Favorite Birthday Boy for July 2nd

Jimmy McNichol
From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things

 Ahh, those old teen magazines had an easier time of getting the shirts off their idols back in the day! Jimmy McNichol was pretty hot for a short period of time with a few short lived TV series and guest shots. Being Kristy's brother did not hurt. They were the poor mans Donny & Marie for a short while. Jimmy has not acted in over a decade with his last role of note being on General Hospital in the mid eighties. Jimmy, or James depending on the time turns 53 today.

 James Vincent McNichol, III, known professionally as Jimmy McNichol (born July 2, 1961) is an American former child actor and the brother of actress Kristy McNichol.

 He got his start at the age of 7, acting in a Band-Aid commercial. He appeared in roughly 60 commercials between 1967–1973, including spots for Kool-Aid and Crest. He then landed minor roles in shows such as S.W.A.T. and Little House on the Prairie.

 He made his first movie, Sunshine, in 1973 at the age of 12. His first regular starring role was as younger brother Jack on The Fitzpatricks. Michele Tobin played his sister, Mo, on the show, and they later reteamed on California Fever. McNichol sang the show's theme song, and in 1978 recorded an album with his sister, Kristy, produced by Phil & Mitch Margo. When California Fever ended, Jimmy was given the role as host of a weekly talk show, Hollywood Teen. He appeared in several successful made-for-TV movies, including Blinded by the Light which co-starred his sister Kristy. He made several low budget feature films before accepting the role of Josh Clayton on General Hospital. His love of music continued and he performed in a band throughout the 1980s under the name "Jimmy James".

 His last notable acting role was that of Jill Ireland's son Valentine McCallum in the 1991 movie, "Reason for Living" based on her life. In the early 1990s James gave up acting and has been doing residential construction and rehab work. James McNichol's last known acting appearance was in 1995, in the live action television series entitled "V.R. Troopers" now lives with his wife Renee (married in 1997) and two children (a son, Nash, and a daughter, Ellis, born in 1998) in Southern California.

 In 1999, he was focusing on ecological education with a web site called ECOTV, was still performing with his band "Wizard King" and released a new CD, called Echo Warrior.