Cast

James Drury as Grampa

JAMES CHILD DRURY was born April 18, 1934 in New York City, where his father was a Professor of Marketing at New York University. When Jim was six weeks old, his mother, a native of Oregon, and the family went to the home ranch. There were many trips back and forth from their home in New York and Oregon. Through the years he spent a great deal of his boyhood on the family ranch. Jim grew up with a love for horses and the outdoor life. His maternal grandfather taught him woodsman skills and marksmanship and was a great influence on the shaping of his values.

He worked in such classic films as "Blackboard Jungle", "Forbidden Planet," "The Tender Trap," "Love Me Tender," "The Last Wagon," "Pollyanna," "Ride the High Country" and many others. Jim was a guest star in numerous television series like "Playhouse 90," "Gunsmoke," "Rifleman," "Cheyenne," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Wagon Train," "Rawhide," "Death Valley Days," before being chosen for the role of "The Virginian" in 1962.

After portraying "The Virginian" for nine years, he returned to the theatre across the U.S. in the ’70s. His stage credits are diverse with not only Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw, but also a long line of well-known classics such as "The Odd Couple," "The Rainmaker," "A Thousand Clowns," "Once More with Feeling," "Forty Karats," and "Prisoner of Second Avenue" just to name a few. In 1974, he starred in the television series "Firehouse."

In 1991, James Drury was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

Jim has appeared as Special Guest in numerous films and television shows like "Alias Smith and Jones" (1971), "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr." (1993), "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1993), "Kung Fu: TLC" (1994 and 1995), the film "The Virginian" (2000) and "Hell to Pay" (2005). Known for his distinctive voice, he has done many documentaries and audio books.

James Drury, now 80, and Carl Ann, his wife of over 30 years, reside in Houston, Texas. Not considering himself in the least bit as retired, he has an extensive traveling schedule to Western Events, Festivals and Autograph Shows across the country speaking about the Old West and how cowboy values shaped our country and how those values still hold true to those who will adhere to them. He is always on the lookout for a good film project to sink his teeth into.

Gary Clarke as Dr. Ben

Gary Clarke (born Clarke Frederic L'Amoreaux; August 16, 1933 in Los Angeles, California) is an American actor best known for his role as "Steve Hill" in the NBC western television series "The Virginian."

Gary appeared as Dick Hamilton in the 1960-61 NBC television series "Michael Shayne," based on the fictional private detective character created by Brett Halliday.

Gary appeared on the long-running series "The Virginian" from 1962 to 1965. Under the name C.F. L'Amoreaux, Gary wrote six scripts for the 1960s NBC sitcom "Get Smart." He created the character of Hymie the robot.

In July 2003, Gary Clarke and James Drury, along with two other "Virginian" costars, Roberta Shore and singer Randy Boone, were guests at the Western Film Fair in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2005, Gary was interviewed by Tom Weaver in "Earth vs. the Sci-Fi Filmmakers."

Living in Texas now, Gary enjoys time with his family and continues his work as a playwright.

Roberta Shore as Grandma

A native of San Gabriel, California, Roberta Shore’s career began at age ten, singing country western songs with Tex Williams, who invited her to join his weekly TV show from Knots Berry farm. Later she joined the Pinky Lee Show, then NBC-TV’s top-rated daily childrens’ program, and ultimately made guest TV appearances on Maverick, Wagon Train, Zane Grey Theatre, Laramie, The Tall Man, Lawman, GE Theatre, Father Knows Best, The Donna Reed Show, Ozzie and Harriet, and Jane Wyman’s Fireside Theatre, plus many appearances on The Lawrence Welk Show. She appeared often with The Mousketeers, and played “Laura,” Annette Funicello’s nemesis on Disney’s Annette Series.

Roberta is best known for creating the role of Betsy Garth, daughter of Judge Henry Garth, played by Lee J. Cobb, on NBC TV’s The Virginian.

Her movie credits include “Francesca” in Walt Disney’s original The Shaggy Dog, and featured roles in Because They’re Young with Dick Clark, The Young Savages with Burt Lancaster, and A Summer Place with Sandra Dee.

As a singer, Ms. Shore performed the theme for Walt Disney’s The Shaggy Dog, toured Australia with The Mouseketeers, recorded with Lawrence Welk on the DOT Label, and did many recordings on Disney’s BUENA VISTA Label with the Tutti Commerata orchestra, including an album with Rex Allen featuring songs from the movie Say One For Me. She also made an album for DECCA titled Singing Stars of the Virginian with show regular Randy Boone.

Roberta lives in Utah with her husband, actor & theatre director Ron Frederickson.

Jordan Elsass as Billy

Jordan Elsass started his acting career at age 4, when during a Vacation Bible School production he decided to improv his way onto his family's "Greatest Life's Moments" DVD. It was clear that he loved humor and finding a way to make people laugh as often as possible. In 2009, he submitted a video to a national REI contest and he won 3rd place.

In 2012, after moving to Georgetown, Texas, he was cast in multiple musicals at the Georgetown Palace Theatre, including "Annie Get Your Gun," "Will Rogers' Follies," and "Miracle on 34th Street." He was the lead character Jim Hawkins in "Treasure Island," and the ZACH Theater in Austin cast him as Flick for their Christmas show, "A Christmas Story." During this time, he was also cast in multiple University of Texas student films and the TV pilot spec "Professor Isle's Laboratory." He is a lead cast member and sketch writer for "Keepin' It Weird," a youth comedy troupe in Austin producing online episodes. Jordan lives with his family in Georgetown, Texas.