James Hampton

James Hampton was an American character actor, director, and writer.

Hampton is perhaps best remembered for his role as Hannibal Dobbs on the 1960s television comedy F Troop, for portraying the football prison manager in The Longest Yard (1974), and for playing Michael J. Fox’s dad in Teen Wolf (1985).

A Theatre Arts major from the University of North Texas, Hampton had several recurring roles in series such as Gunsmoke, The Doris Day Show, Love, American Style, Maggie, Murder, She Wrote, Days of Our Lives, and Full House.

He guest starred in a number of other shows including Punky Brewster, Evening Shade, Melrose Place, Newhart, Who’s the Boss?, The Greatest American Hero, The Rockford Files, Mannix, and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Hampton notably appeared on the big screen in Sling Blade (1996), Hanger 18 (1980), The China Syndrome (1979), and The Cat from Outer Space (1978).

He also directed several episodes of series television, including Evening Shade, Boston Common, Grace Under Fire, Sister, Sister, Smart Guy, and Linc’s.

Hampton died April 7, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. He was 84.