James Sloyan
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James Sloyan | |
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 Sloyan in Westside Medical (1977) | |
| Born | James J. Sloyan February 24, 1940 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Other name | Jim Sloyan |
| Alma mater | American Academy of Dramatic Arts |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1957–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including Samantha Sloyan |
| Relatives | Patrick J. Sloyan (brother) |
James J. Sloyan Jr.,[1][2] (born February 24, 1940) is an American character actor of stage and screen, as well as a much-employed voice actor, most notably via his two-decade tenure as the voice of Lexus.
Early life and career
[edit]Sloyan was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 24, 1940.[3] One of four children, two girls and two boys, born to James J. Sloyan and Annamae O'Brien[1][2] (another being Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Patrick J. Sloyan[4]), Sloyan Jr. spent the lion's share of the next nine and a half years in Europe, namely Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, and—if only long enough to board the next ship bound for home—Paris, France,[5] before dividing the remainder of his preteens/adolescence between three decidedly disparate New York State municipalities. 1) Mechanicville, the birthplace of Sloyan's mother[1]; 2) Albany, the state capitol, where, by his own count, Sloyan was "actually thrown out of five [or] six high schools"[6], and 3) New York City, where in 1957, Sloyan embarked on his scholarship-subsidized two years of study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[3]
Sloyan's acting career was interrupted in 1962, when he was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War.[3]
Television
[edit]Sloyan's television career includes numerous brief performances on daytime dramas The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, and Ryan's Hope, and guest appearances on prime-time series Hawaii Five-O; The Streets of San Francisco; Wonder Woman; Baywatch; Moonlighting; Quantum Leap; The X-Files; MacGyver; Party of Five; Matlock; Murder, She Wrote; and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. He appeared in the television movies Blind Ambition, Billionaire Boys Club, and My Son Is Innocent.
In the fall of 1970, Sloyan, James Broderick, and Reni Santoni were cast in the ABC Movie of the Week episode, "Panic on the 5:22", as a trio of underprivileged, disaffected, and somewhat desperate Bronx residents who board a suburbs-bound commuter train in Manhattan and, after donning ski masks and drawing guns, commandeer its club car in hopes of making a quick killing.[7][8][9] Much to their dismay, these hopes are promptly dashed, and their desperation dramatically escalated, by the discovery that these affluent suburbanites carry nothing but credit cards.[10] In 1972, Sloyan co-starred with James Coco in Neil Simon's "The Greasy Spoon", one of five sketches that comprise his dark comedy, The Trouble With People, presented by Bell System Television Theatre on NBC-TV.[11]
Sloyan has appeared in a number of science fiction television series, including Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, in which he portrayed Barnard "Barney" Smith in the episode "The Plot to Kill a City", and several roles in the Star Trek franchise. In Star Trek: The Next Generation, he portrayed Alidar Jarok (a defecting Romulan admiral) in "The Defector", and Alexander Rozhenko (Worf's son) as an adult in the future, in "Firstborn" using the alias "K'mtar". In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, he portrayed the Bajoran scientist Doctor Mora Pol, Odo's guardian scientist in the episodes "The Begotten" and "The Alternate". The Star Trek: Voyager episode "Jetrel" features Sloyan as the title character.
Film
[edit]Sloyan is featured in The Sting as Mottola, who is used to illustrate the concept of a griftee, in a variation on the pigeon drop scam.
He has played roles in The Traveling Executioner (1970),[12] The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971), and Xanadu (1980).
Advertisements
[edit]For 20 years, Sloyan was the voice of Lexus. The company's first commercial, "Balance," aired in 1989 and went on to win several awards as well as homages in pop culture and media. Sloyan served as Lexus' sole voice actor until 2009.[3] He later narrated ads for Mitsubishi.[citation needed] Sloyan was also a voice actor for Sprint Nextel long-distance services, and in film trailers for movies such as Jumper, The Shadow, and How to Make an American Quilt.[13]
Personal life
[edit]Sloyan and actress Deirdre Lenihan began dating in 1963 and became engaged five years later.[14] By 1973, they were openly living together, and seemed poised to take the plunge.[15] They have two children, Daniel Sloyan and actress Samantha Sloyan.[16][17]
Partial filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | The Traveling Executioner | Piquant | |
| 1970 | ABC Movie of the Week | Frankie Scamantino | Episode: "Panic on the 5:22" |
| 1971 | The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight | Joey | |
| 1972 | The Doctors | Al Jarrett | guest role |
| 1972 | Between Time and Timbuktu | Dr. Paul Proteus | TV movie |
| 1973 | The Sting | Mottola | |
| 1973 | Kojak | Jack Murzie | Episode: "Siege of Terror" |
| 1974 | Hawaii Five-O | Charles Fleming | Episode: "Murder with a Golden Touch" |
| 1976 | The Million Dollar Rip-Off | Lubeck | TV movie |
| 1979 | The New Adventures of Wonder Woman | Mark Reuben | Episode: "The Girl with a Gift for Disaster" |
| 1979 | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Barney | Episode: The Plot to Kill a City, Parts 1 & 2 |
| 1979 | Blind Ambition | Ronald Ziegler | TV Mini-Series, 4 episodes |
| 1979 | Kaz | Father O'Brian | Episode: "Trouble on the South Side" |
| 1980 | Xanadu | Simpson | |
| 1982 | Prime Suspect | John Malloy | TV movie |
| 1985 | Amos | Sheriff John Thomas | TV movie |
| 1987 | Billionaire Boys Club | District Attorney | TV movie |
| 1987 | Growing Pains | Max Drummond | Episode: "Confidentially Yours" |
| 1991 | Changes | Paul Stevenson | TV movie |
| 1991 | Quantum Leap | Theodore Moody | Episode: "Last Dance Before an Execution - S03E19" |
| 1990 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Alidar Jarok | Episode: "The Defector" |
| 1993 | Crime & Punishment | The Interrogator | 6 episodes (voice) |
| 1994, 1997 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Dr. Mora Pol | Episodes: "The Alternate", "The Begotten" |
| 1994 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | K'mtar/Future Alexander | Episode: "Firstborn" |
| 1994 | X Files | Dr. Frank Nollette | Episode: "Roland" |
| 1995 | Star Trek: Voyager | Ma'bor Jetrel | Episode: "Jetrel" |
| 2008 | The Car and the Road | Short film (voice) |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Obituaries: Annamae Sloyan". The Indianapolis Star. August 23 1985. p. 47. Retrieved March 12, 2026. "Services for Annamae O'Brien Sloyan, 82, Albany, N.Y., formerly of Indianapolis and mother of actor James Sloyan, will be l0 a.m. Saturday in Assumption-St. Paul Catholic Church, Mechanicville. N.Y. The widow of James J. Sloyan, she died Wednesday in Albany Medical Center. A native of Mechanicville, she had been an Indianapolis resident many years before moving to Albany 30 years ago. Her son, an Indianapolis native, has starred in several Broadway shows and two television series, including Oh Madeline with actress Madeline Kahn. [...] Survivors, besides her son. include a daughter. Judy Wilkes, and another son, Patrick J. Sloyan."
- 1 2 "SLOYAN. The Indianapolis Star. 1954. Sec. 3, p. 7. Retrieved March 12, 2026. "James J.. 3490 E. Fall Creek Pkwy., N. Dr.. husband of Annamae, father of Patrick J., James J. Jr., and Judy, also survived by 3 sisters. Anna Sloyan, Mrs. Josephine Grampp of New York. [...] [S]ervices and burial Monday at Mechanicsville, N.Y.."
- 1 2 3 4 Clark, Mark (2013). Star Trek: FAQ 2.0: EVERYTHING LEFT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION, THE MOVIES AND BEYOND (UNOFFICIAL AND UNAUTHORIZED). Milwaukee, WI: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. ISBN 978-1-55783-793-6.
- ↑ "Obituaries: Ann Judith (Judy) Wilkes (Oct. 8, 1935—Jan. 11, 2022)". The Post-Star. January 23, 2022. p. C6. Retrieved March 13, 2026. "Judy was born Oct. 8, 1935 to the late Annamae (O’Brien) and James Sloyan in Stamford, CT, and had three siblings: Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Patrick Sloyan (d. 2019, m. Phyllis); Elizabeth Sloyan (d. 1949); stage/film/television actor, James Sloyan (m. Deirdre)."
- ↑ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1958", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24TG-L62 : Sun Apr 13 03:58:40 UTC 2025), Entry for James Sloyan, 1950.
- ↑ "Network Bio". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 10, 1977. p. 56.
- ↑ "Hoods Menace Passengers". Cumberland Times-News. Nov 9, 1974. p. 12. Retrieved March 20, 2026. "Three gunmen looking quick "score," hold-up affluent passengers aboard the club car of a swank New commuter train in "Panic The 5:22,' [...] Harvey Hart directed the Eugene Price screenplay that pits the trio of bumbling but dangerous hoodlums, frustrated graduates of a teenage gang in the Bronx, against a problem-ridden group of Manhattan business executives, a promiscuous high fashion New York model, a retired Army general, a brittle female cosmetic firm owner, a young attorney and a professional athlete."
- ↑ Cameron, Sue (November 21, 1974). "Television Review: Panic on the 3:22". The Hollywood Review. p. 6. ProQuest 2931983431.
'Panic on the 5:22' is a 'disaster film' with a message. Instead of being held prisoner in a burning building or running from an earthquake, a group of wealthy people are held hostage and robbed at gunpoint in the club car of a commuter train. The three criminals represent the underprivileged slum people and the passengers represent everything the robbers want most and hate at the same time. In other words, it's a class confrontation on a train, with the robbery used as a tool for the message. It's a better-than-average MOW that just moves right along suspensefully. James Sloyan, Robert Walden and Reni Santoni give excellent performances as the crooks. [...] Quinn Martin was executive producer and Anthony Spinner produced. It was written by Eugene Price and directed by Harvey Hart.
- ↑ Thomas, Kevin (November 20, 1974). "A Morality Play in 'Panic'". The Los Angeles Times. pt. IV, p. 20. Retrieved March 20, 2026. "Robert Walden and his pals from long-ago teenage gang days, dim-witted Reni Santoni and nervous James Sloyan, board a train at Grand Central Station bound for Groton, Conn., [...] In the 35 minutes--minus commercials - before Walden and company don ski masks and draw their guns, Hart and Price show their wealthy would-be victims as largely unsympathetic types, for the most part arrogant, self-centered and, in a few instances, downright crooked. Thus, the difference between these rich passengers and the intruders is one of socio-economics rather than morals."
- ↑ Halliwell, Leslie (1977). Halliwell's Film Guide : A Survey of 8,000 English-Language Movies. London: Granada Publishing. p. 574–575. ISBN 0246109823. "Wealthy passengers are terrorized by three incompetent hoodlums who are exasperated at finding credit cards instead of money. Smooth, odd little suspenser which goes on too long and submerges in cliche philosophy. Some smart moments, though."
- ↑ "Hooked by a Crook?". The Ouachita Citizen. November 2, 1972. p. 7-B. Retrieved March 12, 2026. "'The Greasy Diner' has more than grease in store for James Coco as he finds out. Coco and Jim Sloyan star in 'The Greasy Diner,' one of the five sketches in the NBC-TV. Bell System Family Theatre presentation of Nell Simon's 'The Trouble With People,' which will be presented Sunday, Nov. 12, from 8-9 p.m."
- ↑ Hale, Ernest (September 27, 1970). "Flicker Footnotes: 'Executioner' Is Sardonic Tale". The Columbus Ledger. p .18. Retrieved March 13, 2026. "James J. Sloyan (r) as Deputy Warden Piquant, talks with prisoners in 'The Traveling Executioner'."
- ↑ CED Voices.com
- ↑ Hoffman, Steve (June 27, 1973). ""TV and Radio: Lenihan May Be a New TV Sensation"". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 20.
- ↑ Shain, Percy (November 25, 1973). "Deirdre Lenihan Proves Enchanting Newcomer". Boston Sunday Globe. p. 92.
- ↑ Terry, Carol Burton (May 15, 1977). "TV Line". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). p. 337.
- ↑ "Sloyan Bio". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 10, 1977. p. 194.
External links
[edit]- James Sloyan at IMDb
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