BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY
Steve James (actor)
.
| BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY |
| Steve James | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 19, 1952 New York City, New York |
| Died | December 18, 1993 (aged 41) Burbank, California |
| Occupation | Film, television actor |
| Website | http://www.ninjastevejames.com/ |
Steve James (February 19, 1952 – December 18, 1993) was an American actor, stuntman 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 pilotspinoff Hammer, Slammer, & Slade.
Biography
Steve James was born and raised in New York City. His father was trumpet player Hubie James. 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 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 Collegeas an Arts and Film major. Upon graduating, he became involved in stage work and TV commercials. James started his film career off as a stuntman for such New York based film productions as The Wiz, The Warriors, and The Wanderers. He also practiced martial arts and was an expert in Fu Jow Pai, a system in Tiger Claw Kung Fu.
Steve was married to Christine Pan James in Hawaii. During their honeymoon, he was cast for a role on Raven which was being shot in Hawaii on the old Magnum, P.I. studio lot.[citation needed]
Personal life and death
On December 18, 1993, James died of pancreatic cancer[1] in his home in Burbank, California at age 41. He is survived by his wife, Christine Pan James, and his daughter from a previous marriage, Debi James. His widow is a writer and actor, his daughter a model and singer.[citation needed]
His last roles were in the 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 also scheduled to star as Jax Briggs in 1995's Mortal Kombat until his death. Eulogies at Steve's funeral service were delivered by Sidney Poitier(as his widow, Chris, was employed by Mr. 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.[2]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | M.A.N.T.I.S. | Antoine Pike |
| Bloodfist V: Human Target | Marcus/Drew Washington | |
| 1993 | Weekend at Bernie's II | Henry |
| 1991 | McBain | Eastland |
| Mister Johnson | Aliu | |
| 1990 | Riverbend | Major Samuel Quentin |
| Street Hunter | Logan Blade | |
| Hammer, Slammer, & Slade | Kung Fu Joe | |
| 1989 | Riverbend | Maj. Samuel Quentin |
| American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt | Curtis Jackson | |
| 1988 | I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | Kung Fu Joe |
| Johnny Be Good | Coach Sanders | |
| Hero and the Terror | Robinson | |
| C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf | Bud Raines | |
| 1987 | American Ninja 2: The Confrontation | Curtis Jackson |
| Hollywood Shuffle | Hood #3 (as Steve W. James) | |
| 1986 | C.A.T. Squad | Bud Raines |
| Avenging Force | Larry Richards | |
| Behind Enemy Lines (a.k.a. P.O.W. the Escape) | Johnston | |
| The Delta Force]] | Bobby | |
| 1985 | To Live and Die in L.A. | Jeff Rice |
| American Ninja | Curtis Jackson | |
| Weird Science | Guy at Table (uncredited) | |
| Mask (1985) | Hospital Intern | |
| 1984 | Fatal Vision | US Marshal |
| The Brother from Another Planet | Odell | |
| 1983 | Vigilante (a.k.a. Street Gang) | Ptl. Gibbons (as Steve W. James) |
| 1982 | Muggable Mary, Street Cop | Park Slasher-Rapist |
| The Soldier | Soldier's Force member #2 | |
| 1980 | Times Square | Dude (as Steve W. James) |
| The Exterminator | Michael Jefferson | |
| Enter the Game of Death | Black Martial Artist | |
| The Mouse and the Woman | Union Man | |
| 1979 | The Warriors | Baseball Fury |
| 1977 | Bruce vs. Black Dragon | |
| 1975 | The Land That Time Forgot | First Sto-Lu |
| 1974 | The Education of Sonny Carson | (uncredited) |
Television
| Year | Title | Episode | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Moonlighting | "Symphony in Knocked Flat" | Mohammed "Boogaloo" Brown |
| 1985 | The Atlanta Child Murders | (mini-series) | Policeman #1 |
| 1984 | The Dukes Of Hazzard | "Danger on the Hazzard Express" | Carney |
| T.J. Hooker | "Night Vigil" | Coach Cassius Isley | |
| 1985 | Arthur Hailey's Hotel | "Love and Honor" | Kaz |
| 1984 | All My Children | Guard Pinkston |
Stunts
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1984 | The Brother from Another Planet |
| 1982 | Hanky Panky |
| Fighting Back | |
| 1981 | Ragtime |
| Wolfen | |
| Fort Apache the Bronx | |
| 1980 | The Exterminator |
| He Knows You're Alone | |
| Dressed to Kill | |
| 1979 | The Wanderers |
| 1978 | Oliver's Story |
| 1978 | The Wiz |
| 1974 | The Education of Sonny Carson |
Writer
- Street Hunter (1990)
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