James Widdoes

Widdoes played the role of senior student and Fraternity President "Robert Hoover" alongside John Belushi in the 1978 film *National Lampoon's Animal House*, as well as in the 1979 TV series spin-off *Delta House*. He has appeared as a guest star in numerous TV series episodes, including *Remington Steele* (1982), *Night Court* (1984), *Dave's World* (1993), and *My Wife and Kids* (2000). Widdoes portrayed "Stan Pembroke," the father of the house, in the 1984–1985 seasons of *Charles in Charge*. Since 1998, he has directed and/or produced episodes for various TV series, including *Just the Ten of Us* (1987), *Empty Nest* (1988), *Anything But Love* (1989), *Harry and the Hendersons* (1991), *Boston Common* (1996), *Brother's Keeper* (1998), *Reba* (2001), *8 Simple Rules* (2002), *The King of Queens* (1998), *'Til Death* (2006), *The Bill Engvall Show* (2007), and *Two and a Half Men* (2003). Widdoes graduated from The Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1972 and currently serves on its Board of Trustees. He began his acting career during college, performing in a production of *The New Amen Show* at the Diners Playhouse in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1974. He later attended New York University's Tisch School of Arts, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While in New York, he roomed with actor Michael O'Keefe, known for *Caddyshack* (1980) and *The Great Santini* (1979). He performed in New York stage productions such as the 1977 Equity Library Theatre revival of *Wonderful Town* and the 1982 Broadway musical *Is There Life After High School?*, for which he received a Theatre World Award. In addition to his role on The Loomis Chaffee School's board, Widdoes is involved in several community-oriented organizations, including the Board of Turning Point School, the Board of Trustees for the California Association of Independent Schools, the Board of Directors/Executive Committee for Camp Dudley-YMCA, and the Executive Advisory Board of The Gordie Foundation, a Dallas, Texas-based non-profit that "[provides] today's young people with the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, binge drinking, peer pressure and hazing." The foundation was established in memory of Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr. Widdoes is married to Mer James and has two sons, Charles Landauer and Sumner Dickinson, and a daughter, Margaret Hendrie.