
James Noble
Known for Acting · 54 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 (19)

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

Starsky & Hutch
1975
as Treasury Agent Kendall

The Bill
1984

Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983

The Defenders
1961
as Ron Mayberry

McCloud
1970

Benson
1979
as Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling

ABC Afterschool Special
1972
as Max Smiley

Faerie Tale Theatre
1982
as King Rupert III

Perfect Strangers
1986

Father Dowling Mysteries
1989
as Judge Karnes

The Andros Targets
1977
as Tierney

The Adams Chronicles
1976
as Jonathan Sewall
A World Apart
1970

First Impressions
1988
as Raymond Voss
Beech is Back
2001
Movies (35)

Airplane II: The Sequel
1982
as Father O'Flanagan

Chances Are
1989
as Dr. Bailey

10
1979
as Dr. Miles

1776
1972
as Rev. John Witherspoon (NJ)

Being There
1979
as Kaufman

Paramedics
1988
as Chief Wilkins

Night of 100 Stars II
1985
as Self

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

Dempsey
1983
as Gavin McNab

Deadly Deception
1987
as Ed Shoat

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

A Tiger's Tale
1988
as Sinclair

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

Cinderella
1985
as King Rupert III

Who?
1974
as General Deptford

Summer of My German Soldier
1978
as Pierce

Hart to Hart
1979
as Dr. Metz

The Absent-Minded Professor: Trading Places
1989
as Dr. Gilmore Blount

The Day My Kid Went Punk
1987
as Max Smiley

Fake
2011
as Mr. Rousseau

This Is Kate Bennett...
1982
as Tom Fairmont

Bang
1995
as Rooftop Dealer

Dragonfly
1976
as Dr. Lee

The Woman Who Willed a Miracle
1983
as Dr. Edwards

The Sporting Club
1971
as Canon Pritchard

You Talkin' to Me?
1987
as Peter Archer

Baby Comes Home
1980
as Dr. Elliott Olsen

When the Bough Breaks
1986
as Dr. Warren Towle

They Bite
1996
as Scientist #1

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

Breaking Up
1978
as Haberle
Death Play
1976
as Norman

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

Born Kicking
1992
as Hudson

Promises in the Dark
1979
as Dr. Blankenship
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 54 credits spanning from 1961 to 2011, James Noble has appeared in 35 films and 19 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
- Chances Are (1989) — as Dr. Bailey
- 10 (1979) — as Dr. Miles
- 1776 (1972) — as Rev. John Witherspoon (NJ)
- Being There (1979) — as Kaufman
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.