James Thomas Patrick Walsh (September 28, 1943 â€" February 27, 1998)
was an American character actor. He appeared in many films, notably
Tin Men (1987), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), A Few Good Men (1992),
Hoffa (1992), Nixon (1995), Sling Blade (1996), Breakdown (1997) and
Pleasantville (1998).Walsh was born in San Francisco, California, to
Mary Louise (née O'Connor) and James Patrick Walsh, who were both of
Irish descent. His father was a civilian comptroller in the U.S. Army.
He had three siblings: Christopher, Patricia, and Mary. From 1948
until 1962, the family lived in West Germany, where Walsh's father was
stationed; they lived in Munich for seven years before moving to
Stuttgart.Walsh and his brother studied at Clongowes Wood College (a
Jesuit school in Ireland) from 1955 until 1961. He then attended the
University of Tübingen (Walsh spoke fluent German) for a year before
his father died of a brain tumour, after which he and his family moved
back to the United States, settling in his mother's native Rhode
Island. He completed his studies at the University of Rhode Island,
where he majored in sociology and starred in many college theater
productions. During this time, he was also active in SDS
demonstrations against the Vietnam War.After graduating from college
in 1967, Walsh worked briefly as a VISTA volunteer in Newport, Rhode
Island organizing tenants for the United Tenant Organizations of Rhode
Island (UTO) before resigning to pursue his acting career. Prior to
becoming an actor, he also worked as a barman, an encyclopedia
salesman, a junior high school teacher, a gymnasium equipment
salesman, and a reporter. In 1974, he was discovered by a theater
director and began working in off-Broadway shows, where he began using
the initials "J. T." to avoid confusion with another stage actor named
James Walsh.
was an American character actor. He appeared in many films, notably
Tin Men (1987), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), A Few Good Men (1992),
Hoffa (1992), Nixon (1995), Sling Blade (1996), Breakdown (1997) and
Pleasantville (1998).Walsh was born in San Francisco, California, to
Mary Louise (née O'Connor) and James Patrick Walsh, who were both of
Irish descent. His father was a civilian comptroller in the U.S. Army.
He had three siblings: Christopher, Patricia, and Mary. From 1948
until 1962, the family lived in West Germany, where Walsh's father was
stationed; they lived in Munich for seven years before moving to
Stuttgart.Walsh and his brother studied at Clongowes Wood College (a
Jesuit school in Ireland) from 1955 until 1961. He then attended the
University of Tübingen (Walsh spoke fluent German) for a year before
his father died of a brain tumour, after which he and his family moved
back to the United States, settling in his mother's native Rhode
Island. He completed his studies at the University of Rhode Island,
where he majored in sociology and starred in many college theater
productions. During this time, he was also active in SDS
demonstrations against the Vietnam War.After graduating from college
in 1967, Walsh worked briefly as a VISTA volunteer in Newport, Rhode
Island organizing tenants for the United Tenant Organizations of Rhode
Island (UTO) before resigning to pursue his acting career. Prior to
becoming an actor, he also worked as a barman, an encyclopedia
salesman, a junior high school teacher, a gymnasium equipment
salesman, and a reporter. In 1974, he was discovered by a theater
director and began working in off-Broadway shows, where he began using
the initials "J. T." to avoid confusion with another stage actor named
James Walsh.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.