J.A. Preston
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- November 13, 1932 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- Active Years
- 1971–2011 (41 Years)
- Total Credits
- 60 credits in database
Biography
Subject: J.A. Preston (Acting).
Source Material: TMDB Bio and TMDB Overview.
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Name: James Allen Preston Sr. (also known as J. A. Preston).
Birth Date: November 13, 1932.
Birth Place: Washington, D.C., USA.
Profession: American actor.
Known roles/credits:
Ozzie Cleveland on NBC primetime series Hill Street Blues (1981-1987).
Leo Daltry in Dallas.
Richard Matthews in Santa Barbara.
Col. J. A. Randolph, USMC (court-martial judge) in the 1992 film A Few Good Men.
USAF Major General in Air Force One (1997).
Series regular in CBS sitcom All's Fair (one season, 1976-77).
Total known credits: 59.
James Allen Preston Sr., also known as J. A. Preston, is an American actor born on November 13, 1932, in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He is recognized for his role as Ozzie Cleveland on the NBC primetime television series Hill Street Blues, which aired from 1981 until 1987. His other notable roles include Leo Daltry in Dallas and Richard Matthews in Santa Barbara. Preston appeared as the court-martial judge Col. J. A. Randolph, USMC, in the 1992 film A Few Good Men and played a USAF Major General in the 1997 film Air Force One. He was a series regular during the 1976-77
Career overview
James Allen Preston Sr. is an American actor born on November 13, 1932, in Washington, D.C. Throughout his career, he has accumulated 59 known acting credits. He gained recognition for his portrayal of Ozzie Cleveland on the NBC primetime television series Hill Street Blues, which aired from 1981 until 1987. Earlier in his television career, he served as a series regular on the CBS sitcom All's Fair, which ran for one season between 1976 and 1977.
Preston has appeared in various other television and film projects. His television work includes roles as Leo Daltry in the series Dallas and Richard Matthews in Santa Barbara. In feature films, he played court-martial judge Colonel J. A. Randolph of the United States Marine Corps in the 1992 production A Few Good Men. He also appeared in the 1997 film Air Force One, where he portrayed a United States Air Force Major General.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
60 titles- Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door (2011)
- Contact (1997) as Senator (uncredited)
- House of Frankenstein (1997)
- The Sentinel (1996) as Mel Wilkenson
- Harvest of Fire (1996) as Sheriff Garrison
- Chicago Hope (1994) as Rodney Helpurn
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Waters
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle (1994) as Man
- MacShayne: Winner Takes All (1994) as Pete Webb
- Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993) as General Zeitlin
- seaQuest DSV (1993) as Charles
- The Gifted (1993) as Jacob (Adult)
- Martin (1992) as Dr. Cliff Waters
- A Few Good Men (1992) as Judge Randolph
- Captain Ron (1992) as Magistrate
- Steel Justice (1992) as Jeremiah J. Jones
- Aftermath: A Test of Love (1991) as Det. Boland
- Law & Order (1990) as Congressman Ronald Eaton
- Fire Birds (1990) as General Olcott
- Narrow Margin (1990) as Martin Larner
- The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson (1990) as Wendell Smith
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Harry
- The George McKenna Story (1988) as Mr. McKenna
- 21 Jump Street (1987) as George Messiah
- Jake and the Fatman (1987)
- Desperate (1987) as Wiggee
- Moonlighting (1985) as Dr. Nealy
- Amazing Stories (1985) as Prof. Bertram Carver
- Hollywood Beat (1985) as Walker
- Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) as Conn MacCleary
- Punky Brewster (1984)
- The A-Team (1983) as Judge
- Hardcastle and McCormick (1983) as Vic Dutton
- T. J. Hooker (1982) as Dr. Ross
- The New Odd Couple (1982) as Charles Walker
- Hill Street Blues (1981) as Ozzie Cleveland (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Hill Street Blues (1981) as Ozzie Cleveland
- Simon & Simon (1981) as Police Lt. 'Mule' Muldower - Internal Affairs
- Gimme a Break! (1981)
- Body Heat (1981) as Oscar Grace
- The White Lions (1981) as Aniel
- High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane (1980) as Alonzo
- The Plutonium Incident (1980) as Dr. Samuels
- Hart to Hart (1979) as Mr. Pruitt
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979) as President Harper
- Americathon (1979) as Morty
- Real Life (1979) as Dr. Ted Cleary
- Dallas (1978) as Leo Daltry
- Carter Country (1977)
- James at 16 (1977) as Hazeltine
- Quincy, M.E. (1976) as Judge Saunder MacMillan
- Silver Streak (1976) as Waiter (uncredited)
- Two-Minute Warning (1976) as Policeman
- The Jeffersons (1975)
- Wonder Woman (1975) as Jazreel
- Good Times (1974)
- The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973) as Dawson
- All in the Family (1971) as Elmo 'Black Elmo' Bridgewater
- Mississippi Summer (1971)
- Black Cop as Narrator
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is J.A. Preston best known for?
J.A. Preston is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Contact (1997), Young and Dangerous 2 (1996), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Chicago Hope (1994).
When and where was J.A. Preston born?
J.A. Preston was born on November 13, 1932 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
How many credits does J.A. Preston have?
J.A. Preston has accumulated over 60 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1971 to 2011.
What is J.A. Preston's background in cinema and television?
Subject: J.A. Preston (Acting). Source Material: TMDB Bio and TMDB Overview. Constraints: Write ONLY verifiable facts from the provided text. No inventions, guesses, or omissions of missing details. Style: Original, neutral, encyclopedic prose. Format: Plain text only (no markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet ...
J.A. Preston by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The White Lions (1981) as Aniel — aged about 48
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Harry — aged about 56
- Good Times (1974) — aged about 41
- All in the Family (1971) as Elmo 'Black Elmo' Bridgewater — aged about 38
- A Few Good Men (1992) as Judge Randolph — aged about 59
- Hill Street Blues (1981) as Ozzie Cleveland (archive footage) (uncredited) — aged about 48
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