James Houghton, best known to soap fans for his role as Kenny Ward on “Knots Landing” and a four-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning writer on “The Young and the Restless,” has died. He was 75 years old.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the beloved actor and writer passed away at his home in Encino, California on August 27, 2024 of peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the abdomen, known as the peritoneum. His death was only recently disclosed by his wife, Karen Houghton, the outlet reported, stating, “She did not want to discuss his death until today.”
Born James Carter Houghton on November 7, 1948 in Los Angeles, Houghton was the son of Buck Houghton, a producer on the first three seasons of CBS’ “The Twilight Zone.” That connection helped land the then younger Houghton a role in a 1962 episode of “The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank,” marking one of his first onscreen appearances.
Among his memorable roles on television, Houghton portrayed Greg Foster on “The Young and the Restless” from 1973-1976, and had roles on such shows as “Dynasty,” “Code R,” “Barnaby Jones,” “Fantasy Island,” “Hotel,” “The Love Boat,” “The Colbys” and “Remington Steele,” among others.
On “Knots Landing,” Houghton’s portrayal of record producer Kenny Ward from 1979-1983 amounted to his appearance in 66 episodes of the hit CBS primetime soap opera, playing opposite onscreen wife, Kim Lankford, who played Ginger. Their characters were one of the original four couples living in the fictional California-based cul-de-sac.
Outside of acting, Houghton segued into television writing when he landed a script writing position at “Days of our Lives” in 1981. He would go on to write scripts for “Knots Landing” and the series “Tales from the Darkside.” Starting in 1991, he landed another writing position, this time as a script writer on “The Young and the Restless,” working under the show’s then head writer and co-creator, the late William J. Bell.
Houghton remained a writer for the long-running series until 2006, having written close to 2,000 episodes and maintaining such positions as breakdown writer and associate head writer before eventually landing his final writing credit at “The Bold and the Beautiful,” the sister soap of “The Young and the Restless” which was also created by Bell. During his brief time at the half-hour soap opera, Houghton worked under the show’s head writer and executive producer, Bradley P. Bell.
Houghton won four Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on “The Young and the Restless,” taking home the statue alongside the show’s team of writers in 1992, 1997, 2000 and 2006. Throughout his long run at the series, he received 13 nominations overall, while also taking home two Writers Guild Awards for his work out of four nominations.
Houghton is survived by his wife, Karen; his sister Mona, who he co-wrote three episodes of “Knots Landing” in 1982; his mother, Wanda; his children, Daniel and Alisa; his son-in-law, Jim; and his grandson, Milo.
