In Memory of Character Actor James Millhollin: Three Decades After His Tragic Death From Cancer

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It's been over thirty years since beloved character actor James Millhollin died of cancer at only 64 years old in 1993. He carved out an exquisite career of playing fastidious types in countless television, movie, and theatre performances. This is his story.

A Closer Look

James Millhollin was born on August 23, 1915, in Peoria, Illinois. He eventually moved to New York, and early in his career made it to Broadway, and guest-starred on several TV shows before transitioning into feature films

With his slim, anxiety-ridden persona, Millhollin delivered expert performances each time he blazed the screen or stage - and that periodically transpired with the same role.

Case in point: In 1958, the actor played the army psychiatrist who attempts to give Andy Griffith a psychological examination in the motion picture, No Time for Sergeants, a character he also portrayed in the original Broadway production.

Millholin's other Broadway shows include Saratoga, and The Girls in 509, while classic TV fans remember him from his numerous small-screen performances, sometimes in more than than two episodes of the same series.

For example, in 1960 and 1962, Millhollin appeared in two episodes of ABC's Serling's, first playing Jon Keith in "The Wide-Screen Caper" and then as Bayard Parmentor in "The Odds on Odette."

On into The Twilight Zone and the Court of Perry Mason

Also in the early 1960s, James Millhollin worked on three episodes of Rod Serling's acclaimed CBS sci-fi/fantasy series The Twilight Zone. In that groundbreaking series, he was cast as Mr. Armbruster in "The After Hours"; Abernathy in "Mr. Dingle, the Strong"; and Masters in "I Dream of Genie."

Further during that period, Milhollin delivered three guest appearances on Raymond Burr's iconic legal-geared CBS series Perry Mason. He was the killer Ben Otis in "The Case of the Angry Dead Manitoba"; Professor Grove in "The Case of the Brazen Bequest"; and a floorwalker in "The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe."

On the lighter side, and in a more regular capacity, Millhollin played the nerve-wrecked proprietor of a temporary employment agency, which had signed Imogene Coca's clumsy maid in the sitcom Grindl (1963-1964)

Into this mix, Millhollin also continued to make other big-screen flicks including Everything's Ducky (1961), Zotz! (1962), Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963), Never a Dull Moment (1968), and How to Frame a Figg (1970).

Lasting Impression

James Millhollin left an indelible mark in the entertainment industry, which rarely today breeds an actor similar to his unique style and talent.