# James Stephens (actor)

James Stephens (born May 18, 1951) is an American actor best known for his starring role as James T. Hart in the television series The Paper Chase. He is also known for his role in Tom Bosley's ABC television series, Father Dowling Mysteries (1989-1991), in which Stephens was cast as Father Philip Prestwick.

## Biography

Stephens was born in Mount Kisco, New York. He is best known for his role as idealistic Minnesota-born law student James T. Hart in The Paper Chase (1978–1979 and 1983–1986), taking on the role originated by Timothy Bottoms in the movie of the same name.
His first role was as C. L. Bradley in the pilot and two episodes of the ABC western series, How the West Was Won, starring James Arness. He guest-starred in such series as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Diagnosis: Murder, L.A. Law, Matlock, Moonlighting, M*A*S*H, Eischied, multiple characters on Murder, She Wrote, a recurring role on Cagney & Lacey, and the role of the young Doctor Auschlander in 1945 in flashbacks on St. Elsewhere. His film appearances have included roles in True Grit: A Further Adventure (1978), First Monday in October (1981), The Getaway (1994), A Perry Mason Mystery:The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle (1994), and Against the Law (1997).

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | First Monday in October | Mason Woods | |
| 1983 | Two of a Kind | Ron | Credited as James 'Stevens' |
| 1989 | Caddie Woodlawn | John Woodlawn | |
| 1994 | The Getaway | Harold Carvey, DVM | |
| 1997 | Against the Law | Det. Ben Hamada | |
| 1998 | Hijack | Harold Besser | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1978 | How the West Was Won | C.L. Bradley | 2 episodes |
| 1978 | True Grit: A Further Adventure | Joshua Sumner | Television film |
| 1978–1986 | The Paper Chase | James T. Hart | 58 episodes |
| 1979 | Eischied | Colvin | 2 episodes |
| 1979 | The Death of Ocean View Park | Phil Brady | Television film |
| 1980 | M*A*S*H | Private David Sheridan | Episode: "Morale Victory" |
| 1980 | Tourist | Steve Konay | Television film |
| 1980 | The Littlest Hobo | Kevin Wheeler | Episode: "Portrait of Danger" |
| 1982 | Mysterious Two | Tim Armstrong | Television film |
| 1984–1994 | Murder, She Wrote | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1986 | St. Elsewhere | One episode as the young Daniel Auschlander | Episode: "Time Heals: Part 2" |
| 1986 | Gone to Texas | Stephen F. Austin | Television film |
| 1987 | Houston Knights | Jonathan Linder | Episode: "God's Will" |
| 1987 | Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery | Father Philip Prestwick | Television film |
| 1988 | 21 Jump Street | Mark Rafferty | Episode: "I'm Okay, You Need Work" |
| 1988 | Hotel | Jonas Robinson | Episode: "Power Play" |
| 1988 | Cagney & Lacey | Lt. Jim Thornton | 3 episodes |
| 1988 | Pancho Barnes | Rankin Barnes | Television film |
| 1989 | General Hospital | Aphrodite Captain | Episode dated 12 May 1989 |
| 1989 | Moonlighting | Mark Charnock | Episode: "Lunar Eclipse" |
| 1989–1991 | Father Dowling Mysteries | Father Philip Prestwick | 37 episodes |
| 1990 | Follow Your Heart | Howard | Television film |
| 1993 | Matlock | Dr. Duncan Farmington | Episode: "The Divorce" |
| 1994 | L.A. Law | Dr. Michael Joyce | Episode: "God Is My Co-Counsel" |
| 1994 | MacShayne: The Final Roll of the Dice | Patrick Blondel | Television film |
| 1994 | A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle | Daniel Kingman | Television film |
| 1994–1998 | Diagnosis: Murder | Ian Trainor / Dr. Niven | 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Dr. Weirick | Episode: "The Pack" |
| 1998 | Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | Tom North | Episode: "The Gun" |
| 2002 | Courage the Cowardly Dog | Voice | 13 episodes |