What Was James Doohan's Net Worth?
James Doohan was a Canadian actor who had a net worth of $7 million at the time of his death in July 2005. James Doohan was best known for playing the role of Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the "Star Trek" franchise. Doohan first appeared as Scotty in the original "Star Trek" television series, which ran from 1966 to 1969. Over the next several decades, he reprised the role in numerous television iterations of the show and seven films. In 2004, James was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Blvd. James Doohan passed away on July 20, 2005, at 85 years old.
Early Life
James Montgomery Doohan was born on March 3, 1920, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was the youngest of four children to William Patrick Doohan and Sarah Frances. His father owned a chemist shop downtown in Bangor, Northern Ireland, and is credited with inventing an early form of high-octane gasoline around 1923. After the family moved to Sarnia, Ontario, James attended high school at Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School, where he excelled in math and science.
Doohan enrolled in the 102nd Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in 1938 and the Royal Canadian Artillery in 1939. He later studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City.
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Television Career
From 1965 to 1967, Doohan played Thomas on the TV series "Peyton Place." From 1966 to 1969, he starred as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott on the series "Star Trek." He also lent his voice to "Star Trek: The Animated Series" from 1973 to 1974. James starred as Commander Canarvin on the television series "Jason of Star Command" in 1978. He starred as Scotty in the "Star Trek" film series from 1979 to 1994. He also had a recurring role as Damon Warwick on the soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful" from 1996 to 1997.
Doohan won an SFX Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. In 2004, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Blvd. His last film appearance was in 2005's "Skinwalker: Curse of the Shaman."
James served as an inspiration to many, with fans telling him over the years that he inspired them to take up engineering as a profession. At his last public appearance in 2004, Doohan was told by former engineer and astronaut Neil Armstrong, "From one old engineer to another, thanks, mate."
James passed away in his home in Redmond, Washington, on July 20, 2005, at 85 years old due to complications from pulmonary fibrosis, believed to be from exposure to noxious substances during World War II.
(Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Video Games
Aside from his on-screen performances, Doohan did some voice acting for his Scotty character in 1992's "Star Trek: 25th Anniversary," 1993's "Star Trek: Judgment Rites," and 1997's "Star Trek Generations."
Personal Life
Doohan was married three times and had seven children in total. He welcomed four of his kids—Larkin, Deirdre, and twins Christopher and Montgomery, with his first wife, Janet Young, before their divorce in 1964. His marriage with Anita Yagel lasted from 1967 to 1972, but they had no children. In early 1974, James was introduced to 17-year-old fan Wende Braunberger, and they married that same year at the ages of 54 and 18. Doohan and Braunberger had three children together, Eric, Thomas, and Sarah.
