The multi-careered James McEachin, 94, died on Jan. 11, according to the always on top of things Mike Barnes at The Hollywood Reporter (hi, Mike!). McEachin served in the 2nd Infantry Division, and was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star for his service. He then became a police officer and a fireman (but they hate each other, at least in NY!), then turned to the music biz. He was a songwriter, and record producer, for such acts as The Furys and Otis Redding, before changing careers again, this time to acting. McEachin played opposite Clint Eastwood in Coogan’s Bluff, Play Misty for Me, Every Which Way but Loose, and Sudden Impact, and appeared in films and on TV in numerous Perry Mason TV-movies, The Legend of Lylah Clare, True Grit, It Takes a Thief, Dragnet 1967, Adam-12, Buck and the Preacher, That Certain Summer, All in the Family, St. Elsewhere, and Hill Street Blues. After retiring, he took up yet another profession and wrote several novels. “Acting was never really that important for me,” he told Ability magazine. “It was something I just did. It took me forever to learn that. Even though I didn’t know anything about acting, I knew what bad acting was. I think I had a patent on bad acting!”
