Topic: James Farentino

James Farentino (born February 24, 1938) is an American actor. He has appeared in almost one hundred roles, among them in The Final Countdown, Jesus of Nazareth, and Dynasty.

Among his many television appearances, Farentino guest starred in 1964 with Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., in the episode "Super-Star" of the CBS drama series, The Reporter, with Harry Guardino in the starring role of journalist Danny Taylor of the fictitious New York Globe newspaper. Early in 1967, he appeared in Barry Sullivan's NBC western series The Road West in the episode "Reap the Whirlwind".

In 1969, he starred opposite Patty Duke in the film Me, Natalie. Farentino was one of the lawyers in NBC TV series The Bold Ones: The Lawyers (1969–1972) which also starred Burl Ives and Joseph Campanella. He made two appearances in the 1970s anthology television series Night Gallery, with wife Michelle Lee in "Since Aunt Ada Came to Stay," and again with Joanna Pettet in "The Girl With The Hungry Eyes." In 1978 he was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Special for his portrayal of Saint Peter in the mini-series, Jesus of Nazareth. Farentino also appeared as "Frank Chaney" in the short-lived 1984 ABC series Blue Thunder, based on the 1983 film of the same name starring Roy Scheider. (The 11-episode series, which also starred a then-unknown Dana Carvey, was released on DVD in August 2006.) In the late 1990s, he appeared as Doug Ross' estranged father, "Ray," on ER.