Biography
James A. Westerfield (22 March 1913 – 20 September 1971) was an American character actor of stage, film and television. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, he began his career in the 1930s at the Pasadena Community Playhouse and made his screen debut in 1940.
He appeared on Broadway, winning New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards for supporting roles in The Madwoman of Chaillot and Detective Story. Westerfield returned to Hollywood and took roles in more than 40 films, including On the Waterfront (1954) as Big Mac, Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), Hang 'em High (1968) and True Grit (1969). He also appeared in numerous television series such as The Twilight Zone, Bonanza, Bewitched and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
