J.A. Preston
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- November 13, 1932 (age 94)
- Birthplace
- Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Black Cop
Movie · as Narrator
Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door
Movie
Contact
Movie · as Senator (uncredited)
House of Frankenstein
TV · 2 eps
Harvest of Fire
Movie · as Sheriff Garrison
The Sentinel
TV · as Mel Wilkenson · 1 ep
MacShayne: Winner Takes All
Movie · as Pete Webb
Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle
Movie · as Man
Chicago Hope
TV · as Rodney Helpurn · 2 eps
Touched by an Angel
TV · as Waters · 1 ep
The Gifted
Movie · as Jacob (Adult)
seaQuest DSV
TV · as Charles · 1 ep
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
TV · as General Zeitlin · 1 ep
Steel Justice
Movie · as Jeremiah J. Jones
A Few Good Men
Movie · as Judge Randolph
Captain Ron
Movie · as Magistrate
Martin
TV · as Dr. Cliff Waters · 3 eps
Aftermath: A Test of Love
Movie · as Det. Boland
Narrow Margin
Movie · as Martin Larner
Fire Birds
Movie · as General Olcott
The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson
Movie · as Wendell Smith
Law & Order
TV · as Congressman Ronald Eaton · 1 ep
Tales from the Crypt
TV · as Harry · 1 ep
The George McKenna Story
Movie · as Mr. McKenna
Desperate
Movie · as Wiggee
21 Jump Street
TV · as George Messiah · 1 ep
Jake and the Fatman
TV · 1 ep
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
Movie · as Conn MacCleary
Amazing Stories
TV · as Prof. Bertram Carver · 1 ep
Moonlighting
TV · as Dr. Nealy · 1 ep
Hollywood Beat
TV · as Walker · 1 ep
Punky Brewster
TV · 1 ep
The A-Team
TV · as Judge · 1 ep
Hardcastle and McCormick
TV · as Vic Dutton · 1 ep
The New Odd Couple
TV · as Charles Walker · 1 ep
T. J. Hooker
TV · as Dr. Ross · 1 ep
Body Heat
Movie · as Oscar Grace
The White Lions
Movie · as Aniel
Gimme a Break!
TV · 1 ep
Hill Street Blues
TV · as Ozzie Cleveland (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1 ep
Simon & Simon
TV · as Police Lt. 'Mule' Muldower - Internal Affairs · 1 ep
High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane
Movie · as Alonzo
The Plutonium Incident
Movie · as Dr. Samuels
Real Life
Movie · as Dr. Ted Cleary
Americathon
Movie · as Morty
Hart to Hart
TV · as Mr. Pruitt · 1 ep
Roots: The Next Generations
TV · as President Harper · 1 ep
Dallas
TV · as Leo Daltry · 5 eps
Carter Country
TV · 1 ep
James at 16
TV · as Hazeltine · 1 ep
Silver Streak
Movie · as Waiter (uncredited)
Two-Minute Warning
Movie · as Policeman
Quincy, M.E.
TV · as Judge Saunder MacMillan · 1 ep
The Jeffersons
TV · 1 ep
Wonder Woman
TV · as Jazreel · 1 ep
Good Times
TV · 1 ep
The Spook Who Sat by the Door
Movie · as Dawson
Mississippi Summer
Movie
All in the Family
TV · as Elmo 'Black Elmo' Bridgewater · 1 ep