J. A. Preston

James Allen Preston Sr.[1] (born November 13, 1932) is an American actor. Preston is best known for his role as Ozzie Cleveland on the NBC primetime television series Hill Street Blues which originally aired from 1981 until 1987.

J. A. Preston
Preston as Walter Ingles on Good Times, circa 1976
Born	James Allen Preston November 13, 1932 Washington, D.C., U.S.
Education	North Carolina College
Years active	1971–2006
Known for	Ozzie Cleveland – Hill Street Blues
Spouse(s)	Merilyn Alsop ​ ​ (m. 1957; div. 1972)​
Children	3

Biography

Life and career

Preston was born November 13 (1932) in Washington, D.C.[2] In addition to his role on Hill Street Blues, Preston is also known for his roles as Leo Daltry in Dallas, Richard Matthews in Santa Barbara, court-martial judge Col. J. A. Randolph, USMC in the 1992 film A Few Good Men, and the minor but important role of a USAF Major General in Air Force One (1997). He was a series regular in the short-lived CBS sitcom All's Fair which ran just one season (1976-77). In it he played an assistant to conservative newspaper columnist Richard Barrington (played by Richard Crenna). Preston also appeared on the NBC television series The A-Team as a judge (Col. Thomas Milo) presiding over a military tribunal convened to try the A-Team. He also appeared in 3 episodes of Martin as Gina’s (Tisha Campbell-Martin) father Dr. Cliff Waters.

Personal life

Preston was married to Merilyn Alsop from 1957 until divorcing in 1972. Together, Preston and Alsop had three children before their divorce: Scott, Dominique, and James Preston.[1]

Selected filmography

• Mississippi Summer (1971)
• The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973) – Dawson
• Two-Minute Warning (1976) – Policeman #1
• Silver Streak (1976) – Waiter (uncredited)
• Real Life (1979) – Dr. Ted Cleary
• Roots: The Next Generations (1979) – College President Harper
• Americathon (1979) – Morty
• High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane (1980) – Alonzo
• Body Heat (1981) – Oscar Grace
• The White Lions (1981) – Aniel
• Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) – Conn MacCleary
• Fire Birds (1990) – General Olcott
• Narrow Margin (1990) – Chief Deputy District Attorney Martin Larner
• Captain Ron (1992) – Magistrate
• A Few Good Men (1992) – Judge Julius Alexander Randolph
• Contact (1997) – Senator (uncredited)
• Air Force One (1997) – USAF Major General Samuel Greely (uncredited)
• Sweet Deadly Dreams (2006) – Mott

Theatre

• Henry IV, Part 1 – Delacorte Theater (1968)
• Henry IV, Part 2 – Delacorte Theater (1968)
• Freeman – American Place Theatre (1973)[3]

References

1. "Merilyn Alsop Preston Taylor: Obituary". The Capital. Annapolis, Maryland. May 1, 2010. Archived from the original on November 5, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
2. "J. A. Preston Biography ((?)-)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
3. "Search for J.A. Preston". Lortel Archives.

External links

• J. A. Preston at IMDb
• J. A. Preston at the Internet Broadway Database
• J. A. Preston at the Internet Off-Broadway Database