James Wade Hampton (born July 9, 1936) is an American actor, television director, and screenwriter.
Though born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Hampton was reared in Dallas, Texas, where his father operated a cleaning business. He majored in theatre arts at the University of North Texas in Denton. While attending the University of North Texas, he was a member of the Gamma Lambda chapter of Kappa Alpha Order. After a series of failed jobs including bo...
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James Wade Hampton (born July 9, 1936) is an American actor, television director, and screenwriter.
Though born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Hampton was reared in Dallas, Texas, where his father operated a cleaning business. He majored in theatre arts at the University of North Texas in Denton. While attending the University of North Texas, he was a member of the Gamma Lambda chapter of Kappa Alpha Order. After a series of failed jobs including bodyguard, bartender and photojournalist, he was inducted into the Army and served in "F" Troop of the 6th Cavalry. He was later stationed in Germany, performed with the USO, for which he won awards.
Following his service, he performed in summer stock in Texas, and then moved to New York, where he was given his first film role - the Academy Award-nominated short subject The Cliffdwellers. Amazingly, Hampton's next role came as the lead character in a May 1963 Gunsmoke episode entitled "Jeb," featuring his pal and series regular Burt Reynolds....
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