James Edwards (actor)

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James Johnson Edwards (born March 6, 1918 in Muncie , Indiana , † January 4, 1970 in San Diego , California ) was an American actor .

Life

Edwards served in World War II , where he was seriously wounded while on duty. Among other things, his vocal cords were damaged, whereupon the doctors recommended speaking lessons as therapy. As part of this measure, he decided to become an actor.

First he appeared in the theater, in 1949 he got his first film role in Ring Free for Stoker Thompson . His next film should be his most important. Producer Stanley Kramer cast him as the leading actor in the low-budget film Home of the Brave . The film was made quietly to avoid racial unrest, as it was one of the first studio films to feature an African American . Edwards played Pvt. Peter Moss , who suffers a nervous breakdown during an operation against Japan in World War II due to racist remarks by his comrades. The film became an unexpected success and Edwards became a star virtually overnight. However, this would remain his only leading role.

During the McCarthy era , he refused to testify before the Un-American Activities Committee against Paul Robeson . In the following decades he could only be seen in supporting roles and in guest appearances in television series. He played notable roles in Sam Fuller's war film Hell of Korea , in John Frankenheimer's Ambassador of Fear and Franklin J. Schaffner's Patton - Rebel in Uniform . Before the premiere of the latter film, Edwards died of a heart attack .

Edwards was married and had one child.

Filmography (selection)

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personal data
SURNAME Edwards, James
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Edwards, James Johnson (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION US-American actor
DATE OF BIRTH March 6, 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH Muncie , Indiana
DATE OF DEATH 4th January 1970
Place of death San Diego , California