Brion Howard James (February 20, 1945 â€" August 7, 1999) was an
American character actor. He portrayed Leon Kowalski in Blade Runner,
and appeared in Southern Comfort, 48 Hrs., Another 48 Hrs., Silverado,
Tango & Cash, Red Heat, The Player, and The Fifth Element. James was
frequently cast as an antagonist, appearing more frequently in
lower-budget horror and action films and TV shows throughout the 1980s
and 1990s. James appeared in more than 100 films before he died of a
heart attack at the age of 54.James was born in Redlands, California.
He spent his early years in Beaumont, California, where his parents
owned and operated a movie theater; James said, "My story is like
Cinema Paradiso. Every night in my life since I was 2 years old... I
ran movies". After graduating from high school in 1962, James attended
San Diego State University as a Theater Arts major. Migrating to New
York, James immersed himself in the theatre scene, taking on bit roles
here and there. He also served in the United States Army National
Guard.In 1975, James landed a small role in the made-for-television
film, The Kansas City Massacre, playing John Dillinger gang member
Homer Van Meter. Higher profile roles followed in 1976, with his
casting in Nickelodeon and Harry and Walter Go to New York. James also
appeared in the television miniseries Roots and popular 1970s shows
such as Gunsmoke, The Incredible Hulk, Mork and Mindy, Chico and the
Man, CHiPs.James's career took a sudden upturn in the early 1980s with
roles in Southern Comfort and 48 Hrs. (which were both directed by
Walter Hill), but it was his performance as Leon Kowalski in the 1982
film Blade Runner that gave him his greatest, most lasting fame. James
followed this up with roles in Enemy Mine, Flesh + Blood, A Breed
Apart, Silverado, Armed and Dangerous, Red Heat, Steel Dawn, Red
Scorpion, Tango & Cash, and Showdown. James had guest spots in the
television shows Benson, Quincy, M.E., The A-Team, Little House on the
Prairie, The Dukes of Hazzard, Matlock, Miami Vice, Hunter, along with
the Hunter take off Sledge Hammer!, and Dynasty. In the 1990s, he
appeared in Highlander: The Series, and as Sheriff Bowman in the
Millennium season 2 episode "Luminary". He lent his voice to the
character of Parasite in Superman: The Animated Series. In 1982, he
was in the made-for-TV-movie Hear No Evil as Billy Boy Burns.
American character actor. He portrayed Leon Kowalski in Blade Runner,
and appeared in Southern Comfort, 48 Hrs., Another 48 Hrs., Silverado,
Tango & Cash, Red Heat, The Player, and The Fifth Element. James was
frequently cast as an antagonist, appearing more frequently in
lower-budget horror and action films and TV shows throughout the 1980s
and 1990s. James appeared in more than 100 films before he died of a
heart attack at the age of 54.James was born in Redlands, California.
He spent his early years in Beaumont, California, where his parents
owned and operated a movie theater; James said, "My story is like
Cinema Paradiso. Every night in my life since I was 2 years old... I
ran movies". After graduating from high school in 1962, James attended
San Diego State University as a Theater Arts major. Migrating to New
York, James immersed himself in the theatre scene, taking on bit roles
here and there. He also served in the United States Army National
Guard.In 1975, James landed a small role in the made-for-television
film, The Kansas City Massacre, playing John Dillinger gang member
Homer Van Meter. Higher profile roles followed in 1976, with his
casting in Nickelodeon and Harry and Walter Go to New York. James also
appeared in the television miniseries Roots and popular 1970s shows
such as Gunsmoke, The Incredible Hulk, Mork and Mindy, Chico and the
Man, CHiPs.James's career took a sudden upturn in the early 1980s with
roles in Southern Comfort and 48 Hrs. (which were both directed by
Walter Hill), but it was his performance as Leon Kowalski in the 1982
film Blade Runner that gave him his greatest, most lasting fame. James
followed this up with roles in Enemy Mine, Flesh + Blood, A Breed
Apart, Silverado, Armed and Dangerous, Red Heat, Steel Dawn, Red
Scorpion, Tango & Cash, and Showdown. James had guest spots in the
television shows Benson, Quincy, M.E., The A-Team, Little House on the
Prairie, The Dukes of Hazzard, Matlock, Miami Vice, Hunter, along with
the Hunter take off Sledge Hammer!, and Dynasty. In the 1990s, he
appeared in Highlander: The Series, and as Sheriff Bowman in the
Millennium season 2 episode "Luminary". He lent his voice to the
character of Parasite in Superman: The Animated Series. In 1982, he
was in the made-for-TV-movie Hear No Evil as Billy Boy Burns.
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