Steve James (actor)
Steve James | |
---|---|
Born | New York City, U.S. | February 19, 1952
Died | December 18, 1993 Burbank, California, U.S. | (aged 41)
Resting place | Hollywood Forever Cemetery |
Occupation(s) | Film, television actor |
Years active | 1970–1993 |
Spouse |
Christine Pan James (m. 1992) |
Steve James (February 19, 1952 – December 18, 1993) was an American
Early life
James was born and raised in New York City. His father was trumpet player Hubie James, and his uncle was James Wall, who played Mr. Baxter on the children's television series Captain Kangaroo. His godfather was Joe Seneca who, among many roles, played Danny Glover's character's father in Silverado. Seneca was instrumental in Steve becoming interested in action films as he took him to movies on 42nd Street when he was a child. He graduated from Power Memorial Academy in 1970, then attended C. W. Post College as an Arts and Film major.
Career
Upon graduating he became involved in stage work and TV commercials. James started his film career off as a
In 1980, James acted in James Glickenhaus's vigilante film The Exterminator. The film is about two Vietnam veterans played by James and Robert Ginty, who live in the Bronx. James's character is attacked and paralyzed by a street gang, which turns Ginty's character into a vigilante.[2] The film was a success grossing $35 million at the box office launching Ginty's career as an action film leading man.[3]
Moving forward, he was often cast as a sidekick to a lead character in action films and as a supporting character in serious dramas and comedies.
In 1984, James acted in
In 1985, he had a co-starring role alongside Michael Dudikoff in Sam Firstenberg's martial arts action film American Ninja.[8] He reprised his role in its sequels American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987),[9] and American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (1989).[10] He reunited with Firstenberg and Dudikoff for the 1986 action film Avenging Force.[11]
He co-starred with Chuck Norris in The Delta Force (1986) and Hero and the Terror (1988). He also played supporting roles in the drama Mask (1985) and the sports comedy Johnny Be Good (1988).
He played Kung Fu Joe in the 1988
In 1989, he played the lead in Sam Firsteberg's action film Riverbend.[12] In it James plays a black army officer who escapes prison and ends up in small town filled with racists. The film had very limited theatrical release and didn't have any significant home video promotion.[4]
In 1990, he took the lead role in Street Hunter directed by John A. Gallagher.[13] With Gallagher, they wrote the screenplay, and hoped it would launch an action series. James said "I was getting a little tired of being a professional Tonto", and expressed enthusiasm to take on the lead on his own.[4]
In 1993, he appeared in the comedy Weekend at Bernie's II.[14] It was the last film to be released during his lifetime.
Shortly before his death from cancer in December 1993, he had completed filming the 1994 feature film
Death
On December 18, 1993, James died of pancreatic cancer[15] in his home in Burbank, California at age 41.
Eulogies at James' funeral service were delivered by Sidney Poitier (as his widow, Chris, was employed by Mr. Poitier), his father Hubie James, his friend John A. Gallagher and Christine Pan James. His urn resides on the mantle of his home in Burbank, California.[16]
Personal
On December 26, 1992, James married Hawaiian actress Christine Pan at the
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | The Education of Sonny Carson | Uncredited | |
The Land That Time Forgot | First Sto-Lu | (chases Susan Penhaligon into a pool of quicksand, sinks to his death) | |
1979 | The Warriors | Baseball Fury #8 | |
1980 | The Exterminator | Michael Jefferson | |
He Knows You're Alone | Young Man | ||
Times Square | Dude | (as Steve W. James) | |
The Mouse and the Woman | Union Man | ||
1981 | Arthur | Man Outside Tie Store | Uncredited |
1982 | Muggable Mary, Street Cop | Park Slasher-Rapist | |
The Soldier | Soldier's Force member #2 | ||
1983 | Vigilante (a.k.a. Street Gang) | Ptl. Gibbons | (as Steve W. James) |
1984 | Fatal Vision |
US Marshal | |
The Brother from Another Planet | Odell | ||
1985 | Mask | Hospital Intern | |
Weird Science | Guy at Table | Uncredited | |
American Ninja | Curtis Jackson | ||
To Live and Die in L.A. | Jeff Rice | ||
1986 | The Delta Force | Bobby | |
Behind Enemy Lines (a.k.a. P.O.W. the Escape) | Johnston | ||
C.A.T. Squad | Bud Raines | ||
Avenging Force | Larry Richards | ||
1987 | Hollywood Shuffle | Hood #3 | (as Steve W. James) |
American Ninja 2: The Confrontation | Curtis Jackson | ||
1988 | Johnny Be Good | Coach Sanders | |
C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf | Bud Raines | ||
Hero and the Terror | Robinson | ||
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | Kung Fu Joe | ||
1989 | American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt | Curtis Jackson | |
Riverbend | Major Samuel Quentin | ||
1990 | Mister Johnson | Aliu | |
Street Hunter | Logan Blade | ||
Hammer, Slammer, & Slade | Kung Fu Joe | ||
1991 | McBain | Eastland | |
1993 | Weekend at Bernie's II | Henry | (final film role) |
1994 | Bloodfist V: Human Target | Marcus / Drew Washington | (posthumous release) |
M.A.N.T.I.S. | Antoine Pike | (posthumous release; final film role) |
Television
Year | Title | Episode | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1982 | Muggable Mary, Street Cop | Park Slasher - Rapist | TV movie | |
1984 | T. J. Hooker | Episode: "Night Vigil" | Coach Cassius Isley | |
All My Children | Unknown episodes | Guard Pinkston | ||
The Dukes of Hazzard | Episode: "Danger on the Hazzard Express" | Carney | ||
1985 | Hotel | Episode: "Love and Honor" | Kaz | |
The Atlanta Child Murders |
2 episodes | Policeman #1 | (mini-series) | |
1986 | Moonlighting | Episode: "Symphony in Knocked Flat" | Mohammed "Boogaloo" Brown | |
1993 | Raven |
Episode: "Checkmate" | Paul Dodson | |
1994 | M.A.N.T.I.S. | Antoine Pike | (posthumous release; final film role) |
Stunts
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1974 | The Education of Sonny Carson | |
1978 | The Wiz | |
1978 | Oliver's Story | |
1979 | The Wanderers | |
1980 | Dressed to Kill | |
He Knows You're Alone | ||
The Exterminator | ||
1981 | Fort Apache the Bronx |
|
Wolfen | ||
Ragtime | ||
1982 | Fighting Back | |
Hanky Panky | ||
1984 | The Brother from Another Planet |
Writer
- Street Hunter (1990)
References
- ^ "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. 1994-01-31.
- ^ Gross, Linda (October 24, 1980). "Chilling violence of exterminator". The Los Angeles Times: Part VI: 10.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ a b c "Tonto to Hero in 10 years". Daily News: City lights: 5. November 4, 1990.
- ^ "The Brother From Another Planet - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. 1984-09-07. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ Jerome, Deborah (September 14, 1984). "John Sayles spoofs Speilberg and 'E.T.'". The Record: Previews: 23.
- ^ "Dukes of Hazzard". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "Avenging Force". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "Riverbend". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ "Street Hunter". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "Ninja Steve James". Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2012-04-24., biography
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Harada, Wayne (January 6, 1993). "Show biz". The Honolulu Advertiser: C4.
External links
- Steve James at IMDb
- Steve James at AllMovie