
James Noble
Known for Acting · 55 credits
- Born
- 1922-03-05
- Died
- 2016-03-28
- Place of birth
- Dallas, Texas, USA
Biography
The son of a Dallas wholesale coal dealer, Noble spent much of his youth attending pool halls and movie houses. He retained his expertise with a pool cue throughout his life, while his stronger interest in acting (fueled by movies) manifested itself in local stage productions and drama studies at Southern Methodist University. Following Navy service in World War II, Noble went to New York to study at the Actors Studio, then went on to a stage revival of Pygmalion wherein he met his future wife, actress Carolyn Coates. The actor appeared on such TV soap operas as As the World Turns (1956), A World Apart (1970) and such Broadway productions as "1776" (a role he took to the movie 1776 (1972)), spending much of his spare time in psychotherapy to handle his ongoing feelings of self-doubt. In films from the mid '70s, Noble principally played small roles as authority figures and politicians (Being There (1979), The Nude Bomb (1980)), with occasional larger roles. such as Bo Derek's father in 10 (1979). In 1979, Noble was cast as the genially absent-minded "Governor Gene Gatling" on the sitcom, Benson (1979), a role in which he remained until the series' 1986 cancellation. Two years later, he resurfaced on TV in the role of a Nebraska-based recording engineer on the very short-lived sitcom, First Impressions (1988).
Known For
TV Shows (20)

Law & Order
1990
as Judge Nelson Kurland

Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Paul Carlisle

The Love Boat
1977
as Martin Corell

Peak Practice
1993
as Mr. Naughton

The Bill
1984

Starsky & Hutch
1975
as Treasury Agent Kendall

The Defenders
1961
as Ron Mayberry

Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983

McCloud
1970

ABC Afterschool Special
1972
as Max Smiley

Benson
1979
as Eugene Gatling

Faerie Tale Theatre
1982
as King Rupert III

Perfect Strangers
1986

Father Dowling Mysteries
1989
as Judge Karnes

The Doctors
1963
as Dr. Bill Winters

The Adams Chronicles
1976
as Jonathan Sewall

The Andros Targets
1977
as Tierney
A World Apart
1970
Beech is Back
2001

First Impressions
1988
as Raymond Voss
Movies (35)

Airplane II: The Sequel
1982
as Father O'Flanagan

10
1979
as Dr. Miles

Chances Are
1989
as Dr. Bailey

Being There
1979
as Kaufman

Fake
2011
as Mr. Rousseau

Night of 100 Stars II
1985
as Self

1776
1972
as Rev. John Witherspoon (NJ)

The Sporting Club
1971
as Canon Pritchard

Summer of My German Soldier
1978
as Pierce

Cinderella
1985
as King Rupert III

When the Bough Breaks
1986
as Dr. Warren Towle

You Talkin' to Me?
1987
as Peter Archer

Hart to Hart
1979
as Dr. Metz

Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam
1987
as Leonard Weeks

Who?
1974
as General Deptford

Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me
1971
as Father Pettis

A Tiger's Tale
1988
as Sinclair

The Woman Who Willed a Miracle
1983
as Dr. Edwards
Death Play
1976
as Norman

Promises in the Dark
1979
as Dr. Blankenship

Paramedics
1988
as Chief Wilkins

This Is Kate Bennett...
1982
as Tom Fairmont

What's So Bad About Feeling Good?
1968
as Board Member

Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II
1978
as Ed

Dragonfly
1976
as Dr. Lee

Bang
1995
as Rooftop Dealer

Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again
1990
as Mr. Hyrum Lodge

The Day My Kid Went Punk
1987
as Max Smiley

Born Kicking
1992
as Hudson

Deadly Deception
1987
as Ed Shoat

Dempsey
1983
as Gavin McNab

Breaking Up
1978
as Haberle

Baby Comes Home
1980
as Dr. Elliott Olsen

They Bite
1996
as Scientist #1

The Absent-Minded Professor: Trading Places
1989
as Dr. Gilmore Blount
About James Noble
The son of a Dallas wholesale coal dealer, Noble spent much of his youth attending pool halls and movie houses. He retained his expertise with a pool cue throughout his life, while his stronger interest in acting (fueled by movies) manifested itself in local stage productions and drama studies at Southern Methodist University. Following Navy service in World War II, Noble went to New York to study at the Actors Studio, then went on to a stage revival of Pygmalion wherein he met his future wife, actress Carolyn Coates. The actor appeared on suc… With 55 credits spanning from 1961 to 2011, James Noble has appeared in 35 films and 20 TV shows.
Fans searching for James Noble movies, James Noble filmography, or the latest projects starring James Noble can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular James Noble Movies
- Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) — as Father O'Flanagan
- 10 (1979) — as Dr. Miles
- Chances Are (1989) — as Dr. Bailey
- Being There (1979) — as Kaufman
- Fake (2011) — as Mr. Rousseau
Where to Watch James Noble Films
Most James Noble movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring James Noble, check our movies catalogue and browse page.