Often eclipsed by her husband’s popularity, particularly his legendary performance as “The Virginian” in the acclaimed TV series The Virginian, is Cristall Orton, the first wife of renowned actor James Drury. Although Western TV viewers still see James Drury’s career as favorably, Cristall Orton’s life is less well-known even given her important position as his first wife.
Early Life and Marriage to James Drury
Born Cristall Othones, Cristall Orton wed James Drury on February 7, 1957, commencing their seven-year marriage. Their two children together were Timothy Drury, who would subsequently pursue a career in music, and James was already a rising celebrity in Hollywood at the time, most remembered for his performance in The Virginian, which ran 1962 to 1971. Although the couple’s marriage would terminate in 1964, their connection developed despite increasing attention on Drury’s profession.
Though their connection was fleeting, it represented a turning point in Drury’s life. During those early years of his celebrity, Cristall, the first Mrs. Drury, was a major player in his personal life.
Cristall Orton’s Former Wife Role: James Drury
The first wife of James Drury, the well-known actor most recognized for his title character in the Western TV show The Virginian, was Cristall Orton. Early on in Drury’s ascent to popularity, the pair married in 1957 and split in 1964. Though Drury became well-known for his austere, black-hated “Virginian,” his marriage to Orton was somewhat short. Though less well-documented, this time in his life before he became a famous television celebrity marks a significant chapter in the actor’s personal life.
Although their marriage broke after seven years, Cristall Orton and James Drury’s relationship is a part of his legacy. Following their divorce, Drury later wed Phyllis Mitchell in 1968 and Carl Ann Head in 1979; the latter of whom he remained married to until 2019. Though he had several marriages, Drury’s acting profession always took front stage, and he was a popular Western television personality. Although Drury’s marriage to Orton was brief, it was an early phase of his personal life that set the foundation for his eventual renown. Though his early relationships—including with Orton—shaped the man behind the camera, his part in The Virginian would define him.
Cristall Orton After Divorce
Cristall Orton mainly disappeared from the public scene following their 1964 divorce. After her marriage broke down, Cristall stayed somewhat quiet about her personal life, even though James Drury remarried twice more—first to Phyllis Mitchell in 1968 and later to Carl Ann Drury.
As the mother of two kids, Cristall Orton did leave behind a legacy even with her somewhat modest public image. Eventually, their son Timothy Drury would establish himself in the music business, hence extending the Drury family’s link to entertainment.
The Mystery of Cristall Orton
Unlike other James Drury family members, Cristall Orton’s public profile is very lacking until she married the actor. She did not become very well-known outside of her marriage and there are not many freely accessible pictures of her from that era. Many admirers of The Virginian and Drury’s other works find themselves wondering what happened to her following the divorce.
Cristall Orton obviously had no interest in the limelight that sometimes surrounds well-known celebrities’ wives. The most of the information about her comes from sporadic references in Drury’s biography or small passages of interviews covering his early marriage. Her Greek background is one of the few known details about her; this gives her identity and impact on Drury’s life a cultural depth.
Personal and Families Life
The two boys of Cristall and James Drury, including Timothy, grew up apart from the public attention sometimes directed on Hollywood families. Later on, Timothy Drury followed a career in music, working with well-known musicians and personally supporting the entertainment business.
Although James and the Drury family were frequently in public view because of their roles on The Virginian, Cristall Orton preferred a more subdued existence away from Hollywood’s continual glare. This inclination for secrecy might help to explain why her connection with Drury has been among the most opaque feature of the actor’s personal background.
Cristall Orton’s Influence and Legacy
Although Cristall Orton’s life following James Drury is still somewhat unknown, her position as first wife and mother to their children is not forgotten. Her impact on Drury’s life is still felt via their children; she lived in the shadow of his achievement.
The couple’s early years were defined by the usual difficulties experienced by wives of budding performers as Drury’s star kept soaring. But there is no proof that Cristall Orton participated in Hollywood gatherings or helped to publicize their relationship; she would rather live a more quiet life.
Within the larger framework of Drury’s three marriages, Cristall Orton offers a quieter chapter with insight into the early years of one of TV’s most popular Western performers. Although Drury later married Carl Ann Drury and then Phyllis Mitchell in 1968, his initial marriage to Cristall is still very much a part of his personal background.
Conclusion
After her marriage to James Drury, Cristall Orton might not have sought celebrity or a public life; however, her position as the first wife of one of the most legendary television performers has great importance. Although most of her life is still hidden, her legacy lives via her children and her brief stint in the Hollywood limelight as Drury’s husband. Cristall Orton’s early life reminds us of the human underpinnings that molded his profession as fans of The Virginian and Drury’s other works continue to value his contribution to television.
