James Wilkes Noble (March 5, 1922 – March 28, 2016) is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Governor Eugene Gatling on the American sitcom Benson.

Life and career

Noble was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Lois Frances (née Wilkes) and Ralph Byrne Noble. He began his career in soap operas, most notably The Brighter Day,As the World Turns, The Doctors, and A World Apart.

His big screen roles include Reverend John Witherspoon in the 1972 film version of the Broadway musical 1776, assorted roles as doctors in films such as One Summer Love (1976), 10 (1979) and Promises in the Dark (1979), Kaufman, the President's Chief of Staff, in Being There (1979), Father O'Flanagan in the comedy sequelAirplane II: The Sequel (1982), Sinclair in A Tiger's Tale (1987), Chief Wilkins in the comedy Paramedics (1988), and Dr. Bailey in Chances Are (1989).

In 2005, he co-founded Open the Gate Pictures with actress Colleen Murphy, and produced and starred in the highly acclaimed short film Glacier Bay. The film won several awards in various film festivals around the country. Noble played the live action version of Archie Comics character Hiram Lodge in the movie, Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again (1990).

Family

Noble was married to actress Carolyn Coates (1927-2005) until her death.