James Cross Giblin was born on July 8, 1933, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Edward Kelley Giblin, a lawyer, and Anna Giblin, a teacher. He grew up in nearby Painesville. A shy child, he led a rather introverted life in his early school years. In junior high he began to conquer his shyness by working on the school paper. The paper was started by his ninth-grade English teacher, who encouraged him to come out of his isolation and work with his classmates.

In his high school years, Giblin became interested in theater after getting a part in the play Outward Bound. He went on to play several roles in Harvey High School's drama productions, and he was cast in the small but funny role of the Lost Private in a professional production of the comedy At War with the Army at Rabbit Run.

Once out...