James Shannon Murphy: What happened to Audie Murphy’s son?

James Shannon Murphy is the son of Audie Murphy. James Shannon Murphy’s father was an American soldier, actor, songwriter, and rancher. He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. He received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. As an actor, he is known for films including Beyond Glory, Texas, Heaven and Brooklyn, Kansas Raiders, and Gunsmoke.

James Shannon Murphy: Bio Summary

Who was Audie Murphy’s son James “Skipper” Murphy?

James Murphy was born on March 24, 1954, in Santa Monica, CA, United States of America. He was the son of decorated American soldier, actor, and songwriter Audie Murphy and his second wife Pamela Archer. James’ mother, Pamela was a former airline stewardess. She was part Cherokee.

James Shannon Murphy was not the only child of Audie and his wife Pam, he has an elder brother, Terrance Michael Murphy who was born in 1952. Audie Murphy’s son were named for two of his most respected friends, Terry Hunt and James “Skipper” Cherry, respectively.

Their mother, Pamela Opal Lee Archer was the second woman their father took to the altar. Audie didn’t have any children in his first marriage to actress Wanda Hendrix in 1949. Four days after their divorce was finalized in 1951, he married Pamela Opal Lee Archer.

What happened to Audie Murphy’s son James Skipper?

According to Forestlawn obituaries, Audie Murphy’s son James Shannon Murphy passed away on May 01, 2023, in Los Angeles, CA. The cause of his death has not been made public. Though he was the son of a decorated American American soldier, actor, and songwriter, James spent much of his life away from the spotlight. It’s unclear what Audie Murphy’s sons did for a living.

James Shannon Murphy’s father was a rancher

James Shannon Murphy’s father, Audie bred quarter horses at the Audie Murphy Ranch in what is now Menifee, California, and the Murphy Ranch in Pima County, Arizona. The horses raced at the Del Mar Racetrack, and the World War II veteran who falsified his birth date to be enlisted as a soldier invested large sums of money in the hobby. 

Audie’s gambling left his finances in a poor state. In 1968, he stated that he lost $260,000 in an Algerian oil deal and was dealing with the Internal Revenue Service over unpaid taxes. Despite his financial struggles, the decorated soldier refused to appear in commercials for alcohol and cigarettes, mindful of the youths who look up to him.

In May 1970, he was arrested in Burbank, California, charged with battery and assault with intent to murder in a dispute with a dog trainer. He was accused of firing a shot at the man, which he denied. Audie was cleared of the charges.

Audie Murphy died in Plane crash

On 28 May 1971, James Shannon Murphy’s father was killed when the private plane in which he was a passenger crashed into Brush Mountain, near Catawba, Virginia, 20 miles (32 km) west of Roanoke in conditions of rain, clouds, fog, and zero visibility. The pilot and four other passengers also died in the crash. The aircraft was recovered on 31 May.  He was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Audie was 45 years old at the time of his death.

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After the sad passing of Audie, James Shannon Murphy’s mother, Pamela Murphy moved into a small apartment and got a clerk position at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration Hospital in Los Angeles, where she remained employed for 35 years. In 1975, a court awarded James Shannon Murphy’s mother, Pamela, and their two children $2.5 million in damages because of the accident.