American football playerActorAmericanMale

Jim Boeke

James Frederick Boeke was an American professional football player and actor who played offensive tackle in the NFL and appeared in films and television.

1. Early Life and College Career

Boeke was born in Akron, Ohio, on September 11, 1938. He attended Cuyahoga Falls High School where he actively participated in both American football and track and field. He received a football scholarship to Heidelberg College, where he excelled as a two-way tackle for the football team and also earned a letter in track.

His athletic achievements were later recognized through inductions into two halls of fame. In 1985, he was inducted as a charter member of the Heidelberg University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was inducted into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame, further solidifying his legacy as a notable athlete from his region.

2. Professional Football Career

Jim Boeke had a professional American football career spanning several years in the National Football League, primarily as an offensive tackle.

2.1. Los Angeles Rams

Boeke began his professional career after being selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the nineteenth round (217th overall) of the 1960 NFL draft. He initially served as a backup offensive tackle. During the 1963 NFL season, he also took on duties as a defensive tackle. His tenure with the Rams concluded on August 19, 1964, when he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for rookie running back Les Josephson.

2.2. Dallas Cowboys

Boeke's move to the Dallas Cowboys in 1964 came at a time when the team needed significant offensive line depth due to multiple injuries. He quickly made an impact, starting 7 games, including 4 at left tackle, stepping in for Tony Liscio who had been placed on the injured reserve list. The following year, Boeke became the regular starter at left tackle after Liscio was unable to return from a right knee injury. In the 1966 NFL season, he started 10 games before a knee injury sidelined him, leading to Liscio eventually replacing him.

One of the most notable moments of his career with the Cowboys occurred near the end of the 1966 NFL Championship Game. With the Cowboys trailing the Green Bay Packers by a touchdown, Dallas had a first down at the Packers' 2-yard line. However, Boeke was flagged for a false start penalty, which pushed the team back. The Cowboys subsequently failed to score after Don Meredith threw an interception on fourth down. The Packers went on to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in the inaugural AFL-NFL championship game, which is now recognized as the first Super Bowl.

Between the 1960 and 1966 seasons, Boeke achieved a remarkable streak of 92 consecutive games played. By the 1967 NFL season, he was unable to regain his starting position and served as a backup to Liscio. His final game with the Dallas Cowboys was the 1967 NFL Championship Game, famously known as the "Ice Bowl." On August 28, 1968, he was traded to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for linebacker Jackie Burkett.

2.3. New Orleans Saints

Following his trade, Boeke played in 13 games for the New Orleans Saints during the 1968 NFL season. His time with the Saints was brief, as he was traded to the Detroit Lions on July 28, 1969, in exchange for a future draft choice.

2.4. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions acquired Boeke to compete for the right tackle position, which had become vacant after the retirement of Charlie Bradshaw. However, his tenure with the Lions was also short-lived. On July 28, 1969, the same day he was traded to Detroit, he was again traded, this time to the Washington Redskins in exchange for another draft pick.

2.5. Washington Redskins

Boeke's final professional football stint was with the Washington Redskins. He was signed by the team on September 5, 1969. However, his time with the Redskins was very short, and he was released on September 16, concluding his professional football career.

3. Acting Career

After his retirement from professional football, Jim Boeke embarked on a second career as an actor, leveraging his connections in Hollywood. He appeared in a variety of roles across both film and television for many years.

3.1. Film

Boeke's filmography includes appearances in several feature films, often in supporting or minor roles.

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978Heaven Can WaitKowalsky
1979North Dallas FortyStallings
1980AlligatorShamsky
1981Under the RainbowHangman
1981Escape from DS-3
1982PandemoniumFletcher
1984Fear CityArchitect
1986In the Shadow of KilimanjaroGagnon
1987The KindredJackson
1987DragnetNectar Pagan
1988Moving Target
1989Kill Me AgainJavonovitch
1990Backstreet DreamsBurt
1991Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered CountryFirst Klingon general
1994Forrest GumpUniversity of Alabama Assistant Football CoachUncredited
2003A Man ApartBad Cop(final film role)

3.2. Television

Boeke also made numerous appearances in television series and movies throughout his acting career. His television credits include:

  • Brian's Song (1971)
  • MASH (1972)
  • Simon & Simon (1981)
  • The A-Team (1983)
  • LBJ: The Early Years (1987)
  • Newhart
  • Coach (1989)

4. Post-Playing Career and Personal Life

During his professional football career, particularly in the off-season, Jim Boeke worked as a physical education teacher and an English teacher at Audubon Middle School in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles. While playing for the Los Angeles Rams, he also took on work as a bodyguard for the Nelson family, famously known for Ozzie and Harriet, and later for Ricky Nelson specifically.

After concluding his careers in both professional sports and acting, Boeke continued to reside in the Southern California area. He dedicated his later years to teaching and coaching, serving as a high school football coach at Westminster High School in Westminster. Jim Boeke died on September 26, 2014, in Fountain Valley, California, due to acute leukemia. He was 76 years old.