David James Elliott

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David James Elliott
Elliott in 2001
Born
David William Smith

(1960-09-21) September 21, 1960 (age 63)
OccupationActor
Years active1986–present
Spouse
(m. 1992)
Children2

David William Smith (born September 21, 1960), known professionally as David James Elliott, is a Canadian actor. He was the star of the series JAG, playing lead character Harmon Rabb Jr. from 1995 to 2005.

Early life[edit]

Elliott was born David William Smith[1] on September 21, 1960, in Milton, Ontario, Canada, the son of Patricia Smith (née Farrow), an office manager, and Arnold Smith, a heating and plumbing wholesale contractor.[2][3] He was born the second of three boys. During his teenaged years, he was part of a band, quitting Milton District High School in his final year to pursue his dream of becoming a rock star. However, at age 19, he realized this would not happen and returned to finish high school.[4]

After graduating from high school, he attended Ryerson University in Toronto, graduating in 1982.[5] He joined the Stratford Shakespearean Festival in Ontario as a member of its Young Company.[citation needed]

Career[edit]

Subsequently, moving to Los Angeles, he took the stage name David James Elliott, having found an actor was already named David Smith. He appeared in the film Police Academy 3: Back in Training in 1986, and subsequently in the television series Street Legal, Knots Landing as Bill Nolan, and in 1993's The Untouchables as Agent Paul Robbins. The following year, Elliott landed a recurring role on the hit series Melrose Place, playing Terry Parsons, and a guest appearance in an episode of Seinfeld as "Carl" the anti-abortion furniture mover.

In 1995, Elliott landed the role he would hold for 10 years, the role of naval aviator-turned JAG lawyer Harmon Rabb, Jr. in the NBC/CBS television drama JAG. His tenure on JAG ended in 2005 with the series finale.

In 1996, Elliott starred in the made-for-cable movie Holiday Affair with Cynthia Gibb.[6] This is a remake of the 1949 classic Holiday Affair which starred Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh. In 2005, Elliott starred in a Canadian television movie The Man Who Lost Himself, which was based on the true story of Terry Evanshen, a Canadian football player who was in a car accident and lost his memory due to severe head injuries. Nanci Chambers also appeared in this movie as a doctor. In October 2006, Elliott joined the cast of legal drama Close to Home (2005–2007) as Chief Deputy Prosecutor James Conlon. During 2008, he had a recurring role in the Canadian series The Guard. He starred in Sci Fi Channel's four-hour miniseries, Knights of Bloodsteel (2009). Elliott was cast as an Internet millionaire in Terror Trap, directed by Dan Garcia. Elliott also starred in Dad's Home (2010), a widowed advertising executive who loses his job and becomes a stay-at-home dad for his two children.[7]

On March 19, 2010, Elliott replaced Neal McDonough as the male lead in the television series Scoundrels. In 2010, Elliott was cast as FBI Agent Russ Josephson on CSI: NY, a recurring role as Detective Jo Danville's (Sela Ward) ex-husband, a role which he first portrayed in January 2011.[8]

In 2012, Elliott also co-starred as Ripp Cockburn, the husband of Kristin Chenoweth's character Carlene, on ABC's comedy-drama series GCB. In 2014, Elliott appeared in Mad Men (season 7) as Dave Wooster. In 2015, Elliott guest starred in the TV drama Scorpion.

In 2015, Elliott played actor John Wayne in the film Trumbo.

On March 29, 2019, CBS announced Elliott would be reprising his JAG role of Harmon Rabb Jr. for a multi-episode arc in the tenth season of NCIS: Los Angeles.[9]

Personal life[edit]

He married actress Nanci Chambers in 1992.[10] She also appeared in JAG as the ambitious Lt. Loren Singer. They have a daughter, Stephanie Smith (b. 1993)[10] and a son, Wyatt Smith.[5]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Police Academy 3: Back in Training Cadet Baxter #2
The Climb Otto Kempter
1987 The Big Town Cool Guy
1988 Night Friend Cab Driver
1997 Clockwatchers Mr. MacNamee
2000 Stanley's Gig Record Store Clerk
2001 The Shrink Is In Michael
2008 The Rainbow Tribe Morgan Roberts
2009 Gooby Jack Dandridge
2010 Confined Michael Peyton
Terror Trap Don
2012 Rufus Hugh Wade
2014 Stranded (Dawn Patrol) Jim
2015 Battle Scars Frank Stephens
Trumbo John Wayne
2019 The Obituary of Tunde Johnson Alfred O'Connor
2021 Lansky Frank Rivers
2021 Heart of Champions Mr. Singleton

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Campbells Hardy Episode: "First Day"
1987 Adderly Commando Episode: "Year of the Tiger"
Mariah Fergus Episode: "Prey"
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future Jason Episode: "The Mirror in Darkness"
1988–91 Street Legal Nick Del Gado Main character
1989 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ted Episode: "In the Driver's Seat"
The Hitchhiker Jason Episode: "The Cruelest Cut"
1990 China Beach Mr. Green Episode: "Phoenix"
1991 Over My Dead Body Larry Chadway Episode: "Separation Is Murder"
Her Wicked Ways Andrew TV film
Fly by Night Mack Sheppard Unknown episodes
The Hidden Room Ron Episode: "A Type of Love Story"
1992 Doogie Howser, M.D. Rick O'Neill Episode: "The Show Mustn't Go On"
Dark Justice Zachary Hamilton Episode: "Needy Things"
Knots Landing Bill Nolan 3 episodes
1993–94 The Untouchables Agent Paul Robbins Main film
1994 Golden Gate Tony Gennera TV film
Seinfeld Carl Episode: "The Couch"
1994–95 Melrose Place Terry Parsons 4 episodes
1995 Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story Byron Metcalf TV film
Degree of Guilt Chris Paget
1995–2005 JAG Harmon 'Harm' Rabb Jr. Main role
1996 Holiday Affair Steve Mason TV movie
1998 Hercules Thor Episode: "Hercules and the Twilight of the Gods"
Voice role
1999 Maggie Winters Jack Episode: "Girls Night Out"
2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Romac Episode: "Star Crossed"
Voice role
2001 Dodson's Journey James Dodson TV movie
2003 Yes, Dear Commander Harmon 'Harm' Rabb Jr. Episode: "Let's Get Jaggy with It"
Code 11-14 Det. Kurt Novack TV movie
2005 The Stranger I Married Terry Evanshen
2006 Sixty Minute Man John Henderson
Medium Johnny Dunham Episode: "Twice Upon a Time"
2006–07 Close to Home Chief Deputy Prosecutor James Conlon Main role (season 2)
2008 Love Sick: Secrets of a Sex Addict Rick Hudson TV movie
The Guard David Renwald Recurring role
2009 Impact Alex Kittner TV miniseries
Knights of Bloodsteel John Serragoth
The Storm General Wilson Braxton
2010 Scoundrels Wolfgang 'Wolf' West Main character
Dad's Home Ben Westman TV film
2011 Truth Be Told Mark Crane
CSI: NY FBI Agent Russ Josephson 2 episodes
2012 GCB Ripp Cockburn Main role
2013 Exploding Sun Don Wincroft TV movie
2014 Mad Men Dave Wooster 2 episodes
Here's Your Damn Family Mike[11] Unknown episodes
2015 Scorpion Bruce Episode: "Forget Me Nots"
2017 Mom Joe Episode: "A Bouncy Castle and an Aneurysm"
2018–19 Impulse Bill Boone Recurring role
2018 Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey Larry Pinkerton TV film
2019 NCIS: Los Angeles Harmon 'Harm' Rabb Jr. 3 episodes
The Kominsky Method William Episode: "Chapter 9. An Actor Forgets"
2020 Spinning Out James Davis Main role
2021–23 Heels Tom Spade 8 episodes
2021 Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas Movie Lumber Jack Roku Channel Special
2022 Call Me Kat Dan Kingbird Call Me "Cat's in the Cradle" Season 3 Episode 15

Awards[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Biography". David James Elliott official website. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  2. ^ "David James Elliott Biography (1960-)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  3. ^ "David James Elliott". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "David James Elliott Celebrity Profile" Archived May 11, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, For DJE Fans
  5. ^ a b "David James Elliott". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  6. ^ "Holiday Affair: Review". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  7. ^ "David James Elliott cast in 'Bed'". Hollywood Reporter. May 14, 2009.
  8. ^ "Keck's Exclusives: JAG's David James Elliott Returns to CBS on CSI: NY". TVGuide.com. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 29, 2019). "David James Elliott To Reprise 'JAG' Character On 'NCIS: Los Angeles'". Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  10. ^ a b Lipton, Michael A. (September 14, 1998). "Northern Exposure". People. Vol. 50, no. 9. Retrieved April 1, 2019. The couple wed in 1992; daughter Stephanie Elliott, now 28, arrived a year later.
  11. ^ "Pilot News: JAG's David James Elliott Joins Fox's Here's Your Damn Family Comedy". TVLine. February 15, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  12. ^ TV Guide Book of Lists. Running Press. 2007. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-7624-3007-9.

External links[edit]