James Hampton Dies: Writer, Director, And Bugler Hannibal Dobbs On 'F Troop' Was 84

[Dennis Donovan]

https://deadline.com/2021/04/james-hampton-dies-writer-director-and-bugler-hannibal-dobbs-on-f-troop-1234729955/



James Hampton, a veteran character actor best known as bumbling bugler Hannibal Shirley Dobbs on ’60s sitcom F Troop, died Wednesday at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, after a long illness. He was 84 and his death was confirmed by TV biographer Randy West

A character actor whose amiable appearance made him the quintessential sidekick, Hampton had a long career in film and television before retiring to his native Texas.

Beyond F Troop, he is best remembered for many key film roles, including appearances as “Caretaker” the manager of the prison football team in the Burt Reynolds prison film, The Longest Yard.

He also had supporting roles in the 1979 thriller The China Syndrome, the 1981 superhero comedy Condorman, the 1985 comedy, and Teen Wolf,. playing Harold Howard, father to Michael J. Fox’s title character. Hampton reprised the part in the 1987 follow-up with Jason Bateman, Teen Wolf Too, and the animated series spinoff. He was also in 1996’s Sling Blade as Jerry Woolridge.

-/snip

Cross gently, James. He was awesome as Caretaker in The Longest Yard

[blogslug]

1. Aww, I always enjoyed him

I saw an OP on here about how the US Cavalry tried using camels in the 1800s. James Hampton was the star of a film about it called 'Hawmps!'. He was lovely.

[raging moderate]

2. F Troop was a wonderful series.

I like to hope that F Troop was a prophetic series.

[Ex Lurker]

3. loosely based on a movie called Advance To The Rear

which is very difficult to find anywhere these days. I remember seeing it on late night TV when I was a kid

[Raine]

4. I loved F Troop, I definitely remember him from it and other things

R-I-P ... James 🙏

[Rhiannon12866]

5. From the show:

[Dennis Donovan]

10. Classic!

[BHDem53]

6. He was also a cast member

on "Mary" one of MTM's variety shows along with David Letterman, Michal Keaton, Swoosie Kurtz, Judith Kahan and Dick Shawn.

[ZonkerHarris]

7. and Love American Style too

[Norbert]

8. Spokesman for "The Incredible Edible Egg" commercials

[Liberal In Texas]

9. Aw, I loved that show. RIP Mr. Hampton

[spanone]

11. He was great in Sling Blade!

[mcar]

12. Love F Troop

What a silly, fun show. RIP

[PCIntern]

13. The remake of F Troop was...

Dances With Wolves...

An officer accidentally leads a charge which defeats the enemy so he’s promoted and given command of an outpost where he meets wacky but friendly Native Americans snd takes up with a woman who wears buckskins.

Yep. Remake.

[Kingofalldems]

14. RIP Caretaker.

[whistler162]

15. Looks like Larry Storch is the last

of the primary F-Troop cast.