Steve James (February 19, 1952 â€" December 18, 1993) was an American
actor, stunt performer 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.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. 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 1970, 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 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 (1975), Enter the Game of
Death (1978) and The Warriors (1979). In the early 1980s, he played
roles in several low-budget films such as The Exterminator (1980), He
Knows You're Alone (1980) and The Soldier (1982). He also
guest-starred in episodes of television series such as T.J. Hooker,
E/R and The Dukes of Hazzard.In 1985, he had a co-starring role
alongside Michael Dudikoff in the martial arts action film American
Ninja and reprised his role in its sequels American Ninja 2: The
Confrontation (1987) and American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (1989). During
this period, he was often cast as a supporting character or secondary
lead in several action films. He co-starred with Chuck Norris in The
Delta Force (1986) and Hero and the Terror (1988). He also played
supporting roles in films of other genres such as the science-fiction
comedy The Brother From Another Planet (1984), 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 spin-off television film Hammer, Slammer & Slade (1990).
He played rare leading roles in the action films Riverbend (1989) and
Street Hunter (1990). In 1993, he appeared in the comedy Weekend at
Bernie's II which 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.
actor, stunt performer 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.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. 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 1970, 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 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 (1975), Enter the Game of
Death (1978) and The Warriors (1979). In the early 1980s, he played
roles in several low-budget films such as The Exterminator (1980), He
Knows You're Alone (1980) and The Soldier (1982). He also
guest-starred in episodes of television series such as T.J. Hooker,
E/R and The Dukes of Hazzard.In 1985, he had a co-starring role
alongside Michael Dudikoff in the martial arts action film American
Ninja and reprised his role in its sequels American Ninja 2: The
Confrontation (1987) and American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (1989). During
this period, he was often cast as a supporting character or secondary
lead in several action films. He co-starred with Chuck Norris in The
Delta Force (1986) and Hero and the Terror (1988). He also played
supporting roles in films of other genres such as the science-fiction
comedy The Brother From Another Planet (1984), 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 spin-off television film Hammer, Slammer & Slade (1990).
He played rare leading roles in the action films Riverbend (1989) and
Street Hunter (1990). In 1993, he appeared in the comedy Weekend at
Bernie's II which 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.
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