Jim McMullan: Movies & Box Office

James P. McMullan (October 13, 1936 – May 31, 2019) was an American actor whose career spanned more than five decades, beginning with a chance screen test for Sam Peckinpah’s Ride the High Country in 1962. Born on Long Island in Long Beach, New York, he first pursued an education in design and architecture, studying Industrial Design at New York University and Parsons before earning a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Kansas in 1961. After moving to Hollywood that same year, a serendipitous meeting with playwright William Inge launched him into a seven‑year contract with Universal Pictures, marking the start of a prolific film and television career. McMullan’s early television work included a guest spot as Jess Kroeger on The Virginian and a recurring role as Dr. Terry McDaniel on the 1960s medical drama Ben Casey. He later became widely recognized for portraying Senator Andrew Dowling on the long‑running CBS primetime soap Dallas, a role that cemented his status as a reliable character actor. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s he appeared in a multitude of popular series—The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Time Tunnel, Hart to Hart, S.W.A.T., The A‑Team and Baywatch among them—often delivering memorable guest performances that showcased his versatility. In cinema, his credits ranged from playing Buffalo Bill Cody in The Raiders (1963) to a part in the cult comedy Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) and a cameo in Batman & Robin (1997). McMullan continued acting up until his final years, with his last credited work appearing in 2019. He passed away from complications of ALS at his home in Wofford Heights, California, leaving behind his wife Helene Slack and their two children.