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Born with a truly wicked sense of humor, Jim Troesh was one of the funniest quadriplegics alive, if self-deprecating humor is your thing. Known as the “Hollywood Quad,” Jim was a C3-4 quad and is a legend till this day in Hollywood for being the first at many things in the entertainment industry as a quadriplegic.
The first quad to be a SAG member, the first quad to join the actors union and the only quad to star in a network television program in the 1980s, Jim Troesh is deserving of a Hollywood star himself. He was also an improv humorist, screenwriter, disability advocate, adventurist and a great friend to many, including several celebrities.
Read on to learn everything about Jim Troesh. He may no longer be with us physically, but what he’s left behind – leaving the door open to others in wheelchairs wanting to get into the entertainment industry – is his true legacy.
Why he was fearless
Growing up, all Jim Troesh dreamt of being when he was an adult was an electrician. He had a fervent desire to work with his hands and to weld. But all of that changed when he fell off a roof when he was 14 years old. While adjusting the TV antennae for the family, he was electrocuted and fell, breaking his neck.
As a C3-4 quad, being an electrician was no longer possible so he had to find another interest to keep himself busy and to make a career out of it, and what he found was acting and writing after a high school teacher encouraged him to write. He started as an improv actor, the art of being funny on the fly, and was quite good at it. So good he decided to make it his new living, and he had his eyes set on reaching big. His first big job as an actor was on The Walton’s in 1979, 8 years after his injury.
Being a lifelong resident of Whittier, California, auditioning for big time TV shows was a real possibility since the audition locations weren’t too far from his home. He was also on AfterMASH, a show following some the characters after the TV show MASH ended.
After these early gigs, Jim’s next big break (and turned out to be the biggest one of his career) was a regular role given to him by Michael Landon on the classic 1980’s show produced by Michael Landon as well – Highway to Heaven. Jim appeared in 7 episodes playing lawyer, “Scotty Wilson.” As Jim liked to joke, his character was constantly in sticky situations where he could only be saved by Michael Landon’s character.
His legacy
After appearing on Highway to Heaven, Jim went on to appear in several other TV shows and movies through the nineties and 2000’s. View his reel. He was also the first quad to skydive in 1989. Tandem of course, but still way cool. Watch
And in 2006, Jim’s screenwriting career saw success when his screenplay, Color of the Cross, was made into a film. He also started a webseries aptly named Hollywood Quad, bringing to life many of the crazy things he’s experienced since living in Hollywood. He even got Bryan Cranston from Breaking Bad fame, a friend of his who loved his dark humor, to guest star in an episode. Watch Bryan and Jim discuss the show
You got to love how funny Jim was, being able to see the humor in so many things, his own life included, and not being afraid to be the first one to tell the joke. While it’s tragic he left us in 2011 at age 54 (from complications of pneumonia), Jim was able to break the glass ceiling in an industry long known for its vanity-laden execs, and that trumps everything else.
Please check out our videos of Jim below and see why he was beloved by so many in the industry.
Did you meet Jim Troesh?
– Check out his blog that is still up (with some very funny posts): My Perspective
Watch the videos!
– Jim Troesh’s acting reel highlighting his best work
– Jim Troesh skydives in 1989, making quad history
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