James A. Westerfield (22 March 1913 – 20 September 1971) was an American actor of stage, film, and television.

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, he starred on Broadway and in more than fifty films during his lifetime. He had roles in The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), On The Waterfront (1954), Lucy Gallant (1955), the classic 1957 Budd Boetticher directed film Decision at Sundown starring Randolph Scott, Cowboy (1958), a repeat role in The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and Son of Flubber (1963),Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), Man's Favorite Sport (1964), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), Hang 'Em High (1968) and True Grit (1969).

Westerfield had many roles on television, including seven episodes as John Murrel from 1963 to 1964 on ABC's The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, starring child actor Kurt Russell in the title role. He made two guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of Sheriff Bert Elmore in the 1957 episode, "The Case of the Angry Mourner."

Westerfield's other appearances were on such series as The Rifleman, The Californians, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, The Alaskans, The Rebel, Straightaway, Going My Way, Hazel, The Andy Griffith Show, Daniel Boone, and Gunsmoke. He played the circus leader, Dr. Marvello, in an episode of Lost in Space "Space Circus" (1966).

Westerfield died from a heart attack in Woodlands Hills, California, at the age of fifty-eight.

Source: Wikipedia