James Seay, a durable and dependable actor, was born in 1914 and was initially designed for romantic leads after being signed by Paramount in 1940. However, he seemed to fare better in villainous or stern, officious roles, often finding himself typecast in these parts.
Despite being caught up in numerous uncredited roles early in his career, Seay compensated in later years by focusing on minor character roles, securing steady employment in late 1940s and 1950s films as a voice of authority.
One of his most notable roles was as the benign old folks home doctor who expounds on Kris Kringle's mental condition in the 1947 film "Miracle on 34th Street". He also portrayed Col. George Washington during his early military career in the 1951 film "When the Redskins Rode".
Seay became a familiar figure in "B" sci-fi classics, starring in films such as "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951),"When Worlds Collide" (1951),"The War of the Worlds" (1953),"Killers from Space" (1954),"Beginning of the End" (1957),and "The Amazing Colossal Man" (1957).
In addition to his film work, Seay extended his career into television, appearing in recurring roles on western series such as "Fury" (1955) and "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955). He also played a captain in Disney's "Swamp Fox" series in 1959.
Throughout his career, Seay appeared in hundreds of small-screen parts, often playing authority figures such as sheriffs, judges, and captains. His last known work was in the early 1970s, and he passed away at the age of 78 in 1992.
