James Wheaton
James Lorenzo Wheaton (January 11, 1924 – June 9, 2002) was an American actor recognized for his contributions to film, television, and stage performances. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, as the eldest son of Methodist minister Reverend James D. Wheaton and Jessie O. Holmes, he began his career in acting and gained prominence for voicing the authoritarian narrator OMM in George Lucas's dystopian science fiction film THX 1138 (1971), marking Lucas's feature directorial debut.[1][2] Wheaton also appeared in other films such as Black Belt Jones (1974) and A Piece of the Action (1977), alongside television roles including a recurring portrayal of the affable undertaker Nelson B. Davis in the sitcom Sanford and Son.[1] His work emphasized character roles and voice acting, reflecting a career built on versatility rather than leading stardom.[1]Early life
Childhood and family background
James Lorenzo Wheaton was born on January 11, 1924, in Meridian, Mississippi, as the eldest son of Rev. James D. Wheaton, a Methodist minister, making religion a central aspect of his early family environment.[3] The family relocated to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, when Wheaton was an infant, where his father likely continued pastoral work amid the region's Methodist communities.[4] Limited public records detail his mother's identity or additional siblings, though his position as eldest son suggests a family structure typical of clerical households in the early 20th-century American South.[3] Wheaton attended public schools in Hattiesburg, receiving a standard education in a small-town Southern setting during the Great Depression era, which shaped his formative years before pursuing performing arts.[4] No verified accounts indicate early involvement in theater or unusual family dynamics beyond the ministerial influence, aligning with biographies emphasizing his later professional pivot from such roots.[4]Initial exposure to performing arts
Wheaton's earliest documented involvement in performing arts occurred through radio work, which served as his introduction to voice performance and broadcasting.[4] This experience preceded his transition to stage acting, where he auditioned successfully for the Bishop's Company, a repertory theater troupe based in Southern California that toured churches nationwide, performing in multiple plays over extended seasons.[4][2] The company's model emphasized ensemble repertory, with actors handling diverse roles in productions often geared toward inspirational or moral themes, providing Wheaton with foundational training in live performance.[5] Following this, he joined the Ebony Showcase in Los Angeles, further honing his skills in a professional Black theater ensemble before expanding into television and film.[2] No records indicate formal drama education or amateur theater participation during his high school years in Mississippi, where his extracurricular focus was student government at Yazoo City High School #2.[4]Career
Stage acting and directing
Wheaton began his stage career with the Bishop's Company, a repertory theater troupe that toured United States churches performing religious and classical plays. He toured with the group for five years, taking lead roles in productions such as Christopher Fry's A Sleep of Prisoners. In Los Angeles, Wheaton joined the Ebony Showcase Theatre, the city's first African American-owned professional theater founded by actor Nick Stewart in 1950, where he performed and directed for two decades. His acting roles there included appearances in Day of Absence (1966), portraying a character in whiteface minstrel makeup, and the father in the long-running comedy Norman, Is That You?.[6][1] As a director, Wheaton helmed an all-Black production of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple at Ebony Showcase in 1968, starring Nick Stewart as Felix and Morris Erby as Oscar; Los Angeles Times critic Margaret Harford commended his "slick direction" for creating "an overall production all one could ask." He also directed a touring version of the play featuring comedian Pat Paulsen.[1] Wheaton directed Norman, Is That You? at Ebony Showcase in a 1991 revival, in which he starred as the father, and earlier led a production of the play in Dallas in 1974, marking the first instance of a Black director helming a major theater show in the area. Veteran actor Joel Fluellen praised Wheaton's contributions, noting he "brought a level of professionalism to the stage that was unmatched."[7][1]Film roles
Wheaton's feature film credits were limited to supporting and minor roles, primarily in the 1970s blaxploitation genre and a few later projects. His screen debut came in George Lucas's dystopian science fiction film THX 1138 (1971), where he provided the voice for the robotic narrator OMM. In Robert Clouse's martial arts action film Black Belt Jones (1974), Wheaton appeared uncredited as the Eulogizing Minister during a funeral scene.[8] He followed with a credited role as Voisin Waiter in Sidney Poitier's comedy-drama A Piece of the Action (1977), which reteamed Poitier with Bill Cosby and focused on reformed criminals mentoring youth.[9] Wheaton's final film role was in Tamra Davis's crime thriller Guncrazy (1992), starring Drew Barrymore, in which he played Parole Officer #2.| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | THX 1138 | OMM (voice) |
| 1974 | Black Belt Jones | Eulogizing Minister (uncredited)[8] |
| 1977 | A Piece of the Action | Voisin Waiter[9] |
| 1992 | Guncrazy | Parole Officer #2 |
Television appearances
Wheaton's television career featured guest roles in several popular American series during the late 1960s and 1970s, often portraying authority figures or supporting characters in sitcoms and dramas. His appearances included episodes of Room 222 in 1969, where he played a minor role in the ABC school drama.[1] He recurred as funeral director Nelson B. Davis in two episodes of Sanford and Son, including "Coffins for Sale" (1972) and "Pops 'n' Pals."[10][11] In police and crime shows, Wheaton appeared as Mr. Scott in the Kojak episode "Death Is Not a Passing Grade" (season 1, episode 13, aired January 30, 1974).[12] He also guest-starred in multiple episodes of Good Times, portraying a bailiff in "The Gang: Part 2" (season 2, aired November 19, 1974), P.J. Hewitt in "The Mural" (1975), and a bank manager in "Rich Is Better Than Poor... Maybe" (1976).[13][14] Additional credits include Mr. Simmons in What's Happening!! episode "The Boarder" (1977) and a cemetery attendant in the short-lived B.A.D. Cats (1975–1976).[15][16] Later television work was sporadic, with a role as Stahlman in the soap opera General Hospital and Jack in the action series L.A. Heat (1999).[16] These roles highlighted Wheaton's versatility in character parts, though his screen time remained limited compared to his stage and film endeavors.[1]| Show | Episode(s) | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Room 222 | Unspecified | 1969 | Supporting character[1] |
| Sanford and Son | "Coffins for Sale," "Pops 'n' Pals" | 1972 | Nelson B. Davis[10] |
| Kojak | "Death Is Not a Passing Grade" (S1E13) | 1974 | Mr. Scott[12] |
| Good Times | "The Gang: Part 2" (S2); "The Mural"; "Rich Is Better Than Poor... Maybe" | 1974–1976 | Bailiff; P.J. Hewitt; Bank Manager[13][14] |
| B.A.D. Cats | Unspecified | 1975–1976 | Cemetery Attendant[16] |
| What's Happening!! | "The Boarder" | 1977 | Mr. Simmons[15] |
| L.A. Heat | Unspecified | 1999 | Jack[16] |
| General Hospital | Unspecified | Undated | Stahlman[16] |