James Rowley French (September 23, 1928 – December 20, 2017) was an American radio host, voice actor, writer and producer. French founded Imagination Theatre in 1996 and served as its producer until 2017. He was the morning DJ on the Seattle radio station KIRO from 1959 to 1971, and again from 1980 to 1994.Mclennan, Douglas (October 6, 1997) 'Retired' KIRO host French to tape 100th radio drama. Seattle Post-Intelligencer; accessed June 21, 2017.
As a voice actor, French was known for his work in video games by Valve, including Half-Life 2 (2004), Left 4 Dead (2008), and Dota 2 (2013).
Early life James Rowley French was born on September 23, 1928, in Pasadena, California, to Mabelle () and James Forrest French. French got his first job in radio as a teenager, on the Pasadena AM station KXLA. French enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945 and was stationed in allied-occupied Japan, where he worked for the Armed Forces Radio. He attended the Pasadena City College following his discharge.
Career Radio Following stints working in radio in Southern California and Honolulu, French became morning DJ on the Seattle radio station KIRO in 1959.Bundy, June (January 19, 1959). Vox Jox. Billboard He left KIRO in 1971 and moved to KVI, where he produced and wrote radio dramas. French was dismissed from his position at KVI in 1978, and he returned to KIRO in as a host 1980. He stepped down from his position as a host in 1994.
In 1996, French began production of the radio drama program Imagination Theatre, which in 2003 moved to KIXI.Virgin, Bill (January 9, 2003). 'Imagination Theatre' goes to new home at KIXI. Seattle Post-Intelligencer His syndicated programs are now broadcast on over 120 stations in the U.S. and Canada and are also broadcast via XM Satellite Radio throughout North America.
In January 2017, it was announced that, due to age and health issues, French and his family would be closing down their production company, Jim French Productions, and discontinuing all broadcasts of Imagination Theatre at the end of March 2017. Imagination Theatre was relaunched in 2019, following a successful crowdfunding campaign headed by actors and producers John Patrick Lowrie and Larry Albert, and is now produced by Aural Vision, LLC.
Voice acting As an actor, French appeared on the 1996 NBC miniseries Pandora's Clock as a non-commissioned officer. He was best known for voice acting work in video games by Valve Corporation, most notably Father Grigori in Half-Life 2, Bill in Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 and the Elder Titan in Dota 2. He additionally voiced the Scientist in Gunman Chronicles and the Fisherman in the tech demo Half-Life 2: Lost Coast.
Personal life and death French met Patricia Anne "Pat" Soule while attending Pasadena City College, and the two married in June 1950. They were married for 66 years, until her death in February 2017, and had two children. Pat worked as an acting teacher at Bellevue College and later worked with her husband on Imagination Theatre.
French died in Seattle on December 20, 2017, at age 89.
Filmography Video games Year Title Role Notes 2000 Gunman Chronicles The Scientist 2004 Half-Life 2 Father Grigori 2005 Half-Life 2: Lost Coast The Fisherman 2008 Left 4 Dead William "Bill" Overbeck 2009 Left 4 Dead 2 2011 Payday: The Heist 2013 Dota 2 Elder Titan
See also Imagination Theatre
References
External links Jim French Productions