James Hampton, an actor whose career spanned decades and was known for his roles in comedies “The Longest Yard” and “Teen Wolf,” died Wednesday at the age of 84.
The actor died at his home in Fort Worth from complications related to Parkinson’s disease, the family told The Hollywood Reporter.
While perhaps most known for playing the father of Michael J. Fox’s young lycanthrope in the 1985 comedy, Hampton was a friend and close collaborator with Burt Reynolds. The actors appeared together in a number of films, including “The Longest Yard,” which netted Hampton a Golden Globe nomination. Hampton also wrote and directed a number of episodes of Reynolds’ series “Evening Shade,” which aired from 1990-1994.
Hampton also had roles in “Sling Blade,” “The China Syndrome” and “Pump Up The Volume” as well as an extensive list of credits on TV shows, including “Gunsmoke,” where he first met Reynolds, “F Troop,” “Days of Our Lives, “Full House” and many others.
Hampton was born July 9, 1936 in Oklahoma City but was raised in Dallas. He attended the University of North Texas before he was drafted into the Army. After returning from duty overseas he appeared in plays in Dallas and in Fort Worth before moving to New York. He appeared in an Oscar-nominated short in 1962 which spurred his move to Los Angeles the following year.
After signing with an agent, meeting Reynolds during an episode of “Gunsmoke” and taking acting classes with Leonard Nimoy, Hampton was cast on “F Troop.” While the show only aired for 65 episodes, it became a syndication mainstay.
Hampton steadily worked in film and TV for the subsequent decades before quietly retiring from acting several years ago. His autobiography, “What? And Give Up Show Business?,” was just published in February.
Hampton is survived by his second wife, actress Mary Deese, children James, Andrea and Frank, and his grandchildren.