James Gordon MacArthur American actor Date of Birth: 08.12.1937 Country: USA

1. Biography of James Gordon MacArthur
2. Early Life and Education
3. Personal Life and Influences
4. Acting Career
5. Hawaii Five-O and Later Career
6. Other Interests and Legacy

Biography of James Gordon MacArthur

James Gordon MacArthur was an American actor best known for his role as Danny Williams, the right-hand man of the commander of the special police force in the TV series "Hawaii Five-O". He was born in Los Angeles, California and was adopted as an infant by playwright Charles MacArthur and actress Helen Hayes. MacArthur grew up in Nyack, New York, with his biological sister Mary.

Early Life and Education

MacArthur attended school in both New York and New Hope, Pennsylvania. He excelled in sports, playing basketball, football, and baseball. In his final year of school, he was the football team's defender, captain of the basketball team, class president, student government president, and drama club member. He even performed in plays, including the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" by Dickens.

Personal Life and Influences

While in school, MacArthur began a relationship with Joyce Bulifant. They married in November 1958 and divorced nine years later. MacArthur had a unique family, regularly interacting with some of the greatest literary and theatrical talents of the time. His godmother was renowned American actress Lillian Gish, and family friends included Ben Hecht, Harpo Marx, Robert Benchley, Beatrice Lillie, John Barrymore, and John Steinbeck.

Acting Career

MacArthur made his stage debut in 1949 in the short-lived play "The Corn Is Green" in Olney, Maryland. Although he initially struggled, he gradually improved his acting skills and became an integral part of several Broadway productions. At the age of 18, he played Hal Ditmar in the teleplay "Deal a Blow" alongside Macdonald Carey, Phyllis Thaxter, and Edward Arnold. In 1956, the play was adapted into a feature-length television film, with MacArthur reprising his role.

Hawaii Five-O and Later Career

MacArthur's most significant project was the TV series "Hawaii Five-O". Producer Leonard Freeman, known for "Hang 'Em High", invited MacArthur to join the show after seeing his performance as a wandering preacher in "Hang 'Em High". The show lasted for 12 seasons, and MacArthur stayed for 11. After leaving the series at the end of the 11th season, he returned to the theater while occasionally taking on episodic roles in various TV shows. However, his acting career slowed down after 1998, and he focused on other projects.

Other Interests and Legacy

In addition to his acting career, MacArthur was involved in various other endeavors. He managed a telephone company from 1959 to 1960 and directed plays in 1972. He was also an avid golfer and won the Frank Sinatra Invitational Charity Golf Tournament in 2002. James Gordon MacArthur passed away on October 28, 2010, due to natural causes.