About
Biography
You want to do what? Be an actor?! That was the horrified question that accompanied the blank stare on my parents' faces when I announced my life plan. “But James , Sidney Poitier is the only Black person starring in movies. And it’s worst on TV. I went on to explain my plan; after graduating from college I would study at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, join a major repertory theater company, be discovered by Hollywood and become a movie and TV star. Aah, young dreams!
Three years later I was studying at The London Royal Academy (U.S. extension). Eighteen months after that I was at the American Conservatory Theater under Bill Ball in San Francisco. A year later I was co-staring with Jeff Bridges and Rob Reiner in my first motion Picture (“Halls Of Anger”) and nine months later co-starring with Sidney Poitier in “The Organization”. That began a history of magazine covers, newspaper articles, coaching and lecturing, producing and directing my own theater productions, an Emmy nomination consideration, dozens of stage plays including Los Angeles’ The Mark Taper Forum with Gordon Davidson, film writing and producing, 75 commercials, leads and series regulars in over 80 television shows, mini-series and 10 movies. Over the last three decades, I’ve had the privilege of co-starring in films and television with Jamie Foxx, Mary Tyler Moore, Edward G. Robinson, Angie Dickenson, George Kennedy, Red Foxx, Van Heflin, Peter Falk, James Garner, Michael Crichton and many more. Having worked with Emmy winning Executive Producer Renee Valente, director Oz Scott and many others, writing and producing have always been part of my goals. Dreams do come true! And the best is still to come.
You want to do what? Be an actor?! That was the horrified question that accompanied the blank stare on my parents' faces when I announced my life plan. “But James , Sidney Poitier is the only Black person starring in movies. And it’s worst on TV. I went on to explain my plan; after graduating from college I would study at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, join a major repertory theater company, be discovered by Hollywood and become a movie and TV star. Aah, young dreams!
Three years later I was studying at The London Royal Academy (U.S. extension). Eighteen months after that I was at the American Conservatory Theater under Bill Ball in San Francisco. A year later I was co-staring with Jeff Bridges and Rob Reiner in my first motion Picture (“Halls Of Anger”) and nine months later co-starring with Sidney Poitier in “The Organization”. That began a history of magazine covers, newspaper articles, coaching and lecturing, producing and directing my own theater productions, an Emmy nomination consideration, dozens of stage plays including Los Angeles’ The Mark Taper Forum with Gordon Davidson, film writing and producing, 75 commercials, leads and series regulars in over 80 television shows, mini-series and 10 movies. Over the last three decades, I’ve had the privilege of co-starring in films and television with Jamie Foxx, Mary Tyler Moore, Edward G. Robinson, Angie Dickenson, George Kennedy, Red Foxx, Van Heflin, Peter Falk, James Garner, Michael Crichton and many more. Having worked with Emmy winning Executive Producer Renee Valente, director Oz Scott and many others, writing and producing have always been part of my goals. Dreams do come true! And the best is still to come.
Race had never been a conscious obstacle to me. It never occurred to me, when I first began acting in the early 70’s that like Sidney Poitier, Lou Gossett and a few others, I might be breaking barriers and paving the way for others to come in the then post the civil rights era. Changing casting notions to create opportunities for a young African American leading man proved to be a challenging reality. Young and eager, I just wanted to act. At the same time, studios and networks were just beginning to understand that there had always been minority audiences and other cultures eager and ready to support great story telling with compelling characters and talent that will always cross-over and translate into commercial entertainment. I was blessed with success. And I’m lovin’ it even more now because now I know what I’m doing!! Time and experience have only made me better and appreciate even more what a joy and privilege it is for me to grow my craft working with the great talents and professionals I’ve met in today’s industry. Now that life is conducted on the internet I’m excited about reintroducing myself to old friends and those I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting. I’m a seasoned pro, young at heart and fit for the productive and exciting third act of my career.