His final acting role before his death on July 3, 1978 was as R.S.M. Boyce in Roots: The Next Generations (1979), which was first broadcast more than seven months after he died.
The Daly family had an interest in acting before James took to the
stage. His father Percy appeared in amateur theatrical productions in
Central Wisconsin.
Made two guest appearances, in different roles, on The Fugitive. His son Tim Daly later went on to play the lead character, Richard Kimble, in the short-lived remake from the year 2000.