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Steve James (actor)
Encyclopedia
Steve James was an American
actor, stuntman and martial artist. He starred mostly in action films such as the American Ninja
series, The Delta Force
(1986), The Exterminator
(1980), and Enter the Game of Death
(1978). James also portrayed Kung Fu Joe in the 1988 comedy/spoof film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
, and its 1990 television pilot
spinoff Hammer, Slammer, & Slade.
. His father was trumpet player, Hubie James. 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 father in Silverado
. Joe 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 1969, then attended C.W. Post College
as an Arts and Film major. Upon graduating, he became involved in stage work and TV commercials. James started his film career off as a stuntman
for such New York based film productions as The Wiz
, The Warriors, and The Wanderers
.
Steve was married to Christine Pan James in Hawaii. During their honeymoon, he was cast by Margaret Doversola for a role on Raven
which was being shot in Hawaii on the old Magnum, PI studio lot.
Steve was close friends with director William Friedkin
, who described him as "One of the nicest, toughest and professional actors I've ever worked with." Steve and his friend and co-writer John A. Gallagher were in the process of writing several scripts as well as working on a comic book superhero character with another friend.
, California
at age 41. He is survived by his wife, Christine Pan James and his daughter from a previous marriage, Debi James. His wife is a writer and actor, his daughter a model and singer.
His last roles were in the feature film
Bloodfist V: Human Target
with Don "The Dragon" Wilson and the pilot
for the TV series M.A.N.T.I.S.
. The pilot first aired on Fox
just a few weeks after his death. He was also scheduled to star as Jax Briggs in 1995's Mortal Kombat
until his death. Eulogies at Steve's funeral service were delivered by Sidney Poitier
(as his wife 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 wife's and his home in Burbank, California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor, stuntman and martial artist. He starred mostly in action films such as the American Ninja
American Ninja
American Ninja is a 1985 ninja action film produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus's Cannon Films. Directed by Sam Firstenberg, who specialized in this genre in the 1980s, the film stars Michael Dudikoff in the title role, with Steve James as his side-kick. Domestic box office grosses for the...
series, The Delta Force
The Delta Force (film)
The Delta Force is a 1986 American action film starring Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin as leaders of an elite squad of Special Forces troops based on the real life U.S. Army Delta Force unit. It was directed by Menahem Golan and featured Martin Balsam, Joey Bishop, Robert Vaughn, Steve James, Robert...
(1986), The Exterminator
The Exterminator
The Exterminator is a 1980 action film written, produced and directed by James Glickenhaus and starring Robert Ginty as Vietnam veteran vigilante John Eastland, also known as "The Exterminator", who takes out the street punks and those involved in organized crime when the law fails to do justice.-...
(1980), and Enter the Game of Death
Enter the Game of Death
Enter the Game of Death , originally released as Cross Hands Martial Arts and released in North America as The King of Kung Fu, is a Bruceploitation martial arts film inspired by Bruce Lee's unfinished film Game of Death...
(1978). James also portrayed Kung Fu Joe in the 1988 comedy/spoof film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka is a 1988 blaxploitation parody film written by, directed by and starring Keenen Ivory Wayans. Featured in the film are several black actors who were part of the blaxploitation phenomenon; including Jim Brown, Bernie Casey, Antonio Fargas and Isaac Hayes...
, and its 1990 television pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
spinoff Hammer, Slammer, & Slade.
Biography
Steve James was born and raised in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. His father was trumpet player, Hubie James. His uncle was James Wall, who played Mr. Baxter on the children's television series Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
. His godfather was Joe Seneca
Joe Seneca
Joe Seneca was an American film and television actor who had a lengthy Hollywood career, portraying bit parts in many major films and television sitcoms spanning from the 1970s to the 1990s....
who, among many roles, played Danny Glover's father in Silverado
Silverado
Silverado is a 1985 American Western film produced and directed by Lawrence Kasdan. The screenplay was written by Kasdan and his brother Mark. The film depicts a chance encounter between a group of cowboys who travel to the town of Silverado, where they thwart the plans of a rancher and a corrupt...
. Joe 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
Power Memorial Academy
Power Memorial Academy was an all-boys Catholic high school in New York, New York, USA that existed from 1931 through 1984. It was a basketball powerhouse, producing several NBA players including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Len Elmore, Mario Elie, Chris Mullin, NBA referee Dick Bavetta and a record...
in 1969, then attended C.W. Post College
Long Island University C.W. Post Campus
The C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University is a private institution of higher education located in Brookville in Nassau County, New York, United States...
as an Arts and Film major. Upon graduating, he became involved in stage work and TV commercials. James started his film career off as a stuntman
Stunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
for such New York based film productions as The Wiz
The Wiz
The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the context of African American culture. It opened on October 21, 1974 at the Morris A...
, The Warriors, and The Wanderers
The Wanderers (1979 film)
The Wanderers is a 1979 greaser film based on the novel by Richard Price .-Overview:...
.
Steve was married to Christine Pan James in Hawaii. During their honeymoon, he was cast by Margaret Doversola for a role on Raven
Raven
Raven is the common name given to several larger-bodied members of the genus Corvus—but in Europe and North America the Common Raven is normally implied...
which was being shot in Hawaii on the old Magnum, PI studio lot.
Steve was close friends with director William Friedkin
William Friedkin
William Friedkin is an American film director, producer and screenwriter best known for directing The French Connection in 1971 and The Exorcist in 1973; for the former, he won the Academy Award for Best Director...
, who described him as "One of the nicest, toughest and professional actors I've ever worked with." Steve and his friend and co-writer John A. Gallagher were in the process of writing several scripts as well as working on a comic book superhero character with another friend.
Personal life
On December 18, 1993, James died of cancer of unknown origin in his home in BurbankBurbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
at age 41. He is survived by his wife, Christine Pan James and his daughter from a previous marriage, Debi James. His wife is a writer and actor, his daughter a model and singer.
His last roles were in the feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
Bloodfist V: Human Target
Bloodfist V: Human Target
Bloodfist V: Human Target is a 1994 action/adventure film starring Don Wilson, Denice Duff and Steve James. It was directed by Jeff Yonis and written by Rob Kerchner and Jeff Yonis....
with Don "The Dragon" Wilson and the pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for the TV series M.A.N.T.I.S.
M.A.N.T.I.S.
M.A.N.T.I.S. is an American Science fiction television series that aired for one season on the Fox Network between August 1994 and March 1995. The original two-hour pilot was produced by Sam Raimi and developed by Sam Hamm. It stars actor Carl Lumbly. The show is unique in that it depicts an...
. The pilot first aired on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
just a few weeks after his death. He was also scheduled to star as Jax Briggs in 1995's Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat (film)
Mortal Kombat is a 1995 American action and adventure film directed by Paul Anderson. Based on the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games, the film was the first part of the Mortal Kombat film series...
until his death. Eulogies at Steve's funeral service were delivered by Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE is a Bahamian American actor, film director, author, and diplomat.In 1963, Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field...
(as his wife 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 wife's and his home in Burbank, California.
Movies
- Bloodfist V: Human TargetBloodfist V: Human TargetBloodfist V: Human Target is a 1994 action/adventure film starring Don Wilson, Denice Duff and Steve James. It was directed by Jeff Yonis and written by Rob Kerchner and Jeff Yonis....
(1994) .... Marcus/Drew Washington - Weekend at Bernie's IIWeekend at Bernie's IIWeekend at Bernie's II is a comedy film released in 1993 by TriStar Pictures and was the sequel to the 1989 comedy Weekend at Bernie's.- Plot :...
(1993) .... Henry - The PlayerThe PlayerThe Player is a 1992 American satirical film directed by Robert Altman from a screenplay by Michael Tolkin based on his own 1988 novel of the same name....
(1992) .... Himself - McBainMcBain (film)McBain is a 1991 action film written and directed by James Glickenhaus. It is about an ex-soldier who reunites his old army buddies in order to get revenge on a Colombian dictator who killed his old friend, a freedom fighter. McBain starred Christopher Walken, María Conchita Alonso and Michael...
(1991) .... Eastland - Mister JohnsonMister JohnsonMister Johnson is a 1990 American drama film based on the 1939 novel by Joyce Cary. The film was entered into the 41st Berlin International Film Festival, where Maynard Eziashi won the Silver Bear for Best Actor.The film was shot in Toro, Nigeria...
(1990) .... Aliu - Street Hunter (1990) .... Logan Blade
- American Ninja 3: Blood HuntAmerican Ninja 3: Blood HuntAmerican Ninja 3: Blood Hunt is a 1989 martial arts action movie starring David Bradley, written by Gary Conway and directed by Cedric Sundstrom.-Plot:...
(1989) .... Curtis Jackson - I'm Gonna Git You SuckaI'm Gonna Git You SuckaI'm Gonna Git You Sucka is a 1988 blaxploitation parody film written by, directed by and starring Keenen Ivory Wayans. Featured in the film are several black actors who were part of the blaxploitation phenomenon; including Jim Brown, Bernie Casey, Antonio Fargas and Isaac Hayes...
(1988) .... Kung Fu Joe - Hero and the TerrorHero and the TerrorHero and the Terror was a 1988 action film starring martial arts star Chuck Norris, directed by William Tannen. Produced by Menahem Golan, written by Michael Blodgett, and was distributed by Cannon Films. The film stars Norris as Danny O'Brien as a cop trying to stop a serial killer, Simon Moon...
(1988) .... Robinson - Johnny Be GoodJohnny Be GoodJohnny Be Good is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Bud Smith, starring Anthony Michael Hall as the main character, Johnny Walker. The film also features Robert Downey Jr., Steve James, Jennifer Tilly and Uma Thurman in her film debut...
(1988) .... Coach Sanders - American Ninja 2: The ConfrontationAmerican Ninja 2: The ConfrontationAmerican Ninja 2: The Confrontation is a 1987 action/adventure sequel starring Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Jeff Weston, Gary Conway, Michelle Botes and Larry Poindexter...
(1987) .... Curtis Jackson - Hollywood ShuffleHollywood ShuffleHollywood Shuffle is a 1987 comedy film that satirizes the racial stereotypes of African Americans in film and television. The film tracks the attempts of Bobby Taylor to become a successful actor and the mental and external roadblocks he encounters, represented through a series of interspersed...
(1987) (as Steve W. James) .... Hood #3 - Avenging ForceAvenging ForceAvenging Force is a 1986 film directed by Sam Firstenberg. The screenplay was written by James Booth, who co-starred in the film. It is a sequel to the 1985 film Invasion U.S.A., which starred Chuck Norris in the role of Matt Hunter.-Plot:...
(1986) .... Larry Richards - Behind Enemy Lines / P.O.W. the Escape (1986) .... Johnston
- The Delta Force (1986) .... Bobby
- To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) .... Jeff Rice
- American NinjaAmerican NinjaAmerican Ninja is a 1985 ninja action film produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus's Cannon Films. Directed by Sam Firstenberg, who specialized in this genre in the 1980s, the film stars Michael Dudikoff in the title role, with Steve James as his side-kick. Domestic box office grosses for the...
(1985) .... Curtis Jackson - Weird ScienceWeird Science (film)Weird Science is a 1985 American teen comedy film written and directed by John Hughes and starring Anthony Michael Hall, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, and Kelly LeBrock...
(1985) (uncredited) .... Guy at Table - MaskMask (film)Mask is a 1985 American biographical drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Cher, Sam Elliott, and Eric Stoltz. Dennis Burkley and Laura Dern are featured in supporting roles. Cher received the 1985 Cannes Film Festival award for Best Actress....
(1985) .... Hospital Intern - Fatal VisionFatal VisionFatal Vision is a best-selling true crime book published in 1983 by journalist and author Joe McGinniss. The following year it was made into an NBC television miniseries under the same name. Fatal Vision is the real-life story of Captain Jeffrey MacDonald, M.D., who in 1979 was convicted of the...
(1984) (TV) .... US Marshal - The Brother from Another PlanetThe Brother from Another PlanetThe Brother from Another Planet is a science fiction film written, directed and edited by John Sayles. It stars Joe Morton as an extraterrestrial who has escaped to Earth and who hides in New York City.-Plot:...
(1984) .... Odell - VigilanteVigilante (film)Vigilante is a 1983 film directed by William Lustig. It stars Robert Forster and Fred Williamson.-Plot:New York City factory worker Eddie Marino is a solid citizen and regular guy, until the day a sadistic street gang brutally assaults his wife and murders his child. But when a corrupt judge sets...
/ Street Gang (1983) (as Steve W. James) .... Ptl. Gibbons - The SoldierThe Soldier (film)The Soldier is a 1982 action film directed by James Glickenhaus and starring Ken Wahl. The film also features Klaus Kinski, Alberta Watson and a cameo by country music superstar George Strait.-Cast:...
(1982) .... Soldier's Force member #2 - Times SquareTimes SquareTimes Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
(1980) (as Steve W. James) .... Dude - The ExterminatorThe ExterminatorThe Exterminator is a 1980 action film written, produced and directed by James Glickenhaus and starring Robert Ginty as Vietnam veteran vigilante John Eastland, also known as "The Exterminator", who takes out the street punks and those involved in organized crime when the law fails to do justice.-...
(1980) .... Michael Jefferson - Enter the Game of DeathEnter the Game of DeathEnter the Game of Death , originally released as Cross Hands Martial Arts and released in North America as The King of Kung Fu, is a Bruceploitation martial arts film inspired by Bruce Lee's unfinished film Game of Death...
(1980) .... Black Martial Artist - The Mouse and the Woman (1980) .... Union Man
- The Warriors (1979) .... Baseball Fury
- Bruce vs. Black Dragon (1977)
- The Land That Time Forgot (1975) .... First Sto-Lu
- The Education of Sonny CarsonThe Education of Sonny CarsonThe Education of Sonny Carson is a 1974 film based on the best-selling autobiography of Sonny Carson, who joined a gang and committed petty crime before being sent to prison...
(1974) (uncredited)
Television
- M.A.N.T.I.S.M.A.N.T.I.S.M.A.N.T.I.S. is an American Science fiction television series that aired for one season on the Fox Network between August 1994 and March 1995. The original two-hour pilot was produced by Sam Raimi and developed by Sam Hamm. It stars actor Carl Lumbly. The show is unique in that it depicts an...
(1994) (pilot) .... Antoine Pike - Hammer, Slammer, & Slade (1990) (pilot) .... Kung Fu Joe
- RiverbendRiverbend (film)Riverbend is a 1989 film directed by Sam Firstenberg. The screenplay was written by Samuel Vance, who produced the film.-Plot:Three rebellious African-American army officers disobey orders in Vietnam and refuse to destroy a village inhabited with innocent people. They are sent to Georgia and are...
(1990) .... Major Samuel Quentin - Pee-wee's PlayhousePee-wee's PlayhousePee-wee's Playhouse is an American children's television program starring Paul Reubens as the child-like Pee-wee Herman. The show was developed from Reubens' popular stage show and the one-off TV special The Pee-wee Herman Show, produced for HBO, which was similar in style but featured much more...
(1989) TV Episode .... Derek - C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (1988) .... Bud Raines
- C.A.T. Squad (1986) .... Bud Raines
- MoonlightingMoonlighting (TV series)Moonlighting is an American television series that aired on ABC from March 3, 1985, to May 14, 1989. The network aired a total of 66 episodes...
; episode "Symphony in Knocked Flat" (1986) .... Mohammed "Boogaloo" Brown - The Atlanta Child MurdersThe Atlanta Child Murders (TV miniseries)The Atlanta Child Murders is a TV miniseries that aired on February 10 and 12, 1985 on CBS. Inspired by true events, the miniseries examines the so-called "Atlanta child murders" of the late 1970s and early 1980s.-Cast:*Calvin Levels - Wayne Williams...
(1985) (mini-series) .... Policeman #1 - Muggable Mary, Street Cop (1982) .... Park Slasher-Rapist
- Arthur HaileyArthur HaileyArthur Hailey was a British/Canadian novelist.- Biography :Born in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, Hailey served in the Royal Air Force from the start of World War II during 1939 until 1947, when he went to live in Canada. Hailey's last novel, Detective , is a mystery told from the perspective of a...
's HotelHotel (TV series)Hotel is an American prime time drama series which aired on ABC from September 21, 1983 to May 5, 1988 in the timeslot following Dynasty....
; episode "Love and Honor" (1985) .... Kaz - All My ChildrenAll My ChildrenAll My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
(1970) .... Guard Pinkston (1984) - The Dukes of HazzardThe Dukes of HazzardThe Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
; episode "Danger on the Hazzard Express" (1984) .... Carney - T.J. Hooker; episode "Night Vigil" (1984).... Coach Cassius Isley
Stunts
- The Brother from Another PlanetThe Brother from Another PlanetThe Brother from Another Planet is a science fiction film written, directed and edited by John Sayles. It stars Joe Morton as an extraterrestrial who has escaped to Earth and who hides in New York City.-Plot:...
(1984) (stunt coordinator) - Hanky PankyHanky Panky (film)Hanky Panky is a 1982 comedy film that stars Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner. The film is directed by Sidney Poitier. Wilder first met Radner during filming of this movie; the two later married.-Plot:...
(1982) (stunts) - Fighting Back (1982) (stunts)
- RagtimeRagtime (film)Ragtime is a 1981 American film based on the historical novel Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow. The action takes place in and around New York City, New Rochelle, and Atlantic City in the first decade of the 1900s, and includes fictionalized references to actual people and events of the time. The film was...
(1981) (stunts) - WolfenWolfen (film)Wolfen is the title of a 1981 horror film starring Albert Finney, Diane Venora, Gregory Hines and Edward James Olmos based on Whitley Strieber's 1978 novel The Wolfen...
(1981) (stunts) - Fort Apache the Bronx (1981) (stunts) (uncredited)
- The ExterminatorThe ExterminatorThe Exterminator is a 1980 action film written, produced and directed by James Glickenhaus and starring Robert Ginty as Vietnam veteran vigilante John Eastland, also known as "The Exterminator", who takes out the street punks and those involved in organized crime when the law fails to do justice.-...
(1980) (fight consultant) - He Knows You're AloneHe Knows You're AloneHe Knows You're Alone is a 1980 American horror film directed by Armand Mastroianni, written by Scott Parker and edited by George Norris. It was one of the first horror films to be influenced by the success of 1978's Halloween and shares a number of similarities with that previous hit.-Plot:A young...
(1980) (stunts) - Dressed to Kill (1980) (stunts)
- The WanderersThe Wanderers (1979 film)The Wanderers is a 1979 greaser film based on the novel by Richard Price .-Overview:...
(1979) (stunts) - Oliver's StoryOliver's StoryOliver's Story is the sequel to the novel Love Story by Erich Segal, turned into a movie of the same name in 1978. It was directed by John Korty and starred Ryan O'Neal and Candice Bergen. The original music score was composed by Lee Holdridge and Francis Lai. Unlike the original film, Oliver's...
(1978) (stunts) - The WizThe WizThe Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the context of African American culture. It opened on October 21, 1974 at the Morris A...
(1978) (stunts) (uncredited) - The Education of Sonny CarsonThe Education of Sonny CarsonThe Education of Sonny Carson is a 1974 film based on the best-selling autobiography of Sonny Carson, who joined a gang and committed petty crime before being sent to prison...
(1974) (stunts) - I'm Gonna Git You SuckaI'm Gonna Git You SuckaI'm Gonna Git You Sucka is a 1988 blaxploitation parody film written by, directed by and starring Keenen Ivory Wayans. Featured in the film are several black actors who were part of the blaxploitation phenomenon; including Jim Brown, Bernie Casey, Antonio Fargas and Isaac Hayes...
(1988) (actor-Kung Fu Joe) (stunts) (well known for Mr. Squeaky)