Skip to main content
James Olson
★ Acting

James Olson

1930 – 2022 · Evanston, Illinois, USA · Active 1950–1990

James Olson, born in 1930, made his mark in cult cinema with roles in Moon Zero Two (1969) and Wild Rovers (1971). His performance in The Mafu Cage (1978) showcases his ability to navigate complex characters within the realm of exploitation and psychological horror. With a background in stage acting in Chicago, Olson transitioned to film, bringing a unique intensity to his roles that resonates in the gritty landscapes of the films on SassyFlix. His contributions to this genre highlight the intersection of mainstream and cult cinema.

▶ Watch on SassyFlix 3 films available
The Mafu Cage

The Mafu Cage

1978 ★ 5.6
as David

Grant and Kane play a pair of incestuous sisters who live together in a house that is falling apart in the Hollywood Hills. Their house was formerly owned by their late anthropologist father. Ellen (Grant), an astronomer, tries her best to take care of Sissy (Kane), a mentally ill eccentric who enjoys keeping her pet "mafus" (apes) in a cage in their living room.[5] None of the mafus last long, given Sissy's violent outbursts.

Watch Now
Career Highlights Top 6 by popularity · TMDB

Filmography

81 credits
1990s 1 credit
1990
TV ★ 7.5
1980s 12 credits
1989
Rachel River as Jack Canon
Movie ★ 7.3
1987
TV ★ 6.2
1986
One Police Plaza as Whitney Zangline
Movie ★ 9.0
1985
Commando as Major General Franklin Kirby
Movie ★ 6.7
1985
Movie ★ 10.0
1984
The Parade as Andy Janacek
Movie ★ 4.5
1984
Murder, She Wrote as Clarence La Rue
TV ★ 7.5
1983
Cave-In! as Tom Arlen
Movie ★ 4.6
1982
Movie ★ 5.8
1982
TV ★ 6.3
1981
Ragtime as Father
Movie ★ 7.0
1980
The Silent Lovers as Victor Seastrom
Movie ★ 4.7
1970s 41 credits
1978
Movie
1978
Movie ★ 5.9
1978
TV ★ 7.0
1978
TV ★ 6.5
1978
TV ★ 7.1
1977
The Spell as Glenn
Movie ★ 5.0
1977
The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer as Gen. George Armstrong Custer
Movie ★ 2.0
1976
Law and Order as Insp. Ed Shea
Movie ★ 8.0
1976
TV ★ 7.0
1975
Someone I Touched as Sam Hyatt
Movie ★ 5.1
1975
Movie ★ 6.4
1975
Movie ★ 4.3
1975
Man on the Outside as Gerald Griffin
Movie ★ 8.0
1975
TV ★ 7.0
1974
Manhunter as Walt Hovis
Movie ★ 6.7
1974
The Sex Symbol as Calvin Bernard
Movie ★ 4.0
1974
Movie ★ 10.0
1974
TV ★ 5.2
1974
TV ★ 6.4
1974
TV ★ 5.0
1974
Little House on the Prairie as Reverend Jacob Danforth
TV ★ 7.9
1973
Movie ★ 6.0
1973
Legend in Granite as Mas McGee
Movie ★ 8.0
1973
TV ★ 7.0
1973
Barnaby Jones as Randall Stone
TV ★ 7.0
1972
The Groundstar Conspiracy as Senator Stanton
Movie ★ 6.3
1972
TV ★ 6.9
1972
Maude as Sen. Bob Myers
TV ★ 6.9
1972
TV ★ 7.0
1972
Kung Fu as Damion
TV ★ 7.7
1971
The Andromeda Strain as Dr. Mark Hall
Movie ★ 7.1
1971
Wild Rovers as Joe Billings
Movie ★ 6.1
1971
Paper Man as Art Fletcher
Movie ★ 6.1
1971
Columbo as Paul Rifkin
TV ★ 8.1
1971
TV ★ 6.7
1971
McMillan & Wife as W.T. Knox
TV ★ 7.0
1970
Crescendo as Georges Ryman / Jacques Ryman
Movie ★ 5.2
1970
TV ★ 7.2
1970
San Francisco International Airport as Professor Theodore Tragis
TV ★ 7.0
1960s 20 credits
1969
Moon Zero Two as Capt. William H. Kemp
Movie ★ 4.8
1969
Medical Center as Dave Toland
TV ★ 6.4
1968
The Stalking Moon as Cavalry Officer (uncredited)
Movie ★ 5.9
1968
Rachel, Rachel as Nick Kazlik
Movie ★ 6.6
1968
Hawaii Five-O as Mariss
TV ★ 7.2
1968
TV ★ 5.6
1968
Hawaii Five-O as Stoner
TV ★ 7.2
1968
Hawaii Five-O as Bernie Brown
TV ★ 7.2
1968
Hawaii Five-O as Travis Marshall
TV ★ 7.2
1968
Hawaii Five-O as Dr. Kenneth Ames
TV ★ 7.2
1967
TV ★ 6.8
1967
TV ★ 6.9
1967
Mannix as Donald Jordan
TV ★ 6.8
1967
Ironside as Marvin Bosner
TV ★ 6.9
1966
Movie ★ 10.0
1966
The Three Sisters as Baron Tuzenbach
Movie ★ 7.5
1965
The F.B.I. as Sheriff Bill Temple
TV ★ 5.6
1965
The F.B.I. as George Breen
TV ★ 5.6
1965
The F.B.I. as Carl Slovich
TV ★ 5.6
1960
TV ★ 6.7
1950s 7 credits
1959
Bonanza as Vance
TV ★ 7.5
1957
The Strange One as Roger Gatt
Movie ★ 6.5
1957
TV ★ 7.3
1956
The Sharkfighters as Ens. Harold Duncan
Movie ★ 5.7
1955
Gunsmoke as Bede Stalcup
TV ★ 6.7
1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame as General George A. Custer
TV ★ 8.8
1950
TV ★ 6.0