Actor. He was an American film and television actor. He had the role of the veterinarian "Dr. Marsh Tracy" on the 1960s television series "Daktari." Born James Marshall Thompson, the only child into a upper-middle class family, his family relocated to California when he was five years old. He was a high school classmate of several well-known performers including Marilyn Monroe. Planning to follow in his father's profession as a dentist, he enrolled at Occidental College in Los Angeles but switched to divinity studies, while being active in drama and track and field sports. At the age of 19, he signed with Universal Studios and three years later was with MGM Studios. His first two films had uncredited roles, but in 1944 he had a speaking role in "Reckless Age " before going to MGM. He had the lead role in the 1947 film "Gallant Bess," which was loosely based on the true story of a United States Navy officer rescuing an injured horse on the Solomon Islands during World War II. Eventually after much red tape, the horse was brought to the United States after the war. Though this was MGM's first film produced in CineColor, the film was not financially successful. He is credited with over 60 films, with his last being "McBain" in 1991. After his first trip to Africa to film "East of Kilimanjaro" in 1957, he was in love with the beautiful African wildlife and sought to protect them. In the late 1950s, he began to do television roles, having at least 60 roles. Airing on CBS between 1966 and 1969, "Daktari" was a spinoff on the 1965 light comedy-adventure film "Clarence, the Cross-eyed Lion," which he had the lead role as well as script credits. During the last years of his life, he directed and acted in the documentary series "Orphans of the Wild," which addressed the killing of animals by poachers for ivory or furs, thus leaving these animals' young as orphans. As a sanctuary from harm, he supported animal preserves in Africa. He became a scholar of wars. Filmed during active hostilities and released in 1964, he produced, directed and had the lead role in "Yank in Vietnam." During filming, he was known for performing his own stunts, which was dangerous at times. In 1949 he married Barbara Long, the sister of actor Richard Long. He and his wife had a daughter. Not only as colleagues, but as long-time friends, he and Long appeared together in the 1955 horror film "Cult of the Cobra."