Community hub
0 subscribers7 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to James Jeter.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
James Jeter
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
James Jeter (September 15, 1921[1] – March 4, 2007), also known and credited as James Jeeter, was an American film, stage, and television actor. He was known for playing the recurring role of blacksmith Hans Dorfler in the American historical drama television series Little House on the Prairie.[2]
Key Information
Life and career
[edit]Jeter was born in Star, Texas.[3] He began his career on stage, performing at the Alley Theatre.[3] Jeter made his film debut with an uncredited appearance in the 1964 film The Best Man. He next appeared in the film Kiss Me, Stupid.[4]
Jeter appeared in the 1966 film The Sand Pebbles, in the role of Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Farren.[1][5] He then appeared in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke.[1]
Jeter guest-starred in television programs, including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Death Valley Days, The Waltons, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rawhide, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Knots Landing, M*A*S*H, Land of the Giants, and The Wild Wild West.[2] He also played the recurring role of "Smitty" in the drama television series Delvecchio, and as the blacksmith Hans Dorfler in Little House on the Prairie from 1974 to 1980.[2]
Jeter appeared in films such as F.I.S.T., The Border, Assault on Precinct 13, Hang 'Em High, Fun with Dick and Jane, The Four Deuces, Ice Station Zebra, A Change of Seasons, The Hollywood Knights, Blow Out, The Christian Licorice Store, and Fast Break.[1][2] In 1985, Jeter played the lead role at the Geva Theatre Center in the play All My Sons, replacing Gerald Richards, who had been hospitalised.[6] His final credit was for the 1993 film A Perfect World.[1] Jeter worked as a lawyer in California.[7]
Death
[edit]Jeter died in March 2007 in Houston, Texas, at the age of 85.[2]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | The Best Man | Mayor | Uncredited |
| 1964 | Kiss Me, Stupid | Waiter at Desert Sands | Uncredited |
| 1966 | The Chase | Man | Uncredited |
| 1966 | The Sand Pebbles | Farren | |
| 1967 | The Big Mouth | Police Lieutenant | Uncredited |
| 1967 | Cool Hand Luke | Wickerman | Uncredited |
| 1968 | Hang 'Em High | Wagon Driver | Uncredited |
| 1968 | Ice Station Zebra | 2nd Barman | Uncredited |
| 1971 | The Christian Licorice Store | Texas Man | |
| 1973 | Oklahoma Crude | Stapp | |
| 1975 | The Four Deuces | Capt. 'Smitty' Baird | |
| 1976 | The Big Bus | Bus Bartender | |
| 1976 | Assault on Precinct 13 | Precinct Captain | Uncredited |
| 1976 | Bound for Glory | Crippled Whitey - Hobo (on train) | |
| 1977 | Fun with Dick and Jane | Immigration Officer | |
| 1977 | Black Sunday | Watchman | |
| 1978 | F.I.S.T. | Mike Quinn | |
| 1978 | Matilda | ASPCA Attendant #3 | |
| 1979 | Fast Break | Officer Hedgewood | |
| 1979 | The Last Word | Desk Sergeant | |
| 1980 | The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle | Martin Bormann | Uncredited |
| 1980 | The Hollywood Knights | Smitty | |
| 1980 | A Change of Seasons | Truck Driver | |
| 1981 | Blow Out | Film Lab Man | |
| 1982 | The Border | Frank | |
| 1988 | Cohen and Tate | Trooper #1 | |
| 1993 | A Perfect World | Oldtimer |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "James Jeter". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Lentz, Harris (May 20, 2008). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2007. McFarland. pp. 182–183. ISBN 9780786434817 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Jim Jeter Addresses Decora Club". Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. March 29, 1961. p. 3. Retrieved June 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Tucker, Fredrick (November 15, 2021). Sweet Oddball – The Story of Alice Pearce. BearManor Media. p. 739. ISBN 9781629337364 – via Google Books.
- ^ O'Shea, Mick (August 3, 2018). The Sex Pistols Invade America: The Fateful U.S. Tour, January 1978. McFarland. p. 176. ISBN 9781476631844 – via Google Books.
- ^ Garner, Jack (January 29, 1985). "'All My Sons' to resume run with new actor". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. p. 7. Retrieved June 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "All My Stepsons: GeVa gets veteran of TV film to step in for ailing 'dad'". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. January 31, 1985. p. 14. Retrieved June 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
James Jeter
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early Life
Birth and Family Background
James Elwyn Jeter was born on September 15, 1921, in Star, an unincorporated rural community in Mills County, Texas.[1][4] He was the only child of Hattie Rose Manning, then aged 28, and Isaac Collier Jeter, aged 26, who had married in Goldthwaite, Texas, four years earlier.[5][4] His biological father, a farmer and oil field worker, died on December 28, 1931, in Dill City, Oklahoma, when James was ten years old; Jeter later recalled never knowing him well.[1][5] Following his father's death, Jeter was raised primarily by his mother in rural Texas, where she supported the family through subsequent marriages to two stepfathers, including David Brown Churchwell in 1933.[1][6] This family structure shaped his early years in the modest, agrarian environment of Star, amid the challenges of the Great Depression.[1]Education and Early Influences
After completing his early schooling in local Texas institutions—though specific details on his primary and secondary education remain undocumented—Jeter served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. During his service, he contracted malaria while stationed in Malaysia and earned a Golden Gloves boxing title.[1] Following the war, he used the G.I. Bill to study drama at the University of Texas, which sparked his interest in the performing arts.[1] These experiences, rooted in Texas's cultural traditions, bridged his rural upbringing to a career in acting.Professional Career
Legal Career
After relocating to Los Angeles in 1965 to launch his acting career, James Jeter pursued legal education and entered the profession over a decade later. In 1977, at the age of 56, he graduated from law school in Los Angeles and opened a short-lived private practice, operating from home offices in Altadena, California.[1] This phase of Jeter's professional life overlapped with his established work in entertainment, as he continued taking acting roles during and after his brief tenure as a lawyer. The exact areas of legal practice are not detailed in available records, but it represented a diversification of his career before he eventually returned to Texas.[1]Acting Debut and Stage Work
After graduating from the University of Texas with studies in drama, James Jeter transitioned to acting in the early 1950s, pursuing performance arts regionally.[1] His stage debut occurred at the Alley Theatre in Houston, where he became a staple performer during the 1950s under founder Nina Vance, contributing to numerous productions as both actor and director.[7][8] Relocating to New York City in 1952, Jeter made his Broadway debut in 1959, portraying Bud in the original production of Sweet Bird of Youth at the Martin Beck Theatre.[9][1] The following year, Jeter appeared as Phil in the Broadway premiere of The Long Dream by Richard Wright and Louis Reid, directed by Lloyd Richards at the Cort Theatre.[10] Throughout his career, Jeter maintained involvement in regional theater, including a notable lead performance as Joe Keller in Arthur Miller's All My Sons at the Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, New York, in 1985, where he stepped in after the original actor's hospitalization.[11]Film Roles
James Jeter's film career spanned from 1966 to 1993, encompassing a series of supporting roles that highlighted his versatility as a character actor in dramas, action thrillers, and occasional comedies.[1] Primarily appearing in ensemble casts, Jeter often portrayed authoritative figures, working-class individuals, or minor officials, adding depth to narratives without drawing focus from leads.[2] Jeter made his film debut in the credited role of Farren, a pragmatic gunner's mate aboard a U.S. Navy gunboat, in Robert Wise's epic war film The Sand Pebbles (1966), marking his transition from stage work to cinema. The following year, he had an uncredited appearance in Stuart Rosenberg's iconic prison drama Cool Hand Luke (1967), enhancing the film's gritty atmosphere alongside stars Paul Newman and George Kennedy.[12] In the 1970s, Jeter continued building his screen presence with roles in action-oriented projects, including a supporting part in John Carpenter's low-budget thriller Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), which showcased his ability to convey tension in confined, high-stakes settings. By the 1980s, he took on the character of Frank, a border patrol agent, in Tony Richardson's crime drama The Border (1982), starring Jack Nicholson and exploring themes of corruption and morality along the U.S.-Mexico divide. Jeter's final film role was as the Oldtimer, a wise and folksy informant, in Clint Eastwood's crime drama A Perfect World (1993), providing poignant comic relief in a story of pursuit and redemption. Over nearly three decades, Jeter's film work exemplified the archetype of the reliable supporting player, frequently in genres blending drama and action, where his understated performances grounded larger-than-life ensembles.[13]Television Roles
James Jeter established a prolific presence in television during the 1960s through the 1980s, frequently portraying rugged, working-class characters in Westerns and family-oriented dramas that reflected the era's popular genres.[1] His most prominent recurring television role was as the blacksmith Hans Dorfler in the NBC series Little House on the Prairie, where he appeared in nine episodes across seasons 1 through 6 from 1974 to 1980, beginning with the pilot episode "Harvest of Friends." Jeter's portrayal of the dependable Dorfler contributed to the show's depiction of frontier community life, often involving him in storylines centered on Walnut Grove's daily challenges and moral dilemmas. Another recurring role came in the short-lived CBS police drama Delvecchio (1976–1977), where Jeter played Smitty, a supportive informant, across three episodes.[14] This character added depth to the series' exploration of urban crime and personal ethics through the eyes of a young detective. Jeter made numerous guest appearances in iconic series, showcasing his versatility in both action-oriented Westerns and dramatic anthologies. In Gunsmoke, he appeared as Creech in the 1973 episode "Shadler" and as Barker in the 1974 episode "The Town Tamers," embodying the gritty archetypes typical of the long-running CBS Western.[15] Similarly, on Bonanza, he guest-starred multiple times, including as Wilson in the 1963 episode "A Question of Strength" and as Duncan in the 1969 episode "Sweet Annie Laurie," often in roles that highlighted frontier tensions and family dynamics.[16] His brief uncredited appearance as the general's driver in the 1975 MASH* episode "The Price of Tomato Juice" fit the sitcom's ensemble of eccentric military personnel. Earlier, in 1965, Jeter had an uncredited role as Harry in The Wild Wild West episode "The Night of the Human Trigger," contributing to the adventure series' blend of espionage and Western elements.[17] These varied guest spots underscored Jeter's reliability as a character actor in high-profile network television.[1]Personal Life and Later Years
Marriages and Family
James Jeter was married four times throughout his life. His first marriage was to Odette Whiting in 1943, with whom he had one son before their divorce.[18] Jeter's second marriage was to Hope Adams, resulting in two sons.[18] In the early 1960s, he married Marian Hail, a fellow Texan, and the couple had two daughters.[19] At the time of his marriage to Hail, Jeter already had three sons from previous marriages, as noted in a 1966 newspaper profile.[19][18] Jeter's fourth marriage occurred on August 3, 1994, to actress and theater director Chris Wilson, which lasted until her death on January 28, 2004.[20] No children resulted from his marriage to Wilson.[18] Jeter maintained strong ties to his Texas roots in his personal life, often returning to Houston where he spent his later years with family.[1]Retirement and Final Projects
Following a prolific period in the 1970s and early 1980s, James Jeter's on-screen appearances diminished significantly, reflecting a gradual wind-down from his Hollywood commitments. His last major role came in the 1982 film The Border, after which he took on sporadic film and television roles, including Cohen and Tate (1989) and the TV movie Without Warning: The James Brady Story (1991), before his final credited role as a rural old-timer in Clint Eastwood's A Perfect World (1993), effectively closing his four-decade career in film and television.[1] Jeter formally retired from acting in 1994 at age 73, allowing him to focus on personal pursuits after years of balancing his profession with his legal practice in California. In the early 1980s, he relocated to Houston, Texas, where he re-engaged with the local theater scene as a contributor to the Alley Theatre, participating in productions as both actor and director for many years thereafter. This shift enabled a continued connection to the stage in a more intimate, community-oriented environment.[1]Death and Legacy
Circumstances of Death
James Jeter died on March 4, 2007, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 85.[1][3] The cause of death was not publicly disclosed.[1] Following his retirement from acting in the early 1990s, Jeter had returned to his native Texas, where he spent his final years.[21] Details regarding funeral arrangements are unavailable, though he was buried somewhere in Texas.[3]Posthumous Recognition
Jeter's contributions to American theater have endured through his extensive tenure at the Alley Theatre in Houston, where he performed in over a dozen productions spanning decades, including notable roles such as Joe Keller in All My Sons (1983–1984) and Marcus Hubbard in Another Part of the Forest (1986–1987).[22] These performances underscored his skill as a versatile character actor, and the theater's archival records preserve his impact on the institution's history.[22] In the years following his death, Jeter's film and television work, particularly his supporting role as the convict Wickerman in Cool Hand Luke (1967), has been revisited in discussions of classic American cinema, contributing to the film's lasting cultural resonance as a symbol of defiance and camaraderie.[23] His recurring portrayal of blacksmith Hans Dorfler on Little House on the Prairie (1974–1982) likewise receives ongoing appreciation in tributes to the series' ensemble, emphasizing his embodiment of sturdy, community-oriented characters in Western dramas. While no major awards were bestowed posthumously, Jeter's peers and family have recalled him as a warm, dedicated artist whose humor and commitment influenced those around him, ensuring his memory persists among theater communities in Texas.[24]Filmography
Feature Films
James Jeter appeared in numerous feature films throughout his career, often in supporting or character roles. The following is a chronological list of his feature film credits:| Year | Title | Role | Billing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Kiss Me, Stupid | Waiter at Desert Sands | Uncredited |
| 1964 | The Best Man | Mayor | Uncredited [12] |
| 1966 | The Chase | Man | Uncredited [25] |
| 1966 | The Sand Pebbles | Farren | Credited [26] |
| 1967 | The Big Mouth | Police Lieutenant | Uncredited [27] |
| 1967 | Cool Hand Luke | Wickerman | Uncredited [28] |
| 1973 | Oklahoma Crude | Stapp | Credited [29] |
| 1975 | The Four Deuces | Capt. 'Smitty' Baird | Credited [30] |
| 1976 | The Big Bus | Bus Bartender | Credited [31] |
| 1976 | Assault on Precinct 13 | Precinct Captain | Uncredited [32] |
| 1977 | Black Sunday | Watchman | Credited [33] |
| 1977 | Fun with Dick and Jane | Immigration Officer | Credited |
| 1978 | F.I.S.T. | Mike Quinn | Credited [34] |
| 1979 | Fast Break | Officer Hedgewood | Credited [35] |
| 1979 | The Last Word | Desk Sergeant | Credited [36] |
| 1980 | A Change of Seasons | Truck Driver | Credited |
| 1980 | The Hollywood Knights | Smitty | Credited |
| 1980 | The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle | Martin Bormann | Uncredited [37] |
| 1981 | Blow Out | Film Lab Man | Credited [38] |
| 1982 | The Border | Frank | Credited [39] |
| 1988 | Cohen and Tate | Trooper #1 | Credited |
| 1993 | A Perfect World | Oldtimer | Credited [40] |