Jim Fitzpatrick
From The TV IV
| Jim Fitzpatrick | |
| Notable Roles | |
| Notable Episodes | |
| Awards | |
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[edit] Biography
Jim Fitzpatrick began his acting career on the stage at the age of 13 when he appeared in his first school play, A Thousand Clowns, at Seminole High School. Jim accepted a Football scholarship to Illinois State University as a theater major where he became involved with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company founded by Gary Sinise and John Malkovich. He put aside an acting career to play professional football, however, starting in 1981 with the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the CFL (Canadian Football league) followed by short stints with the Chicago Bears ('81) and the Baltimore Colts ('82). His football career ended when he retired in 1985, after spending three seasons with the Tampa Bay Bandits in the USFL ('83-'85). However, playing for the Bandits was a blessing in disguise. One of the owners of the Bandits was Burt Reynolds, who was instrumental in setting Jim's career in Los Angeles in motion. Jim began auditioning for productions during the off-seasons. Before moving to L.A., he landed parts in Miami Vice, Cocoon and D.A.R.Y.L.. Since then, Jim has appeared in over 30 plays for the stage (six of which he has written, produced and directed in Los Angeles). He has also starred and guest-starred in over 50 roles in films and television such as U.S. Seals, Operation Delta Force 3: Clear Target, Armageddon (1998), Star Trek: Enterprise, JAG and All My Children.
While Fitzpatrick was in Johannesburg, South Africa Guest-Starring as Rip Chase in a TV Series spin-off of "Tropical Heat," called "Bullet Proof," he met model Charlize Theron as an 18 year old, while Charlize was competing in an beauty contest. Fitzpatrick told Charlize that "She was absolutely gorgeous and to immediately drop everything and move to Los Angeles." Charlize took his advice.
Most people know entertainer Jim Ftzpatrick as an actor/writer/director. Only his close friends know that Fitzpatrick had a burning desire to be a singer. After being introduced to Lou Rawls at the "Pump Room" Jazz Club in Chicago's Ambassador East Hotel, Jim was bound and determined to reach for the singing brass ring. However along the way, his acting career blossomed and James became an action star, by utilizing his acting talents and athletic ability to Star in the action packed thrillers "U.S.SEALs", "Delta Force, Clear Target" & "The Code Conspiracy", in which he Starred along side his friend Lou Rawls.
FITZPATRICK played Commander Williams...William Shatner's name sake in the latest Star Trek 'ENTERPRISE' series. Fitzpatrick is also the spitting image of Captain PIKE, in the original series STAR TREK, and in consideration for JJ Abrams new Star Trek film for Paramount Pictures, slated to shoot this fall.
Fitzpatrick has Starred in several TV Series, and has Guest-Starred dozens of others such as, "The District"(2 Episodes), "Threat Matrix", "ER", "The Agency", "Enterprise"(7 Episodes), "Ed", "JAG"(2 Episodes), "Pacific Blue", "Renegade", "Sweating Bullets"(Pilot, plus 6 Episodes), "South of Sunset", "Anything But Love", "Tour of Duty", "Designing Women", "The New Gidget"(6 Episodes), "Santa Barbara"(9 Episodes), "Miami Vice", "Days of Our Lives"(14 Episodes), "Stand by Your Man", "All My Children"(174 Episodes), "The Bob Hope Show" (2 Episodes), "When The Bough Breaks", "GodParent$"(Pilot), "Stealth Squad"(Pilot), "The Shepherd"(Pilot, plus 4 Episodes), "Right Hand Man"(Pilot), "Margueritaville"(Pilot)
Besides acting, Fitzpatrick has written, produced and directed a poignant romantic dramedy entitled An American Reunion, one of 31 screenplays he has written and produced. James filmed a pilot for a TV series called Supernatural (2003), which he executive produced and directed. Jim, his actress wife Jodi Knotts, and their two sons, JJ and Jadon have recently moved from Los Angeles to Seminole, Florida, where he has directed the first film in a series of three called Scouts Honor. Currently, James has a project titled 'A Fonder Heart,' starring Burt Reynolds, Anne Archer, Shelly Long, Kevin Pollak, Brenda Strong, Lou Gossett Jr. and Elizabeth Hurley, in Pre-Production.
[edit] Roles
[edit] Starring Roles
Soulmates (2008)...Rudy... Scouts Honor (2008)...Allen Daniels The Belly of the Beast (2007)...Adam Simeon Hallows Point (2007)...Detective Frank Cates The Indian (2007)...Vince Blood Ranch (2006)...Spider Distortion (2006)...Frank Elizabethtown (2005)...Rusty Supernatural (2005)...Professor Calvin Gordon (Neurophysicist) An American Reunion (2003)...Jamie Tesch The Code Conspiracy (2001)...John Davis Unreel: A True Hollywood Story (2001)...Tommy Operation Delta Force 3: Clear Target (1999)...Skip Lang U.S. Seals (1999)...Mike Bradley Little Ghost (1997)...Tony "All My Children" (1995-96)...Pierce Riley Curse of the Starving Class (1994)...Emerson The Glass Shield (1994)...Jim Ryan WormKiller's Last Spring (1994)...John Shelter in the Storm (1987)....River Glory Days(1979)...Steve Street
[edit] Guest Star
Supernatural (2005) (TV) .... Professor Calvin Gordon (Neurophysicist) "Enterprise" .... Commander Williams (5 episodes, 2001-2004) ... aka Star Trek: Enterprise (USA: new title) - Home (2004) TV episode .... Commander Williams - Regeneration (2003) TV episode .... Commander Williams - Shockwave: Part 2 (2002) TV episode .... Commander Williams - Broken Bow: Part 1 (2001) TV episode .... Commander Williams - Broken Bow: Part 2 (2001) TV episode .... Commander Williams "The District" .... T.A.C. Team Captain Weston Buell (2 episodes, 2003) - The Kindness of Strangers (2003) TV episode .... T.A.C. Team Captain Weston Buell - The Devil You Know... (2003) TV episode .... T.A.C. Team Captain Weston Buell "Threat Matrix" .... Camp Pendleton Security Chief Robert Burkehart (1 episode, 2003) - Doctor Germ (2003) TV episode .... Camp Pendleton Security Chief Robert Burkehart "ER" .... Lt. Col. McGreun (1 episode, 2002) - First Snowfall (2002) TV episode .... Lt. Col. McGreun "The Agency" .... CIA Guard Allman (1 episode, 2002) - Peacemakers (2002) TV episode .... CIA Guard Allman "JAG" .... Lt. Cmdr. Murray Douglas / ... (2 episodes, 1997-2001) - Measure of Men (2001) TV episode .... Marine Maj. Warren Lasley - Vanished (1997) TV episode .... Lt. Cmdr. Murray Douglas "Ed" .... Customer (1 episode, 2000) - Your Life Is Now (2000) TV episode .... Customer "100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd" (1999) TV series .... Wrestling Coach Hardgrave (unknown episodes) "Pacific Blue" .... Capt. Frank Hawkins (1 episode, 1997) - Repeat Offenders (1997) TV episode .... Capt. Frank Hawkins "All My Children" .... Pierce Riley #1 / ... (55 episodes, 1986-1997) ... aka All My Children: The Summer of Seduction (USA: promotional title) - Episode #1.7061 (1997) TV episode .... Pierce Riley #1 - Episode dated 7 October 1996 (1996) TV episode .... Pierce Riley #1 - Episode dated 4 October 1996 (1996) TV episode .... Pierce Riley #1 - Episode dated 2 October 1996 (1996) TV episode .... Pierce Riley #1 - Episode dated 20 September 1996 (1996) TV episode .... Pierce Riley #1 (50 more) "General Hospital" (1963) TV series .... Pierce Dorman #1 (unknown episodes, 1994-1995) "Renegade" .... Brett Quinn (1 episode, 1993) - Honor Bound (1993) TV episode (as James A. Fitzpatrick) .... Brett Quinn "Sweating Bullets" .... Rip Chase (2 episodes, 1993) ... aka Tropical Heat - Spider's Tale (1993) TV episode .... Rip Chase - Mutiny and the Bounty (1993) TV episode .... Rip Chase "South of Sunset" .... Tony (1 episode, 1993) - Dream Girl (1993) TV episode .... Tony "Stand by Your Man" .... Kyle (1 episode) - Getting Out (????) TV episode .... Kyle "Anything But Love" .... Sexy Guy (1 episode, 1991) - I Feel a Cult Coming On (1991) TV episode .... Sexy Guy Sporting Chance (1990) (TV) (as James Alt) .... Davis Guts and Glory: The Rise and Fall of Oliver North (1989) (TV) .... Sargeant Major Collins "Tour of Duty" .... Captain Pescow (1 episode, 1989) - Nightmare (1989) TV episode (as James Alt) .... Captain Pescow "The New Gidget" .... Tom Wilson (5 episodes, 1986-1988) - Kahuna Jr. (1988) TV episode .... Tom Wilson - Calendar Boys (1987) TV episode .... Tom Wilson - Gillingidge Island (1987) TV episode .... Tom Wilson - It's Only Rock'n'Roll (1986) TV episode .... Tom Wilson - Jeff's Anniversary (1986) TV episode .... Tom Wilson "Days of Our Lives" .... Dr. Robinson (4 episodes, 1985-1987) ... aka Cruise of Deception: Days of Our Lives (USA: summer title) ... aka DOOL (USA: informal short title) ... aka Days (USA: short title) - Episode #1.5562 (1987) TV episode .... Dr. Robinson - Episode #1.5000 (1986) TV episode .... Dr. Robinson - Episode #1.5148 (1986) TV episode .... Dr. Robinson - Episode #1.4989 (1985) TV episode .... Dr. Robinson "Santa Barbara" .... Man / ... (5 episodes, 1986-1987) - Episode #1.740 (1987) TV episode .... Raz/Man - Episode #1.489 (1986) TV episode (uncredited) .... Raz/Man - Episode #1.429 (1986) TV episode .... Raz/Man - Episode #1.405 (1986) TV episode .... Raz/Man - Episode #1.376 (1986) TV episode .... Raz/Man "Designing Women" .... Garret Jackson (1 episode, 1987) - Grand Slam, Thank You Ma'am (1987) TV episode .... Garret Jackson When the Bough Breaks (1986) (TV) .... Reporter #3 "Miami Vice" .... Teddy Lake (1 episode, 1986) - Definitely Miami (1986) TV episode .... Teddy Lake
Bob Hope Winterfest Christmas Show (1987) (TV) .... Himself & Other Characters
[edit] Memorable Moments
Lou Gossett Jr., kissed James on the nose during rehearsing a scene for Sam Shepard's film "Curse of The Starving Class", while James was screaming at Lou, face to face, blowing James' concentration and sending him into a a half hour spell of laughing hysterically.
[edit] Awards and Accolades
Nominated for Daytime EMMY
[edit] Trivia
His "Enterprise" (2001) character, Commander Williams, was named after William Shatner.
Set-up Cameron Diaz with his Agent, which helped launch her professional acting career.
One of Jim's favorite actor/entertainers, Charlton Heston, was also one of Jim's tennis partners and mentor.
In the 1970's, James ventured into the Ambassador East Hotel in Chicago Illinois with his uncle John and John's close friend Mayor Richard Daley. While visiting the "Pump Room," the hotel's Jazz club, James met crooner Lou Rawls, whence they became friends. Three decades later, James would star in a movie titled "The Code Conspiracy," in which his friend Lou Rawls, would also play a role as the Carriage Driver. From that day forward Lou & James would get together at Lounges and Restaurants throughout the country, to sing together. James was a big Lou Rawls fan.
Jimmy was the first Tarzan at the theme park Busch Gardens, in Tampa Florida.
In 1987, Jimmy became close friends with feature director Michael Bay (Armageddon, Bad Boys 1 & 2, The Rock). They met while Michael was still attending film school in college and holding auditions, when Michael asked Jimmy to Star in Senior Thesis Project. In fact, Jimmy has starred in over 18 different Films, National Commercials, Music Videos, and a short, titled 'Evicted', for Michael. They're still close friends to this day.
He and Sam Shepard became friends in the late 80s, during an evening of Tequila and a deep discussion about the philosophy of writing two and three act semi-autobiographical plays for the stage. Several years later James co-starred in one of Sam's most controversial Pulitzer Prize Winning plays, entitled, 'Curse of The Starving Class.'.
Writer/Director David Klass was Jim's best-man at his wedding, aboard a 33 ft. Yacht in the San Francisco bay, on the fourth of July, 1990.
In 1986, James and his best friend Director/Producer Corbin Timbrook met at an audition for a feature film titled 'Money Can't Buy Me Love,' vying for the role of the same character. Corbin and James have since worked together over 20 times in Feature Films, TV Series Episodes, and theatrical Plays for the stage in Los Angeles. The success of their friendship Jim says, "Total belief and support of each other. We knew we were gonna be successful in this industry, and in most regards, we already have been.".
