Beneath The Planet Of The Apes: James Franciscus (Brent)

James Grover Franciscus, born January 31, 1934 in Clayton, Missouri, died July 8, 1991, North Hollywood, California, first came to public attention when he appeared in ABC TV's The Naked City. He went on to play astronaut John Christopher Brent in Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (1970). An often overlooked and under-rated actor, he appeared in sixteen films before turning his hand to screenwriting and producing. His final project, on which he was working at the time of his death in 1991, was as writer and associate producer on George Gallo's 29th Street. He's seen here with Linda Harrison (Nova), Kim Hunter (Zira), Charlton Heston (Taylor), David Watson (Cornelius), Captain Maddox* (Tod Andrews) and a gorilla soldier.

(*credited as "Skipper" in the cast, but the visible part of the name-tag on his uniform reads "ADDOX". In the promotional ANSA Public Service Announcement film he's referred to as "Colonel Skipper Donovan" but the original script lists him as Maddox. More (speculative) info on Maddox can be found in Drew Gaska's superb Conspiracy On The Planet Of The Apes illustrated continuation novel.)