Brion James (actor)

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Brion James (born February 20, 1945 in Redlands , California - † August 7, 1999 in Malibu , California) was an American actor .

biography

As the son of a cinema owner and projectionist, James came into contact with the medium of film at an early age through his father's profession. After graduating from high school in 1962, he began studying theater studies at the University of San Diego. He then moved to New York, where he initially played minor roles in various theaters.

After his military service, which James completed as a cook, he made his feature film debut in 1975 with a small role as gangster Homer Van Meter in the television film The Gangster Battle of Kansas City . The mime with the distinctive facial features and a height of 1.91 m from then on appeared in well over 100 film and television roles, not least because of his physiognomy, he was often cast for shady and negative characters. In the early years of his film career, James' roles were comparatively small. In the action film The Last Americans by Walter Hill , James got one of the leading roles as the taciturn Cajun. Only his role as the violent replicant Leon Kowalski in the science fiction film Blade Runner by Ridley Scott brought him the breakthrough. His short but memorable appearance with the famous film quote “Wach auf! Time to Die! ”Led James to numerous similar roles in B-movies and large-scale productions.

James starred in Enemy Mine , alongside Meg Ryan in DOA - Murder and Two Under Full Steam , alongside Sylvester Stallone in Tango and Cash , alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Red Heat , in the crime comedy Just 48 Hours , in the Western Silverado , in Robert Altman's satire The Player and as a long-suffering general in Luc Besson's The Fifth Element . He also took on numerous guest roles in television series such as Roots , The Denver Clan , Smoking Colts , Sledge Hammer! , The A-Team , Miami Vice , Highlander and Matlock .

On August 7, 1999, Brion James died of a heart attack at the age of only 54 . The last five film productions in which James was involved were not completed until after his death. The last one, Phoenix Point , hit theaters in 2005. The film The King Is Alive is dedicated to him.

Filmography (selection)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/reviews/283/28399.html
personal data
SURNAME James, Brion
BRIEF DESCRIPTION US-American actor
DATE OF BIRTH February 20, 1945
PLACE OF BIRTH Redlands , California
DATE OF DEATH August 7, 1999
Place of death Malibu , California