James Naughton (born December 6 1945) is a two time Tony Award-winning American theater, film and television actor.
Naughton was born in Middletown, Connecticut, the son of Rosemary (née Walsh) and Joseph Naughton, both of whom were teachers. He is the brother of actor David Naughton and father of actors Keira Naughton and Greg Naughton. He started singing during his years at Conard High School "with the high school band and at parties".
Naughton attended Brown University and Yale Drama School. His acting career began when he appeared in a series of Broadway dramas and musicals. He has since become an accomplished actor in many supporting film and television roles. blank">Legendary James Naughton at Edison
His largest fame and notoriety has been in theater, however. He won the _Theatre World Award for his performance in Long Day's Journey Into Night in 1971, and Tony Awards in 1990 and 1997. His films include The Paper Chase and The First Wives Club. He also starred with Ron Harper in the 1974 television series Planet of the Apes, a spin-off of the original movie. He has directed several plays in New York and also appears in cabarets. In 1997 he won critical acclaim with his portrayal of lawyer Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago, and in 2006 starred in the movie The Devil Wears Prada. In 2006, Played the part of Edie Sedgwick's father, Fuzzy Sedgwick in Factory Girl. He has appeared in television commercials promoting the drugs Nexium and Nasalcrom.
James Naughton, a handsome charmer and solid, reliable player on film and TV, is best known for his magnetic work on the musical stage. The two-time Tony award winner for his cynical, Sam Spade-like detective in "City of Angels" (1990) and slick, shyster lawyer/razzle dazzler Billy Flynn in the revival of "Chicago" (1997) hails from Yale (School of Drama) and began scoring on Broadway in the 70s with his sharp portrayal as Edmund in "Long Day's Journey Into Night" and in his Broadway debut with "I Love My Wife." He has also directed stage plays such as Arthur Miller's "The Price" and "Our Town" with Paul Newman and Jane Curtin. A number of TV series throughout the decades failed, however, to light up his name in Hollywood with "Making the Grade," "Trauma Center" and "The Cosby Mysteries" coming and going. The same goes with his steady, restrained work in the films The Paper Chase (1973), The Glass Menagerie (1987) The Good Mother (1988) and The First Wives Club (1996). Best known for his trustworthy husbands (well, not always) and well-dressed professionals, he has one of those strong, worldly faces you recognize but can't place. Recently Naughton has taken to the cabaret circuit where his simple, relaxed singing style has caught on, especially in his award-winning one-man show "Street of Dreams" which was comprised of a number of eclectic songs from country and western to contemporary pop to classic standards. His children Greg and Keira are also in the business.
