Herb Loftus
The Shaggy Dog1959IMDb rating 6.4as Officer Hanson
Cowboy1958IMDb rating 6.7as Mike Adams
The Proud Rebel1958IMDb rating 6.9as Birm Bates
Decision at Sundown1957IMDb rating 6.8as Otis, the Bartender
Away All Boats1956IMDb rating 6.3
Chief Crazy Horse1955IMDb rating 6.1as Caleb Mantz
Man with the Gun1955IMDb rating 6.7as Mr. Zender
The Violent Men1955IMDb rating 6.9as Sheriff Magruder
On the Waterfront1954IMDb rating 8.1as Big Mac
The Chase1946IMDb rating 6.4as Job the Butler
Undercurrent1946IMDb rating 6.5as Henry Gilson

Best known for

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

Top

On the Waterfront1954 Crime, Drama, Thrilleras Big Mac
IMDb rating 8.1181K votes
True Grit1969 Westernas Judge Parker
IMDb rating 7.455K votes
Hang 'em High1968as Prisoner
IMDb rating 7.049K votes
Wild River1960as Cal Garth
IMDb rating 7.56.7K votes
Man's Favorite Sport?1964as Policeman
IMDb rating 7.06.9K votes
Birdman of Alcatraz1962as Jess Younger
IMDb rating 7.822K votes
Homicidal1961as Alfred S. Adrims
IMDb rating 6.84.4K votes
Decision at Sundown1957as Otis, the Bartender
IMDb rating 6.84.0K votes

Most often with

Elia Kazan directed two of these films, Henry Hathaway two and Robert Stevenson two. Forrest Lewis appears in four 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.

Top

Forrest Lewis

Dennis Hopper

Keenan Wynn

Karl Malden

Fred MacMurray

Strother Martin

Elia KazanDirector, 2 films Henry HathawayDirector, 2 films Robert StevensonDirector, 2 films

Films together

Forrest Lewis4 films together, 1959 to 1964
Forrest Lewis's page
- Man's Favorite Sport?1964IMDb rating 7.0Westerfield as PolicemanLewis as Harvey Skaggs
- Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1Westerfield as Police Officer HansonLewis as Officer Kelly
- The Absent-Minded Professor1961IMDb rating 6.7Westerfield as Police Officer HansonLewis as Police Officer Kelley
- The Shaggy Dog1959IMDb rating 6.4Westerfield as Officer HansonLewis as Officer Kelly
Dennis Hopper3 films together, 1965 to 1969
Dennis Hopper's page
- True Grit1969IMDb rating 7.4Westerfield as Judge ParkerHopper as "Moon"
- Hang 'em High1968IMDb rating 7.0Westerfield as PrisonerHopper as The Prophet
- The Sons of Katie Elder1965IMDb rating 7.1Westerfield as Mr. VennarHopper as Dave Hastings
Keenan Wynn3 films together, 1961 to 1964
Keenan Wynn's page
- Bikini Beach1964IMDb rating 5.5Westerfield as Cop #2Wynn as Harvey Huntington Honeywagon
- Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1Westerfield as Police Officer HansonWynn as Alonzo P. Hawk
- The Absent-Minded Professor1961IMDb rating 6.7Westerfield as Police Officer HansonWynn as Alonzo P. Hawk
Karl Malden3 films together, 1954 to 1968
Karl Malden's page
- Blue1968IMDb rating 6.1Westerfield as Abe ParkerMalden as Doc Morton
- Birdman of Alcatraz1962IMDb rating 7.8Westerfield as Jess YoungerMalden as Harvey Shoemaker
- On the Waterfront1954IMDb rating 8.1Westerfield as Big MacMalden as Father Barry
Fred MacMurray3 films together, 1959 to 1963
Fred MacMurray's page
- Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1Westerfield as Police Officer HansonMacMurray as Prof. Ned Brainard
- The Absent-Minded Professor1961IMDb rating 6.7Westerfield as Police Officer HansonMacMurray as Professor Ned Brainard
- The Shaggy Dog1959IMDb rating 6.4Westerfield as Officer HansonMacMurray as Wilson Daniels
Strother Martin3 films together, 1959 to 1969
Strother Martin's page
- True Grit1969IMDb rating 7.4Westerfield as Judge ParkerMartin as Colonel G. Stonehill
- The Sons of Katie Elder1965IMDb rating 7.1Westerfield as Mr. VennarMartin as Ned Ross
- The Shaggy Dog1959IMDb rating 6.4Westerfield as Officer HansonMartin as Thurm
Elia KazanDirector, 2 films, 1954 to 1960
All films by Elia Kazan
- Wild River1960IMDb rating 7.5Westerfield as Cal Garth
- On the Waterfront1954IMDb rating 8.1Westerfield as Big Mac
Henry HathawayDirector, 2 films, 1965 to 1969
All films by Henry Hathaway
- True Grit1969IMDb rating 7.4Westerfield as Judge Parker
- The Sons of Katie Elder1965IMDb rating 7.1Westerfield as Mr. Vennar
Robert StevensonDirector, 2 films, 1961 to 1963
All films by Robert Stevenson
- Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1Westerfield as Police Officer Hanson
- The Absent-Minded Professor1961IMDb rating 6.7Westerfield as Police Officer Hanson
Also three films together1 more actor
- Tommy KirkSon of Flubber (1963), The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and The Shaggy Dog (1959)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.