J. A. Preston | |
|---|---|
 Preston as Walter Ingles on Good Times, circa 1976 | |
| Born | James Allen Preston November 13, 1932 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Education | North Carolina College |
| Years active | 1968–2006 |
| Known for | Ozzie Cleveland – Hill Street Blues |
| Spouse |
Merilyn Alsop
(m. 1957; div. 1972) |
| Children | 3 |
James Allen Preston[1] (born November 13, 1932) is an American former actor. Preston is best known for portraying Colonel Randolph in the movie A Few Good Men and for his role as Ozzie Cleveland on the NBC prime-time television series Hill Street Blues. He played Conn MacCleary in the movie Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins.
Preston was born November 13, 1932, in Washington, D.C.[2] In addition to his role on Hill Street Blues, Preston is also known for his roles as Leo Daltry in Dallas, Richard Matthews in Santa Barbara, court-martial judge Col. J. A. Randolph, USMC in the 1992 film A Few Good Men, and the minor but important role of a USAF major general in Air Force One (1997). He was a series regular in the short-lived CBS sitcom All's Fair which ran just one season (1976–77). In it he played an assistant to conservative newspaper columnist Richard Barrington (played by Richard Crenna). Preston also appeared on the NBC television series The A-Team as a judge (Col. Thomas Milo) presiding over a military tribunal convened to try the A-Team. He appeared in the series Good Times in the late 1975 episode, "Willona's Dilemma". He also appeared in three episodes of Martin as Gina's (Tisha Campbell-Martin) father Dr. Cliff Waters. He was also on the Season 1, Episode 11 of Law & Order, "Out of the Half-Light" as Congressman Ronald Eaton.
Preston was married to Merilyn Alsop from 1957 until divorcing in 1972. Together, Preston and Alsop had three children before their divorce: Scott, Dominique, and James Preston.[1]