J.A. Preston

Acting

J.A. Preston

Born
(age 93)
Birthplace
Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Credits
59 titles

Biography

James Allen Preston Sr. (born November 13, 1932) is an American actor. Preston is best known for his role as Ozzie Cleveland on the NBC primetime television series Hill Street Blues which originally aired from 1981 until 1987. Preston was born November 13 (1932) in Washington, D.C. In addition to his role on Hill Street Blues, Preston is also known for his roles as Leo Daltry in Dallas, Richard Matthews in Santa Barbara, court-martial judge Col. J. A. Randolph, USMC in the 1992 film A Few Good Men, and the minor but important role of a USAF Major General in Air Force One (1997). He was a series regular in the short-lived CBS sitcom All's Fair which ran just one season (1976-77). In it he played an assistant to conservative newspaper columnist Richard Barrington (played by Richard Crenna). Preston also appeared on the NBC television series The A-Team as a judge (Col. Thomas Milo) presiding over a military tribunal convened to try the A-Team. He also appeared in 3 episodes of Martin as Gina’s (Tisha Campbell-Martin) father Dr. Cliff Waters.

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 59

YearTitleRole
TBA Black Cop Film Narrator
2011 Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door Film
1997 House of Frankenstein TV (2 ep)
1997 Contact Film Senator (uncredited)
1996 Harvest of Fire Film Sheriff Garrison
1996 The Sentinel TV Mel Wilkenson (1 ep)
1994 Touched by an Angel TV Waters (1 ep)
1994 Chicago Hope TV Rodney Helpurn (2 ep)
1994 Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle Film Man
1994 MacShayne: Winner Takes All Film Pete Webb
1993 seaQuest DSV TV Charles (1 ep)
1993 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman TV General Zeitlin (1 ep)
1993 The Gifted Film Jacob (Adult)
1992 A Few Good Men Film Judge Randolph
1992 Steel Justice Film Jeremiah J. Jones
1992 Captain Ron Film Magistrate
1992 Martin TV Dr. Cliff Waters (3 ep)
1991 Aftermath: A Test of Love Film Det. Boland
1990 The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson Film Wendell Smith
1990 Narrow Margin Film Martin Larner
1990 Law & Order TV Congressman Ronald Eaton (1 ep)
1990 Fire Birds Film General Olcott
1989 Tales from the Crypt TV Harry (1 ep)
1988 The George McKenna Story Film Mr. McKenna
1987 Jake and the Fatman TV (1 ep)
1987 Desperate Film Wiggee
1987 21 Jump Street TV George Messiah (1 ep)
1985 Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Film Conn MacCleary
1985 Amazing Stories TV Prof. Bertram Carver (1 ep)
1985 Hollywood Beat TV Walker (1 ep)
1985 Moonlighting TV Dr. Nealy (1 ep)
1984 Punky Brewster TV (1 ep)
1983 Hardcastle and McCormick TV Vic Dutton (1 ep)
1983 The A-Team TV Judge (1 ep)
1982 The New Odd Couple TV Charles Walker (1 ep)
1982 T. J. Hooker TV Dr. Ross (1 ep)
1981 The White Lions Film Aniel
1981 Simon & Simon TV Police Lt. 'Mule' Muldower - Internal Affairs (1 ep)
1981 Gimme a Break! TV (1 ep)
1981 Body Heat Film Oscar Grace
1981 Hill Street Blues TV Ozzie Cleveland (archive footage) (uncredited) (1 ep)
1980 High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane Film Alonzo
1980 The Plutonium Incident Film Dr. Samuels
1979 Hart to Hart TV Mr. Pruitt (1 ep)
1979 Americathon Film Morty
1979 Real Life Film Dr. Ted Cleary
1979 Roots: The Next Generations TV President Harper (1 ep)
1978 Dallas TV Leo Daltry (5 ep)
1977 Carter Country TV (1 ep)
1977 James at 16 TV Hazeltine (1 ep)
1976 Silver Streak Film Waiter (uncredited)
1976 Two-Minute Warning Film Policeman
1976 Quincy, M.E. TV Judge Saunder MacMillan (1 ep)
1975 Wonder Woman TV Jazreel (1 ep)
1975 The Jeffersons TV (1 ep)
1974 Good Times TV (1 ep)
1973 The Spook Who Sat by the Door Film Dawson
1971 Mississippi Summer Film
1971 All in the Family TV Elmo 'Black Elmo' Bridgewater (1 ep)
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