James Hampton: The One Face of Many Roles
Thursday, November 24th, 2011
Even if you can’t place the face, you’re sure to recognize it. That is, if you’ve ever seen an episode of F Troop, whether voluntary or against your will. It’s a show I never cared for, but it’s interesting to note that James Hampton, who portrayed Hannibal Dobbs, had actually served in the “F” Troop of the Army’s Sixth Cavalry. Outside of F Troop, you might recognize the face of James Hampton from Teen Wolf (both the film and TV series), Sling Blade, Gunsmoke, Superboy, Newhart, Police Academy 5, Perfect Strangers, or the Hogan Family. Go ahead. Admit it. You know him!!
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If you answered Ghostbusters! to that question – and worse yet, sang in the cadence of the classic song from the 1984 film Ghostbusters, well than I must say, you are quite predicatable. The answer I was looking for was actually Ray Parker, Jr., the solo recording artist who wrote, produced, and recorded the chart-topping #1 hit theme song that people are still singing ad nauseum today. 
He simply got left out. Nerds often do. I’m referring (of course) to exclusion of Andrew Cassese during the great Revenge of the Nerds 
I’ll be honest when I say that The Munsters was really never one of my favorite sitcoms. It was okay fodder when nothing else was on, but I never really cared for the monster comedies. Perhaps I’ll give it a second look one day, but for now I’m just going to respect it as an iconic 60’s institution. Because of that respect, I’ve never passed up a chance at a good autograph or celebrity encounter opportunity involving cast members of the show. 
Michael Rooker has one of those instantly recognizable faces and he’s well-adept at playing about any role. But usually he plays a nut. In fact, after seeing Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, it was hard to believe that he was the same guy who played mild-mannered D.A. assistant Bill Broussard in the Oliver Stone film JFK. He can be seen in films such as Tombstone, Mallrats, and Eight Men Out – and his current job is playing loose cannon zombie survivor Merle Dixon. Naturally when I met him, I had him sign a portrait of him as Henry. My favorite line comes as a result of a bartender asking him “How about those bears?”