James Olson - Revision history

Joe Beaudoin Jr. at 20:51, 11 January 2026

2026-01-11T20:51:53Z

Joe Beaudoin Jr.: Text replacement - "[[Category:TOS" to "{{indicator|TOS}}[[Category:TOS"

2025-07-19T21:14:03Z

Text replacement - "[[Category:TOS" to "{{indicator|TOS}}[[Category:TOS"

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:14, 19 July 2025
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	[[Category:TOS]]		{{indicator\|TOS}}[[Category:TOS]]

Joe Beaudoin Jr.: minor updates

2022-05-17T22:46:41Z

minor updates

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:46, 17 May 2022
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	'''James Olson''' (October 8, 1930 CE―April 17, 2022 CE) was an American actor who portrayed [[Thane]] in the {{OS\|Gun on Ice Planet Zero\|prose=y}} two-parter, originally slated to be a movie-of-the-week before the Original Series was converted to a weekly-series.		'''James R. Olson''' (October 8, 1930 CE―April 17, 2022 CE) was an American actor who portrayed [[Thane]] in the {{OS\|The Gun on Ice Planet Zero\|prose=y}} two-parter, originally slated to be a movie-of-the-week before the Original Series was converted to a weekly-series.

	Olson was known for both his 6 ft., 3 in.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news\|title=James Olson, "Promising" Young Actor\|publisher=The Boston Globe\|date=17 February 1957\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34705374/james-olson/}}</ref> rugged stature and deep gravel-toned voice, bringing both his physical and vocal talents to radio, stage and screen throughout the decades.		Olson was known for both his 6 ft., 3 in.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news\|title=James Olson, "Promising" Young Actor\|publisher=The Boston Globe\|date=17 February 1957\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34705374/james-olson/}}</ref> rugged stature and deep gravel-toned voice, bringing both his physical and vocal talents to radio, stage and screen throughout the decades.
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	His breakthrough role was in 1968's Oscar-nominated film ''Rachel, Rachel'', produced and directed by [[W:Paul Newman\|Paul Newman]] and starring Newman's wife Joanne Woodward. Olson portrayed Nick Kazlik, the foil who romances and later rejects Woodward's sexually-repressed schoolteacher character.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=James Olson Dies: ‘Rachel, Rachel’, ‘The Andromeda Strain’ Actor Was 91\|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/james-olson-dead-actor-obituary-rachel-rachel-andromeda-strain-1235020291/\|author=Greg Evans\|date=10 May 2022\|publisher=Deadline.com}}</ref>		His breakthrough role was in 1968's Oscar-nominated film ''Rachel, Rachel'', produced and directed by [[W:Paul Newman\|Paul Newman]] and starring Newman's wife Joanne Woodward. Olson portrayed Nick Kazlik, the foil who romances and later rejects Woodward's sexually-repressed schoolteacher character.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=James Olson Dies: ‘Rachel, Rachel’, ‘The Andromeda Strain’ Actor Was 91\|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/james-olson-dead-actor-obituary-rachel-rachel-andromeda-strain-1235020291/\|author=Greg Evans\|date=10 May 2022\|publisher=Deadline.com}}</ref>

	Olson first acted with [[Lorne Greene]] in two episodes of ''Bonanza'', "Sweet Annie Laurie" (1969) and "Ambush and Rio Lobo" (1972), and later with [[Richard Hatch]] on ''[[W:The Streets of San Francisco\|The Streets of San Francisco]]'' in the 1976 episode "No Minor Voices," later reuniting with both actors on 1978's ''Battlestar Galactica'' for the two-parter "[[Gun on Ice Planet Zero]]."		Olson first acted with [[Lorne Greene]] in two episodes of ''Bonanza'', "Sweet Annie Laurie" (1969) and "Ambush and Rio Lobo" (1972), and later with [[Richard Hatch]] on ''[[W:The Streets of San Francisco\|The Streets of San Francisco]]'' in the 1976 episode "No Minor Voices," later reuniting with both actors on 1978's ''Battlestar Galactica'' for the two-parter "[[The Gun on Ice Planet Zero]]."

	He later had a recurring role on [[Glen A. Larson]]'s 1979's ''[[W:B.J. and the Bear\|B.J. and the Bear]]'' and ''[[W:The Misadventures of Sherrif Lobo\|The Misadventures of Sherrif Lobo]],'' portraying the criminal mastermind Paul Vane over three episodes.		He later had a recurring role on [[Glen A. Larson]]'s 1979's ''[[W:B.J. and the Bear\|B.J. and the Bear]]'' and ''[[W:The Misadventures of Sherrif Lobo\|The Misadventures of Sherrif Lobo]],'' portraying the criminal mastermind Paul Vane over three episodes.

Joe Beaudoin Jr.: citation for MP role

2022-05-17T22:25:47Z

citation for MP role

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:25, 17 May 2022
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	'''James Olson''' (October 8, 1930 CE―April 17, 2022 CE) was an American actor who portrayed [[Thane]] in the {{OS\|Gun on Ice Planet Zero\|prose=y}} two-parter, originally slated to be a movie-of-the-week before the Original Series was converted to a weekly-series.		'''James Olson''' (October 8, 1930 CE―April 17, 2022 CE) was an American actor who portrayed [[Thane]] in the {{OS\|Gun on Ice Planet Zero\|prose=y}} two-parter, originally slated to be a movie-of-the-week before the Original Series was converted to a weekly-series.

	Olson was known for both his 6 ft., 3 in. rugged stature and deep gravel-toned voice, bringing both his physical and vocal talents to radio, stage and screen throughout the decades.		Olson was known for both his 6 ft., 3 in.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news\|title=James Olson, "Promising" Young Actor\|publisher=The Boston Globe\|date=17 February 1957\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34705374/james-olson/}}</ref> rugged stature and deep gravel-toned voice, bringing both his physical and vocal talents to radio, stage and screen throughout the decades.

	Olson is better known to most audiences for his role in 1971 CE's genre film ''[[W:The Andromeda Strain (film)\|The Andromeda Strain]]'' and his various guest appearances in television, ranging from ''[[W:Playhouse 90\|Playhouse 90]]'' 1960) to ''[[W:Mannix\|Mannix]]'' (1969 & 1974) to ''[[W:Bionic Woman\|Bionic Woman]]'' (1977), up to his final on-screen role in 1990's ''[[W:Murder, She Wrote\|Murder, She Wrote]].''		Olson is better known to most audiences for his role in 1971 CE's genre film ''[[W:The Andromeda Strain (film)\|The Andromeda Strain]]'' and his various guest appearances in television, ranging from ''[[W:Playhouse 90\|Playhouse 90]]'' 1960) to ''[[W:Mannix\|Mannix]]'' (1969 & 1974) to ''[[W:Bionic Woman\|Bionic Woman]]'' (1977), up to his final on-screen role in 1990's ''[[W:Murder, She Wrote\|Murder, She Wrote]].''
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	Born in Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A., Olson graduated from Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University. During his childhood, he recorded radio jingles in Chicago<ref name=":0">{{Cite web\|url=https://malibutimes.com/obituary-james-r-olson\|title=Obituary: James R. Olson\|author=The Malibu Times\|date=28 April 2022}}</ref> and made his first stage debut (at age 12) in the Evanston Children's Theater production ''Hans Brinkler and the Silver Skates'', later transitioning in theater fully during his undergraduate period at Northwestern.		Born in Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A., Olson graduated from Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University. During his childhood, he recorded radio jingles in Chicago<ref name=":0">{{Cite web\|url=https://malibutimes.com/obituary-james-r-olson\|title=Obituary: James R. Olson\|author=The Malibu Times\|date=28 April 2022}}</ref> and made his first stage debut (at age 12) in the Evanston Children's Theater production ''Hans Brinkler and the Silver Skates'', later transitioning in theater fully during his undergraduate period at Northwestern.

	Following his service in the U.S. Army as a Military Police officer from 1952 to 1954 CE, he began his career with his debut in the 1956 film ''The Sharkfighters''. Throughout his career, he appeared in numerous television series, including ''[[W:Have Gun - Will Travel\|Have Gun - Will Travel]], [[W:Mannix\|Mannix]]'', ''[[W:Hawaii Five-O\|Hawaii Five-O]]'', ''[[W:McCloud\|McCloud]]'', ''[[W:Columbo\|Columbo]]'', and ''[[W:Little House on the Prairie\|Little House on the Prairie]]''.		Following his service in the U.S. Army as a Military Police officer from 1952 to 1954 CE<ref name=":1" />, he began his career with his debut in the 1956 film ''The Sharkfighters''. Throughout his career, he appeared in numerous television series, including ''[[W:Have Gun - Will Travel\|Have Gun - Will Travel]], [[W:Mannix\|Mannix]]'', ''[[W:Hawaii Five-O\|Hawaii Five-O]]'', ''[[W:McCloud\|McCloud]]'', ''[[W:Columbo\|Columbo]]'', and ''[[W:Little House on the Prairie\|Little House on the Prairie]]''.

	His breakthrough role was in 1968's Oscar-nominated film ''Rachel, Rachel'', produced and directed by [[W:Paul Newman\|Paul Newman]] and starring Newman's wife Joanne Woodward. Olson portrayed Nick Kazlik, the foil who romances and later rejects Woodward's sexually-repressed schoolteacher character.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=James Olson Dies: ‘Rachel, Rachel’, ‘The Andromeda Strain’ Actor Was 91\|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/james-olson-dead-actor-obituary-rachel-rachel-andromeda-strain-1235020291/\|author=Greg Evans\|date=10 May 2022\|publisher=Deadline.com}}</ref>		His breakthrough role was in 1968's Oscar-nominated film ''Rachel, Rachel'', produced and directed by [[W:Paul Newman\|Paul Newman]] and starring Newman's wife Joanne Woodward. Olson portrayed Nick Kazlik, the foil who romances and later rejects Woodward's sexually-repressed schoolteacher character.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=James Olson Dies: ‘Rachel, Rachel’, ‘The Andromeda Strain’ Actor Was 91\|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/james-olson-dead-actor-obituary-rachel-rachel-andromeda-strain-1235020291/\|author=Greg Evans\|date=10 May 2022\|publisher=Deadline.com}}</ref>
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	During the last decade of his career, Olson appeared the 1985 [[W:Arnold Schwarzenegger\|Arnold Schwarzenegger]] film ''[[W:Commando (1985 film)\|Commando]]''.		During the last decade of his career, Olson appeared the 1985 [[W:Arnold Schwarzenegger\|Arnold Schwarzenegger]] film ''[[W:Commando (1985 film)\|Commando]]''.

	His final on-screen role was as Clarance La Rue in ''[[W:Murder, She Wrote\|Murder, She Wrote]]''<nowiki/>'s 1990 episode "A Body to Die For."		His final on-screen role was as Clarance La Rue in ''[[W:Murder, She Wrote\|Murder, She Wrote]]''<nowiki/>'s 1990 episode "A Body to Die For."

	Following his retirement, he remained an active aficionado of film and theater, regularly travelling to both London and New York up until his passing.<ref name=":0" />		Following his retirement, he remained an active aficionado of film and theater, regularly travelling to both London and New York up until his passing.<ref name=":0" />

Joe Beaudoin Jr.: expanded

2022-05-17T19:09:51Z

expanded

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:09, 17 May 2022
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	{{Crew Data		{{Crew Data
	\| image=		\| image=Thane.jpg
	\| role=[[~~Croft~~]]		\| role=[[Thane]]
	\| series=TOS		\| series=TOS
	\| born_month=		\| born_month=10
	\| born_day=		\| born_day=8
	\| born_year=		\| born_year=1930
	\| death_month=		\| death_month=4
	\| death_day=		\| death_day=17
	\| death_year=		\| death_year=2022
	\| nationality=		\| nationality=US
	\| site=		\| site=
	\| imdb= 0647921		\| imdb= 0647921
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	}}		}}

	'''James Olson''' (~~born~~ October 8, 1930) is...		'''James Olson''' (October 8, 1930 CE―April 17, 2022 CE) was an American actor who portrayed [[Thane]] in the {{OS\|Gun on Ice Planet Zero\|prose=y}} two-parter, originally slated to be a movie-of-the-week before the Original Series was converted to a weekly-series.

			Olson was known for both his 6 ft., 3 in. rugged stature and deep gravel-toned voice, bringing both his physical and vocal talents to radio, stage and screen throughout the decades.

			Olson is better known to most audiences for his role in 1971 CE's genre film ''[[W:The Andromeda Strain (film)\|The Andromeda Strain]]'' and his various guest appearances in television, ranging from ''[[W:Playhouse 90\|Playhouse 90]]'' 1960) to ''[[W:Mannix\|Mannix]]'' (1969 & 1974) to ''[[W:Bionic Woman\|Bionic Woman]]'' (1977), up to his final on-screen role in 1990's ''[[W:Murder, She Wrote\|Murder, She Wrote]].''

	== Biographical Notes ==		== Biographical Notes ==
			Born in Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A., Olson graduated from Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University. During his childhood, he recorded radio jingles in Chicago<ref name=":0">{{Cite web\|url=https://malibutimes.com/obituary-james-r-olson\|title=Obituary: James R. Olson\|author=The Malibu Times\|date=28 April 2022}}</ref> and made his first stage debut (at age 12) in the Evanston Children's Theater production ''Hans Brinkler and the Silver Skates'', later transitioning in theater fully during his undergraduate period at Northwestern.

			Following his service in the U.S. Army as a Military Police officer from 1952 to 1954 CE, he began his career with his debut in the 1956 film ''The Sharkfighters''. Throughout his career, he appeared in numerous television series, including ''[[W:Have Gun - Will Travel\|Have Gun - Will Travel]], [[W:Mannix\|Mannix]]'', ''[[W:Hawaii Five-O\|Hawaii Five-O]]'', ''[[W:McCloud\|McCloud]]'', ''[[W:Columbo\|Columbo]]'', and ''[[W:Little House on the Prairie\|Little House on the Prairie]]''.

			His breakthrough role was in 1968's Oscar-nominated film ''Rachel, Rachel'', produced and directed by [[W:Paul Newman\|Paul Newman]] and starring Newman's wife Joanne Woodward. Olson portrayed Nick Kazlik, the foil who romances and later rejects Woodward's sexually-repressed schoolteacher character.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=James Olson Dies: ‘Rachel, Rachel’, ‘The Andromeda Strain’ Actor Was 91\|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/james-olson-dead-actor-obituary-rachel-rachel-andromeda-strain-1235020291/\|author=Greg Evans\|date=10 May 2022\|publisher=Deadline.com}}</ref>

	~~== Director credits for~~ "Battlestar Galactica" ==		Olson first acted with [[Lorne Greene]] in two episodes of ''Bonanza'', "Sweet Annie Laurie" (1969) and "Ambush and Rio Lobo" (1972), and later with [[Richard Hatch]] on ''[[W:The Streets of San Francisco\|The Streets of San Francisco]]'' in the 1976 episode "No Minor Voices," later reuniting with both actors on 1978's ''Battlestar Galactica'' for the two-parter "[[Gun on Ice Planet Zero]]."

	*Season 4:		He later had a recurring role on [[Glen A. Larson]]'s 1979's ''[[W:B.J. and the Bear\|B.J. and the Bear]]'' and ''[[W:The Misadventures of Sherrif Lobo\|The Misadventures of Sherrif Lobo]],'' portraying the criminal mastermind Paul Vane over three episodes.

	''~~See also:~~ [[:~~Category:Episodes directed by James Olson~~\|~~Episodes directed by James Olson~~]]''		During the last decade of his career, Olson appeared the 1985 [[W:Arnold Schwarzenegger\|Arnold Schwarzenegger]] film ''[[W:Commando (1985 film)\|Commando]]''.

	~~== Writer credits for~~ "~~Battlestar Galactica~~" ==		His final on-screen role was as Clarance La Rue in ''[[W:Murder, She Wrote\|Murder, She Wrote]]''<nowiki/>'s 1990 episode "A Body to Die For."

	*Season 4:		Following his retirement, he remained an active aficionado of film and theater, regularly travelling to both London and New York up until his passing.<ref name=":0" />

	~~''See also: [[:Category:Episodes written by James~~ Olson~~\|Episodes written by~~ James Olson~~]]''~~		Never having married, Olson passed away at the age of 91 in his Malibu, California home on April 17, 2022 CE from natural causes. Surviving him are his nieces Susan Baker and Robin Olson, nephew David James Olson, their spouses and three grandnephews.

			== References ==
			{{Reflist}}

	== External Links ==		== External Links ==
			{{Ext-wikipedia\|James Olson}}
	[[Category:A to Z]]		[[Category:A to Z]]
	[[Category:~~Behind the Scenes~~]]		[[Category:Cast]]
	[[Category:~~Crew]]~~		[[Category:Cast (TOS)]]
	~~[[Category:Crew (TOS)]]~~
	~~[[Category:Directors]]~~
	~~[[Category:Directors (TOS)]]~~
	~~[[Category:Producers]]~~
	~~[[Category:Producers (TOS)]]~~
	~~[[Category:Writers]]~~
	~~[[Category:Writers~~ (TOS)]]
	[[Category:TOS]]		[[Category:TOS]]

Joe Beaudoin Jr.: initial creation via skeleton

2022-05-17T16:23:51Z

initial creation via skeleton

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:23, 17 May 2022
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	{{~~requested~~}}

			{{Crew Data
			\| image=
			\| role=[[Croft]]
			\| series=TOS
			\| born_month=
			\| born_day=
			\| born_year=
			\| death_month=
			\| death_day=
			\| death_year=
			\| nationality=
			\| site=
			\| imdb= 0647921
			\| sortkey=Olson, James
			}}

			'''James Olson''' (born October 8, 1930) is...

			== Biographical Notes ==

			== Director credits for "Battlestar Galactica" ==

			*Season 4:

			''See also: [[:Category:Episodes directed by James Olson\|Episodes directed by James Olson]]''

			== Writer credits for "Battlestar Galactica" ==

			*Season 4:

			''See also: [[:Category:Episodes written by James Olson\|Episodes written by James Olson]]''

			== External Links ==

			[[Category:A to Z]]
			[[Category:Behind the Scenes]]
			[[Category:Crew]]
			[[Category:Crew (TOS)]]
			[[Category:Directors]]
			[[Category:Directors (TOS)]]
			[[Category:Producers]]
			[[Category:Producers (TOS)]]
			[[Category:Writers]]
			[[Category:Writers (TOS)]]
			[[Category:TOS]]

DrWho42: Requesting.

2008-07-12T21:09:12Z

Requesting.

New page

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:46, 17 May 2022
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	}}		}}

	'''James Olson''' (October 8, 1930 CE―April 17, 2022 CE) was an American actor who portrayed [[Thane]] in the {{OS\|Gun on Ice Planet Zero\|prose=y}} two-parter, originally slated to be a movie-of-the-week before the Original Series was converted to a weekly-series.		'''James R. Olson''' (October 8, 1930 CE―April 17, 2022 CE) was an American actor who portrayed [[Thane]] in the {{OS\|The Gun on Ice Planet Zero\|prose=y}} two-parter, originally slated to be a movie-of-the-week before the Original Series was converted to a weekly-series.

	Olson was known for both his 6 ft., 3 in.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news\|title=James Olson, "Promising" Young Actor\|publisher=The Boston Globe\|date=17 February 1957\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34705374/james-olson/}}</ref> rugged stature and deep gravel-toned voice, bringing both his physical and vocal talents to radio, stage and screen throughout the decades.		Olson was known for both his 6 ft., 3 in.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news\|title=James Olson, "Promising" Young Actor\|publisher=The Boston Globe\|date=17 February 1957\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34705374/james-olson/}}</ref> rugged stature and deep gravel-toned voice, bringing both his physical and vocal talents to radio, stage and screen throughout the decades.
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	His breakthrough role was in 1968's Oscar-nominated film ''Rachel, Rachel'', produced and directed by [[W:Paul Newman\|Paul Newman]] and starring Newman's wife Joanne Woodward. Olson portrayed Nick Kazlik, the foil who romances and later rejects Woodward's sexually-repressed schoolteacher character.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=James Olson Dies: ‘Rachel, Rachel’, ‘The Andromeda Strain’ Actor Was 91\|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/james-olson-dead-actor-obituary-rachel-rachel-andromeda-strain-1235020291/\|author=Greg Evans\|date=10 May 2022\|publisher=Deadline.com}}</ref>		His breakthrough role was in 1968's Oscar-nominated film ''Rachel, Rachel'', produced and directed by [[W:Paul Newman\|Paul Newman]] and starring Newman's wife Joanne Woodward. Olson portrayed Nick Kazlik, the foil who romances and later rejects Woodward's sexually-repressed schoolteacher character.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=James Olson Dies: ‘Rachel, Rachel’, ‘The Andromeda Strain’ Actor Was 91\|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/james-olson-dead-actor-obituary-rachel-rachel-andromeda-strain-1235020291/\|author=Greg Evans\|date=10 May 2022\|publisher=Deadline.com}}</ref>

	Olson first acted with [[Lorne Greene]] in two episodes of ''Bonanza'', "Sweet Annie Laurie" (1969) and "Ambush and Rio Lobo" (1972), and later with [[Richard Hatch]] on ''[[W:The Streets of San Francisco\|The Streets of San Francisco]]'' in the 1976 episode "No Minor Voices," later reuniting with both actors on 1978's ''Battlestar Galactica'' for the two-parter "[[Gun on Ice Planet Zero]]."		Olson first acted with [[Lorne Greene]] in two episodes of ''Bonanza'', "Sweet Annie Laurie" (1969) and "Ambush and Rio Lobo" (1972), and later with [[Richard Hatch]] on ''[[W:The Streets of San Francisco\|The Streets of San Francisco]]'' in the 1976 episode "No Minor Voices," later reuniting with both actors on 1978's ''Battlestar Galactica'' for the two-parter "[[The Gun on Ice Planet Zero]]."

	He later had a recurring role on [[Glen A. Larson]]'s 1979's ''[[W:B.J. and the Bear\|B.J. and the Bear]]'' and ''[[W:The Misadventures of Sherrif Lobo\|The Misadventures of Sherrif Lobo]],'' portraying the criminal mastermind Paul Vane over three episodes.		He later had a recurring role on [[Glen A. Larson]]'s 1979's ''[[W:B.J. and the Bear\|B.J. and the Bear]]'' and ''[[W:The Misadventures of Sherrif Lobo\|The Misadventures of Sherrif Lobo]],'' portraying the criminal mastermind Paul Vane over three episodes.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:25, 17 May 2022
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	'''James Olson''' (October 8, 1930 CE―April 17, 2022 CE) was an American actor who portrayed [[Thane]] in the {{OS\|Gun on Ice Planet Zero\|prose=y}} two-parter, originally slated to be a movie-of-the-week before the Original Series was converted to a weekly-series.		'''James Olson''' (October 8, 1930 CE―April 17, 2022 CE) was an American actor who portrayed [[Thane]] in the {{OS\|Gun on Ice Planet Zero\|prose=y}} two-parter, originally slated to be a movie-of-the-week before the Original Series was converted to a weekly-series.

	Olson was known for both his 6 ft., 3 in. rugged stature and deep gravel-toned voice, bringing both his physical and vocal talents to radio, stage and screen throughout the decades.		Olson was known for both his 6 ft., 3 in.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news\|title=James Olson, "Promising" Young Actor\|publisher=The Boston Globe\|date=17 February 1957\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34705374/james-olson/}}</ref> rugged stature and deep gravel-toned voice, bringing both his physical and vocal talents to radio, stage and screen throughout the decades.

	Olson is better known to most audiences for his role in 1971 CE's genre film ''[[W:The Andromeda Strain (film)\|The Andromeda Strain]]'' and his various guest appearances in television, ranging from ''[[W:Playhouse 90\|Playhouse 90]]'' 1960) to ''[[W:Mannix\|Mannix]]'' (1969 & 1974) to ''[[W:Bionic Woman\|Bionic Woman]]'' (1977), up to his final on-screen role in 1990's ''[[W:Murder, She Wrote\|Murder, She Wrote]].''		Olson is better known to most audiences for his role in 1971 CE's genre film ''[[W:The Andromeda Strain (film)\|The Andromeda Strain]]'' and his various guest appearances in television, ranging from ''[[W:Playhouse 90\|Playhouse 90]]'' 1960) to ''[[W:Mannix\|Mannix]]'' (1969 & 1974) to ''[[W:Bionic Woman\|Bionic Woman]]'' (1977), up to his final on-screen role in 1990's ''[[W:Murder, She Wrote\|Murder, She Wrote]].''
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	Born in Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A., Olson graduated from Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University. During his childhood, he recorded radio jingles in Chicago<ref name=":0">{{Cite web\|url=https://malibutimes.com/obituary-james-r-olson\|title=Obituary: James R. Olson\|author=The Malibu Times\|date=28 April 2022}}</ref> and made his first stage debut (at age 12) in the Evanston Children's Theater production ''Hans Brinkler and the Silver Skates'', later transitioning in theater fully during his undergraduate period at Northwestern.		Born in Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A., Olson graduated from Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University. During his childhood, he recorded radio jingles in Chicago<ref name=":0">{{Cite web\|url=https://malibutimes.com/obituary-james-r-olson\|title=Obituary: James R. Olson\|author=The Malibu Times\|date=28 April 2022}}</ref> and made his first stage debut (at age 12) in the Evanston Children's Theater production ''Hans Brinkler and the Silver Skates'', later transitioning in theater fully during his undergraduate period at Northwestern.

	Following his service in the U.S. Army as a Military Police officer from 1952 to 1954 CE, he began his career with his debut in the 1956 film ''The Sharkfighters''. Throughout his career, he appeared in numerous television series, including ''[[W:Have Gun - Will Travel\|Have Gun - Will Travel]], [[W:Mannix\|Mannix]]'', ''[[W:Hawaii Five-O\|Hawaii Five-O]]'', ''[[W:McCloud\|McCloud]]'', ''[[W:Columbo\|Columbo]]'', and ''[[W:Little House on the Prairie\|Little House on the Prairie]]''.		Following his service in the U.S. Army as a Military Police officer from 1952 to 1954 CE<ref name=":1" />, he began his career with his debut in the 1956 film ''The Sharkfighters''. Throughout his career, he appeared in numerous television series, including ''[[W:Have Gun - Will Travel\|Have Gun - Will Travel]], [[W:Mannix\|Mannix]]'', ''[[W:Hawaii Five-O\|Hawaii Five-O]]'', ''[[W:McCloud\|McCloud]]'', ''[[W:Columbo\|Columbo]]'', and ''[[W:Little House on the Prairie\|Little House on the Prairie]]''.

	His breakthrough role was in 1968's Oscar-nominated film ''Rachel, Rachel'', produced and directed by [[W:Paul Newman\|Paul Newman]] and starring Newman's wife Joanne Woodward. Olson portrayed Nick Kazlik, the foil who romances and later rejects Woodward's sexually-repressed schoolteacher character.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=James Olson Dies: ‘Rachel, Rachel’, ‘The Andromeda Strain’ Actor Was 91\|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/james-olson-dead-actor-obituary-rachel-rachel-andromeda-strain-1235020291/\|author=Greg Evans\|date=10 May 2022\|publisher=Deadline.com}}</ref>		His breakthrough role was in 1968's Oscar-nominated film ''Rachel, Rachel'', produced and directed by [[W:Paul Newman\|Paul Newman]] and starring Newman's wife Joanne Woodward. Olson portrayed Nick Kazlik, the foil who romances and later rejects Woodward's sexually-repressed schoolteacher character.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=James Olson Dies: ‘Rachel, Rachel’, ‘The Andromeda Strain’ Actor Was 91\|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/james-olson-dead-actor-obituary-rachel-rachel-andromeda-strain-1235020291/\|author=Greg Evans\|date=10 May 2022\|publisher=Deadline.com}}</ref>
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	During the last decade of his career, Olson appeared the 1985 [[W:Arnold Schwarzenegger\|Arnold Schwarzenegger]] film ''[[W:Commando (1985 film)\|Commando]]''.		During the last decade of his career, Olson appeared the 1985 [[W:Arnold Schwarzenegger\|Arnold Schwarzenegger]] film ''[[W:Commando (1985 film)\|Commando]]''.

	His final on-screen role was as Clarance La Rue in ''[[W:Murder, She Wrote\|Murder, She Wrote]]''<nowiki/>'s 1990 episode "A Body to Die For."		His final on-screen role was as Clarance La Rue in ''[[W:Murder, She Wrote\|Murder, She Wrote]]''<nowiki/>'s 1990 episode "A Body to Die For."

	Following his retirement, he remained an active aficionado of film and theater, regularly travelling to both London and New York up until his passing.<ref name=":0" />		Following his retirement, he remained an active aficionado of film and theater, regularly travelling to both London and New York up until his passing.<ref name=":0" />