Zooming In On James Brolin: Horses, Hollywood, And A Life Well-Lived

In my long writing career, I thought I’d used every possible way to record the words of the dozens of celebrities I’ve profiled — including taking notes on a napkin 35,000 feet in the air, scribbling opening paragraphs on the drive to a Rolling Stones concert assignment, and taping interviews on every recording device used this century.

But this James Brolin on-camera Zoom turned out to be something novel and different. I’d interviewed the star before for a 2012 cover story for C&I, but that was a phoner. Now I had the daunting task of interviewing him on camera and being videoed with Jim and me on split-screen to run on various C&I platforms. You better believe I got my hair done and put on some makeup. Some soft Zoom lighting, and I was ready for my close-up.

As soon as we were on the screen together, whatever jitters I had vanished. The interview quickly became a conversation. With his mane of silver-gray hair, green eyes that twinkled when he smiled, and genuinely friendly manner, Jim immediately put me at ease.

Since it had been more than a decade since I’d profiled him, we had a lot of catching up to do. That cover story had been well-received; one reader had even written a letter to the editor that gushed, “Like a fine wine, James Brolin get better with age.” When I told him that, he said, “Oh, that’s nice to hear” and seemed genuinely delighted. At 84, he’s still rocking it, but he’ll take the compliment.

Inviting me — and all of C&I’s readers — into his great room virtually, he did a pan with the camera, proudly showing off the view of the South Malibu cliffs and Pacific Ocean. This is the house that he shares with his wife, Barbra Streisand. In no hurry to jump into the interview, we began with the topic of the Palisades Fire. The January blazes in Los Angeles had come dangerously close to their beautiful spread, and they were nearly evacuated. Many of their friends and business associates weren’t so lucky and lost everything in the inferno.

Once deep in our conversation, which delved into a 60-year diverse and celebrated career, time flew, and so did the subjects we covered.

Horses and the West have filled Jim's personal life: living on seven-acre horse property during high school in the Santa Monica Mountains, purchasing a palomino for $235 at auction and initially keeping him in his garage, acquiring his spacious Oak Country Ranch in San Luis Obispo.

There were horses in his early career, when he occasionally rode on the screen as young cowboy Dalton Wales in four episodes of the 1966 western series The Monroes, about five orphans trying to make it on the Wyoming frontier. And there are horses in his latest role in the new Netflix romantic western series Ransom Canyon, in which he costars as lifelong Texas rancher and retired military captain Cap Fuller. (Robert Lloyd’s review in the Los Angeles Times aptly declared, “In Netflix’s Ransom Canyon, handsome men, horses, and high drama run free.”)

Jim initially wasn’t sure he was going to take the Ransom Canyon role. “It was very small,” he told me. But he loves interacting with all the creative people on a set and being on location, this time filming in New Mexico (even though the town Ransom Canyon is supposed to be in Texas).

Based on Jodi Thomas’ book of the same name, Ransom Canyon explores the complicated lives of folks living in the small Texas town. I’d had the pleasure of screening all 10 episodes of the series just before Netflix released it on April 17 and even watched a little with Jim across Zoom. It was great to see his Cap evolve from a curmudgeon to a sympathetic character who realized he could have done better in his life. By Episode 5, Ransom Canyon had me hooked, and by the last episode, my husband and I were very sad to see the first season come to an end.

And I was sad to wrap up my conversation with the ever-charming James Brolin. Luckily, we have it on video.

Excerpts from the transcript below.

A Warm Reunion

Interviewer: Hi, Jim. Hi, Wendy. It's been a long time.

James Brolin: I know, I know. We're talking decades! It was 12 years ago when you last did a cover story on me for Cowboys & Indians magazine.

Interviewer: That’s right! You, me, Greg Brown, and that wonderful photographer — we did that Malibu photo shoot. That cover got an incredible response. One reader even wrote, “Like a fine wine, Jim Brolin just gets better with age.”

James Brolin: Oh, that’s so nice.

Home and Fire

James Brolin: I love being at home. You should see what I’m looking at. It’s like we’re on a cruise ship — Catalina in one direction, Long Beach ahead, and Santa Monica across the water.

Interviewer: Were you affected by the fires?

James Brolin: Thank goodness, no. It got close, and we were scared. But the winds blew the right way. Some friends weren't so lucky, though.

Interviewer: Yes, my niece lost her home in Altadena, and Caitlin — your publicist — lost hers as well. She didn’t mention it.

James Brolin: She and her family lost four houses — all in blocks of each other.

Back in the Saddle for Ransom Canyon

Interviewer: Your audiences have loved your work across genres. Let’s talk about Ransom Canyon. I saw all eight episodes and loved seeing you in a Western again — a bit of a curmudgeon in this role. What drew you to it?

James Brolin: I actually turned it down twice. Then they offered me more creative control. That backfired a little, but I still jumped on board. It's based on a series of romantic novels, though the show isn't quite as romantic.

Interviewer: I loved your relationship with Ella — it felt really tender.

James Brolin: Mary Annley is terrific. She and her husband just bought a spread in Texas. I hope we see more of her — and Jack Schumacher. And of course, Minka and Josh — great ensemble.

From The Monroes to Modern Day

Interviewer: When I was young, I watched The Monroes. You rode horses then, opposite Barbara Hershey. And now, in Ransom Canyon, you’re back on horseback. Full circle!

James Brolin: That was one of my early breaks. I had a horse as a kid and shooting in Jackson Hole felt like a dream. We moved back to a soundstage eventually, and that’s when I knew the end was near.

Interviewer: Michael Anderson Jr. was the lead, right?

James Brolin: Yes, he could memorize pages in minutes, but didn’t really absorb the lines. Big lesson in acting for me.

Motorcycle Diaries: Marcus Welby, M.D.

Interviewer: Later you traded the horse for a motorcycle as Dr. Stephen Kiley on Marcus Welby, M.D. That show earned you both an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

James Brolin: I got the Emmy for the pilot — I think that was a first. It was a big shift. I rode a Triumph, because that’s what McQueen rode. The motorcycle became kind of a cultural icon. And yes, we did 120 episodes — very different from today's 8-episode seasons.

A Stylish Shift: Hotel

Interviewer: Then came Hotel, where you played the debonair Peter McDermott. Quite a different role.

James Brolin: After Marcus Welby, I wanted to do films. I did Westworld, Skyjacked, The Car, Capricorn One, and even Amityville. But Aaron Spelling called me out of the blue and offered Hotel. I didn’t want to return to weekly TV, but he sweetened the deal. I got to direct in the second season — my first professional directing job.

A Cowboy at Heart

Interviewer: Let’s talk about horses. You grew up riding and lived on a small ranch in Santa Monica. Your dad rode too, right?

James Brolin: Yeah. We had horses in Benedict Canyon. I had to feed and clean up after them. My dad thought they made the property more appealing.

Interviewer: And your first horse — you brought him home from an auction and put him in the garage?

James Brolin: (Laughs) Yep. Paid $235, new shoes included. Had nowhere to put him, so he stayed in the garage until I found a field to let him roam.

A Life of Ranching and Breeding

Interviewer: You eventually had a full working ranch and started breeding Appaloosas, right?

James Brolin: I did. I was drawn to their temperament and history — Chinese emperors once had tens of thousands. The Nez Perce tribe bred them for generations. I even had one, Stud Spider, turned into a Briar model. That was a big deal!

Interviewer: And you sold 64 horses and 100 head of cattle when you left the ranch?

James Brolin: Yes. Letting go was tough, but necessary. Life is about change. And I always felt that kind of shift could be a gift.

On Cowboys, Character, and Change

Interviewer: You're often seen as embodying cowboy traits: honesty, work ethic, dependability. What does that mean to you?

James Brolin: I’ve just been me. Horses still turn my head. I’ve always loved their refinement and strength. I bred horses for different uses — ranching, racing, you name it.

Directing, Writing, and What’s Next

Interviewer: Do you still ride?

James Brolin: Not much these days, but I’ve got stories. I spend a lot more time writing and developing ideas. I’m thinking of a new series concept now, especially after watching American Primeval.

Interviewer: You've directed two Hallmark films, right?

James Brolin: Yes, including Royal Hearts, which I also starred in. Shot the whole thing in Romania. Low budget, big heart. I take pride in staying on budget and still delivering something beautiful.

Flying High: Pensacola and Beyond

Interviewer: *Let’s not forget your other love — flying. You got to merge that with your role in Pensacola: Wings of Gold.

James Brolin: That was three years of joy. I played a fighter pilot commanding a team. Shot on a tight budget, but we made it work.

A Final Reflection

Interviewer: You’ve played such varied roles — doctors, cowboys, pilots. What’s next?

James Brolin: Directing is my first choice. Acting is still fun, but directing keeps me energized. And hey, maybe Taylor Sheridan will call me one day with the perfect role.

Interviewer: Happy spring, Jim. And thank you — this was such a pleasure.

James Brolin: Likewise. Let’s visit again soon.