James Olson
Highest Rated: 92% Ragtime (1981)
Lowest Rated: 11% Amityville II: The Possession (1982)
Birthday: Oct 08, 1930
Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois, USA
Known for playing distant yet sensitive characters, James Olson began his acting career in the theater, eventually making his first on-screen impression with a stage adaptation, the bizarre military drama "The Strange One," which starred Ben Gazzara. Olson played Tuzenbach in a film version of the Lee Strasberg-directed Chekhov play "The Three Sisters," starring Geraldine Page and Kim Stanley. He also appeared in a television film version of Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People" before winning his best part, Nick Kazlik, the blunt childhood friend of Joanne Woodward's spinster schoolteacher, in Paul Newman's "Rachel, Rachel." In 1971, Olson played a banker in the Blake Edwards western "Wild Rovers," and following this role, he spent most of his career guest-starring on various television shows, mostly crime dramas like "The Streets of San Francisco" and "Police Woman." Olson also made several appearances on the police drama "Hawaii Five-O" in 1972 and "Murder, She Wrote" in 1990. Olson also made notable film performance as a priest in the horror sequel "Amityville II: The Possession" and as Major General Kirby in the Arnold Schwarzenegger action film "Commando."
Photos
Highest Rated Movies
Filmography
Movies
| Credit | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71% | 67% | Commando | Major General Franklin Kirby (Character) | $34.9M | 1985 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Parade | Andy Janacek (Character) | - | 1984 |
| 11% | 35% | Amityville II: The Possession | Father Adamsky (Character) | - | 1982 |
| 92% | 77% | Ragtime | Father (Character) | - | 1981 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Silent Lovers | Victor Seastrom (Character) | - | 1980 |
| No Score Yet | 38% | My Sister, My Love | David (Character) | - | 1978 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Operation: Runaway | Burt Williams (Character) | - | 1978 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer | Gen. George A. Custer (Character) | - | 1977 |
| No Score Yet | 21% | The Spell | Glenn (Character) | - | 1977 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Law and Order | Insp. Ed Shea (Character) | - | 1976 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Man on the Outside | Gerald Griffin (Character) | - | 1975 |
| No Score Yet | 12% | Strange New World | Surgeon (Character) | - | 1975 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Family Nobody Wanted | Carl Doss (Character) | - | 1975 |
| No Score Yet | 29% | Someone I Touched | Sam Hyatt (Character) | - | 1975 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Sex Symbol | Calvin Bernard (Character) | - | 1974 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Manhunter | Walt Hovis (Character) | - | 1974 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Tree Grows in Brooklyn | McShane (Character) | - | 1974 |
| No Score Yet | 20% | Incident on a Dark Street | Joe Dubbs (Character) | - | 1973 |
| 33% | 62% | The Groundstar Conspiracy | Senator Stanton (Character) | - | 1972 |
| No Score Yet | 17% | Crescendo |
Georges Ryman/ |
- | 1972 |
| No Score Yet | 20% | Paper Man | Art Fletcher (Character) | - | 1971 |
| 57% | 44% | Wild Rovers | Joe Billings (Character) | - | 1971 |
| 67% | 72% | The Andromeda Strain | Dr. Mark Hall (Character) | - | 1971 |
| No Score Yet | 4% | Moon Zero Two | Capt. William H. Kemp (Character) | - | 1970 |
| 86% | 77% | Rachel, Rachel | Nick Kazlik (Character) | - | 1968 |
| No Score Yet | 20% | The Sharkfighters | Ens. Harold Duncan (Character) | - | 1956 |
TV
| Credit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Murder, She Wrote | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1990 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Jake and the Fatman | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1988 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Little House on the Prairie | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1979 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1979 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | B.J. and the Bear | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1979 |
| 33% | 100% | Battlestar Galactica | Thane (Guest Star) | 1978 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bionic Woman | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1977 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Wonder Woman | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1977 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Police Woman | Curry (Guest Star) | 1976 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Streets of San Francisco | Dr. Jonas Rabb (Guest Star) | 1975-1976 1972 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Barnaby Jones | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1976 1973 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cannon | Judge Norman Killian (Guest Star) | 1975 1972 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Maude | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1975 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Harry O | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1974 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Kung Fu | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1974 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Mannix | George Lassiter (Guest Star) | 1974 1969 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Police Story | Sgt. Walters (Character) | 1973 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rookies | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1972 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bonanza | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1972 1969 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Gunsmoke | Bebe Stalcup (Guest Star) | 1972 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Columbo | Paul Rifkin (Guest Star) | 1972 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | McCloud | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1971 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Route 66 | Thad School (Guest Star) | 1963 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Have Gun -- Will Travel | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1958 |
QUOTES FROM James Olson CHARACTERS
Col. John Matrix says: This was the last time.
General Kirby says: Until a next time.
Col. John Matrix says: No chance.
Patricia Montelli says: (possessed) - Look at me. When I was making my confession, you thought about making love to me. Didn't you?
Patricia Montelli says: (possessed) Look at me. When I was making my confession, you thought about making love to me. Didn't you?
Father Adamsky says: No.
Patricia Montelli says: (possessed) - Look at me! Confess! Dirty priest. You wanted it. You wanted it!
Patricia Montelli says: (possessed) Look at me! Confess! Dirty priest. You wanted it. You wanted it!
Father Adamsky says: (answers the phone) - Hello?
Father Adamsky says: (answers the phone) Hello?
Patricia Montelli says: (who's already DEAD) - Hello?
Patricia Montelli says: (who's already DEAD) Hello?
Father Adamsky says: Who's this?
Patricia Montelli says: (who's already DEAD) - Father Adamsky? Father? I'm worried...I'm worried about Sonny...Afraid of him. I don't know why, but...I think he wants to kill us.
Patricia Montelli says: (who's already DEAD) Father Adamsky? Father? I'm worried. I'm worried about Sonny. Afraid of him. I don't know why, but, I think he wants to kill us.
Father Adamsky says: Is it your intention not to show yourself again?
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) - I could.
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) I could.
Father Adamsky says: When?
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) - When I please.
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) When I please.
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed, and laughing) - I told you you'd have to leave.
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed, and laughing) I told you you'd have to leave.
Father Adamsky says: You wanna destroy this boy's life?
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) - I do what I want.
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) I do what I want.
Father Adamsky says: You must leave this boy's body, what your follow presence occupies.
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) - Why should I leave? I like it here.
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) Why should I leave? I like it here.
Father Adamsky says: I will cast you out.
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) - Oh...How?
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) Oh...How?
Father Adamsky says: With an exorcism.
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) - You can't do that. You're not authorized.
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) You can't do that. You're not authorized.
Father Adamsky says: How do you know?
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) - We know everything.
Sonny Montelli says: (possessed) We know everything.
Father Tom says: Frank, hold on for a minute. Would you least tell me where we're going?
Father Adamsky says: Amityville.
Father Tom says: Why?
Father Adamsky says: Something horrible has happened.
Father Tom says: Frank, you had a dream. I know it must've had a powerful effect on you, but it was just a dream.
Father Adamsky says: I pray to God you're right.
Father Adamsky says: (pulls out the holly sprinkler from his bag) - Now, here's that sprinkler.
Father Adamsky says: (pulls out the holly sprinkler from his bag) Now, here's that sprinkler.
Chancellor says: From which the blood emerged.
Father Adamsky says: That is correct.
Chancellor says: Well, what do you want of me?
Father Adamsky says: Well, I may need a proof for an exorcism.
Chancellor says: An exorcism?
Father Adamsky says: After what happened in that house--
Father Adamsky says: After what happened in that house?
Chancellor says: Wait a minute...Do you believe in ghost strength? - I saw a ghost once. Or at least...what appeared to be a ghost. Although I thought I saw a ghost, there may have been another explanation; likewise in the matter at hand. We must start with you. Make sure, you're seeing what you think you are...The worst thing in this whole area...and you know this, father...is to rush into anything.
Chancellor says: Wait a minute...Do you believe in ghost strength? I saw a ghost once. Or at least, what appeared to be a ghost. Although I thought I saw a ghost, there may have been another explanation; likewise in the matter at hand. We must start with you. Make sure, you're seeing what you think you are. The worst thing in this whole area, and you know this father, is to rush into anything.
Father Adamsky says: Frankly, I don't think we have time!Frankly, I don't think we have time!
Father Adamsky says: Frankly, I don't think we have time! Frankly, I don't think we have time!
Father Adamsky says: (while blessing the house, enters Sonny's room) - Why are you hiding?
Father Adamsky says: (while blessing the house, enters Sonny's room) Why are you hiding?
Sonny Montelli says: I'm not. I just don't wanna talk to anyone. This is my room. I wanna be alone.
Father Adamsky says: Your...your mother ask me to come.
Father Adamsky says: Your, your mother ask me to come.
Sonny Montelli says: So? Bless my mother's room.
Patricia Montelli says: (in the confession booth at church) - It is a big sin.
Patricia Montelli says: (in the confession booth at church) It is a big sin.
Father Adamsky says: Don't be afraid.
Patricia Montelli says: (talking about her brother) - I...went all the way...with...my friend.
Patricia Montelli says: (talking about her brother) I...went all the way...with...my friend.
Father Adamsky says: You must...resist this temptation. One day perhaps you'll...meet someone. Marry. Raise a family. Even if you love him very much, you must resist.
Father Adamsky says: You must resist this temptation. One day perhaps you'll...meet someone. Marry. Raise a family. Even if you love him very much, you must resist.
Patricia Montelli says: We do not love each other.
Father Adamsky says: You don't love each other? Then this is...This is only a sexual matter?
Father Adamsky says: You don't love each other? Then this is, this is only a sexual matter?
Patricia Montelli says: He does it...just...to hurt-
Patricia Montelli says: He does it, just...to hurt.
Father Adamsky says: Well...to hurt who? Hurt you?
Father Adamsky says: Well, to hurt who? Hurt you?
Patricia Montelli says: ...To hurt God.
Patricia Montelli says: To hurt God.