James Dickinson Rhodes Harder ’53

Jimmy, who brightened our lives with his good humor as our classmate and went on to appear in over 130 theatrical productions, numerous TV programs, radio shows, and movies, died Jan. 9, 2009, in Harwich, Mass.

The son of Elizabeth Rhodes and George Harder, a Titanic survivor, Jimmy was born in New York City Nov. 19, 1931. He graduated from the Buckley School and St. Mark’s. At Princeton, he majored in English, was a leading comic actor in Triangle Club shows, and performed with Theatre Intime.  

A tribute to Jimmy was given by his roommate and fellow Ivy Club member, Pierce Lonergan, at his funeral, where attendees included Pierce’s wife, Joan; Liz and Dick Ellwood; Harry Harwood; Skip Madden; Jack Middleton; and Natalie and John Spencer.  

Pierce remembers seeing Jimmy co-star with Peter Falk in Bonds of Interest off-Broadway. Jimmy received a Broadway Drama Desk nomination for Very Good Eddie. He made over 3,000 commercials and enjoyed being recognized — especially at Reunions P-rades — by Princetonians from other classes for his role as the “big fig” in the Nabisco Fig Newton ads.  

We send heartfelt sympathy to Jimmy’s wife, Dorothy, daughter Elizabeth, and son-in-law Mark Arneres. During these troubled times, we miss the sparkling wit of Jimmy more than ever.