Biography

James Jeter was originally from Star, Texas, he was an only child, raised by his mother and two stepfathers. His biological father, whom he never knew, died in 1931 when Jim was 10 years old. Jim joined the Merchant Marines during World War 2, and earned the title of Golden Gloves boxer during this time. While stationed in Malaysia, he contracted malaria but was able to overcome the disease by the war's end.

During the early 1940s, he married Odette Whiting, a woman he met in Australia, and they had a son, Christopher, together. That marriage ended and by 1945 he met Hope Adams, his future wife, while both were serving in the Armed Forces. Jim and Hope were married and had two sons, Steve and James "little Jim" by 1949. Sometime after 1950 Jim and Hope's marriage ended, and Jim focused on his acting career. He went to New York, where he met Chris Wilson, who years later would become his 4th and last wife. He was a stage actor primarily, playing in "Sweet Bird of Youth" off-Broadway in 1953. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Jim became friends with some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn, James Garner, Claude Akins and many others all of whom regarded Jim as a fine actor. He also took many TV and movie roles, including repeated appearances in "Little House on the Prairie" , resulting in his being recognized as a busy character actor of the time.

During the early 1960s, he met and married Marian Hail, another Texan with whom he had two daughters, Julia and Susan Jeter. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he continued to get bit parts in many movies, sharing the screen with Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Jack Nicholson, Mako, Clint Eastwood, and Kevin Costner, to name a few. Also, in 1977, Jim graduated from Law School in Los Angeles, and had a private practice for a short time, with home offices in Altadena, California.

Following a serious car crash in New York City in which he suffered crushed pelvic bones, he took some time off to recuperate. His marriage to Marian ended in the early 1980s, and he soon relocated back to his home state of Texas, settled in Houston, and was a prolific contributor to the renowned Alley Theater in downtown Houston, Texas for many years. He had reconnected with Chris Wilson (Smith), a woman he met while in New York decades earlier, and they married in 1993. They lived together and worked together at the Alley theater until her death in 2004.

Called "Granddaddy" by his granddaughter Heidi Jeter, he was also known as "Big Jim" and "Jimmy" to those who knew him best. He was a warm, big hearted man, with many friends in the business who lauded his acting abilities. Jim always felt that being on stage was where an actor truly belonged, and he starred in and directed many stage productions throughout his life. He passed away four days before the birth of his first great-grandson, Seth. He is sorely missed by his family, and those actors who are still around who remember his big personality, sense of humor, and his passion for acting.

- IMDb mini biography by: Heidi Jeter