The rapturous actor James Hampton – best known for roles in TV shows including “F Troop” and died Wednesday in films such as the 1974 Burt Reynolds film “The Longest Yard”. He was 84 years old.
He died due to complications from Parkinson’s disease was confirmed To the Hollywood Reporter by a family spokesperson.
Hampton was a longtime friend of the late actor Reynolds, who died at the age of 82 in 2018, and received a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer – Male for his “longest yardage” part.
During his career, Reynolds and Oklahoma-born Hampton performed opposite each other in several films, including 1975’s “Hustle” and “WW and Dixie Dancing” and 1973’s “The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing”. Hampton was also a director in 16 episodes of his friend’s 1990 to 1994 sitcom “Evening Shed”, on which he also contributed as a writer.
He and Reynolds became friends for the first time when Hampton appeared in the 1963 episode of the classic TV western “GunSmoke”.
Hampton, an army veteran, was named Harold Howard – beloved father of werewolf Scott Howard, Michael J. He is also remembered for playing in the 1985 horror-comedy “Teen Wolf” – by Fox. He reprized that character in the 1987 spinoff, “Teen Wolf Two”, in the role of Fox with “Ozark” star Jason Bateman.
During his 50-year career, Hampton was a permanent television favorite, receiving many show-offs including “Melrose Place,” “Full House,” “Perfect Strangers,” “Newheart,” Days. Of Our Lives, “” Mama’s Family, “” Punky Brewster, “” Murder She Wot, “” Duke of Hazard, “” Mannix, “” Love, American Style, “” The Rockford Files, “Doris Day Show” and Too many. During the 1990s he lent a hand as a director for shows such as “Sister, Sister”, “Grace Under Fire,” “Boston Common” and “Hurts Affair”.
His film work included 1996’s “Sling Blade,” 1988’s “Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach” and 1979’s “The China Syndrome”.
In February, he published the memoir “What? More Show Show Business?“It was released by Texas Christian University Press.
Hampton, who died at home in Fort Worth, Texas, is survived by his second wife, Mary Desse, and three children, James, Andrea and Frank, and several grandchildren. His family requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations Can be made for Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
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