Romantic Dysfunctions in Crime Shows: James Read

James Read, possibly the sexist man in Hollywood after Ted Levine, shows up in numerous mystery shows. He very often plays a kind of shadowy, not entirely trustworthy man. In Columbo, he plays the murderer who kills off his wife's lover, not out of jealousy but for financial security.

In Lois & Clark, as Jimmy's father, he is a good guy who loves his son but as an international spy, he is keeping secrets and has a hidden agenda, even during his visit to Jimmy. 

Star Trek: Voyager is an interesting departure in the sense that he is actually the man he states himself to be. The two-parter "Workforce" (one of my favorites) presents a conspiracy/thriller/mystery. He is still the odd man out since he is the only one, among the Voyager investigators, who is not something other than what he appears. Personally, I didn't see why he couldn't join the crew and become the captain's househusband. He comes across as a fairly low-key guy!

But his choice to move on for work isn't improbable. The uncertainty about where the character will jump next comes down to the slightly enigmatic aura of the actor's persona. James Read's character in an episode of Murder, She Wrote turns out to also be a good guy, yet he is (again) an ex-spy. That hint of "hmm, maybe not so good" lingers: can he be trusted? 

It's an interesting form of typecasting. What is it about James Read's nearly cherubic yet angular features that invites distrust? Or is it the actor? He signs up for those roles after all.

Since he is one of those Hollywood actors with a very successful second marriage, the typecasting is about the persona, not the person. The key seems to be, Once you do one role in Hollywood, better be prepared to do it again!