James Houghton, known for his role as Kenny Ward in the CBS soap opera “Knots Landing” and his Emmy-winning contributions to “The Young and the Restless,” has died at 75.
His wife, Karen Houghton, confirmed that he passed away from peritoneal mesothelioma on August 27, 2024, at their home in Encino, California. She revealed the sad news to The Hollywood Reporter recently, but declined to speak about his death until now.
Houghton, a Los Angeles, California, native, was born on November 7, 1948. His father, Buck Houghton, was a producer for the initial three seasons of CBS’s “The Twilight Zone.” This connection helped Houghton start his acting career, which included an appearance in a 1962 “Twilight Zone” episode called “The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank.”
After studying at the Harvard School in Studio City, the Institut Le Rosey in Rolle, Switzerland, and UC Berkeley, Houghton began his acting career in the early 70s. His early roles included parts in the ABC series “Alias Smith & Jones,” the film “Sweet Sugar,” and his breakthrough role in the CBS daytime drama “The Young and the Restless.”
From 1973 to 1976, Houghton played the role of attorney Greg Foster on “The Young and the Restless,” where he portrayed Nikki Newman’s first husband. He co-starred with William Espy, who played his on-screen brother Snapper Foster.
After his stint on “The Young and the Restless,” Houghton starred alongside Martin Kove in the CBS action series “Code R,” a show about a rescue team on the Channel Islands. However, the series had a short run, lasting only 13 episodes in 1977.
In 1979, Houghton’s career took a major turn when he joined the cast of “Knots Landing,” a spin-off of the hit series “Dallas.” For four seasons, he portrayed Kenny Ward, a notorious record producer, alongside Kim Lankford who played his wife, Ginger. The Wards were one of four original couples living on the show’s iconic cul-de-sac.
In a 2006 interview, Houghton reflected on his time on “Knots Landing,” stating, “The thing about Knots Landing was, because we were all on a cul-de-sac together and because we interacted with one another, it was still very much a family.”
His character and on-screen wife were written out of “Knots Landing” in 1983 with a storyline that they moved to Nashville to pursue country music careers. Despite not wanting to leave the series, Houghton understood the decision, stating, “There comes a time when you’ve got to throw some ballast overboard in order to make room for something else.”
Post “Knots Landing,” Houghton continued acting, appearing in ABC’s “The Colbys,” a “Dynasty” spin-off, where he played U.S. Senator Cash Cassidy, a rival of Charlton Heston’s character, Jason Colby. His filmography includes “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “One on One,” “More American Graffiti,” “Superstition,” and “Purple People Eater,” along with guest roles in shows like “Fantasy Island,” “Hotel,” “The Love Boat,” and “Remington Steele.”
Beyond acting, Houghton demonstrated his writing abilities. He co-wrote three episodes of “Knots Landing” in 1982 with his younger sister, Mona Houghton. In 1991, he returned to “The Young and the Restless” as a writer. His work on the show contributed to its dominant ratings in daytime television.
As a writer for “The Young and the Restless,” Houghton won four Emmy Awards out of 14 nominations as part of the outstanding drama series writing team through 2007. His writing career also extended to CBS’s “The Bold and the Beautiful” and his 2017 crime thriller novel “The Hooligan’s Game.”
Houghton was also known for his philanthropic endeavors, contributing to organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Special Olympics, and School on Wheels.
Survived by his wife Karen, whom he married in November 1994, Houghton leaves behind his mother, Wanda; sister, Mona; children, Daniel and Alisa; son-in-law, Jim; and grandson, Milo.
