James Hampton

James Hampton was a veteran character actor, often the quintessential sidekick, most notably as Hannibal Dobbs in the vintage sitcom "F Troop," and as Caretaker in the Burt Reynolds prison film, "The Longest Yard." Hampton studied acting in New York, Los Angeles, and Texas--where he grew up--and did several off-Broadway productions, including alongside Reynolds, who became a friend as well as future collaborator. After making his big screen debut in an Oscar-nominated short in 1962, Hampton launched what became a very long TV career the following year, as Jeb on "Gunsmoke," followed in 1965 by his regular part on "F Troop" as P.F.C. Dobbs, the incompetent bugler and personal assistant to lead character Captain Parmenter (Hampton also served in the Army in real life). Though his TV work continued for the next 30-odd years, he's more recognizable for his film parts, starting with his role as Caretaker, the manager for the Paul Crewe (Burt Reynolds)-led prison football team. After appearing in key supporting roles in such disparate fare as the 1979 thriller "The China Syndrome" and the 1981 superhero comedy "Condorman," Hampton's next standout sidekick turn came in the 1985 comedy, "Teen Wolf," as Harold Howard, father to Michael J. Fox's title character. Hampton reprised the part in the 1987 follow-up with Jason Bateman, "Teen Wolf Too," and the animated series spinoff. Behind the camera, Hampton also wrote and directed several sitcoms, including the early 1990s series "Evening Shade," which starred Hampton's old pal Reynolds. James Hampton died April 7, 2021 at the age of 84.