Steve James (actor)

Steven Wall James (February 19, 1952 – December 18, 1993) was an American actor and stunt performer. He was best-known for his roles in 1980s action films, often from Cannon Films, such as the American Ninja series, The Delta Force (1986), The Exterminator (1980), and Avenging Force (1986). He 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.

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.

James was a long-time practitioner of the Chinese martial art fu jow pai.^[4]

Upon graduating he became involved in stage work and TV commercials. James started his film career off as a stunt performer for such New York based film productions as The Wiz, The Warriors, and The Wanderers. He began playing bit parts in the mid-1970s, appearing in films such as The Land That Time Forgot (1974) and The Warriors (1979).

In 1980, James had his first notable role 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.^[5] The film was a success grossing $35 million at the box office launching Ginty's career as an action film leading man.^[6]

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.^[7] He appeared in several low-budget films such as He Knows You're Alone (1980), The Soldier (1982) and Vigilante (1982). He also guest-starred in episodes of television series such as T.J. Hooker and E/R.

In 1984, James acted in John Sayles's critically acclaimed film science-fiction comedy The Brother from Another Planet, starring Joe Morton.^[8] With fellow thespians Darryl Edwards, Ren Woods, and Bill Cobbs, they play barflies. Reviewer Deborah Jerome of The Record said that they delivered good performances to the film.^[9] That year on television, James acted in an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard.^[10]

In 1985, he had a co-starring role alongside Michael Dudikoff in Sam Firstenberg's martial arts action film American Ninja.^[11] He reprised his role in its sequels American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987),^[12] and American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (1989).^[13] He reunited with Firstenberg and Dudikoff for the 1986 action film Avenging Force.^[14]

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 spoof comedy film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka and reprised his role in the television pilot Hammer, Slammer & Slade (1990).

In 1989, he played the lead in Sam Firsteberg's action film Riverbend.^[15] 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.^[7]

In 1990, he took the lead role in Street Hunter directed by John A. Gallagher.^[16] 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.^[7]

In 1993, he appeared in the comedy Weekend at Bernie's II.^[17] 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 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 going to audition to play Jax in the Mortal Kombat film; however, his death caused the studio to have Gregory McKinney replace him.

While filming The Delta Force in Tel Aviv in 1986, Jones met Israeli model Nava Halimi; she would later make a brief appearance as the girlfriend of James' character in American Ninja 2. James and Halimi married shortly after completing the movie; they had one daughter, Debbie, before divorcing.^[18] On December 26, 1992, James married actress and stuntwoman Christine Pan at the Kahala Hilton.^[19]

On December 18, 1993, James died of pancreatic cancer in his home in Burbank, California at age 41.^[20]

Eulogies at James' funeral service were delivered by Sidney Poitier (as his widow, Chris, was employed by 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.^[21]

• Steve James at IMDb