Brion James
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- February 20, 1945 in Redlands, California, USA
- Died
- August 7, 1999
- Active Years
- 1955–2005 (51 Years)
- Total Credits
- 155 credits in database
Acting Born Feb 20, 1945 Died Aug 7, 1999 Redlands, California, USA 155 credits
Biography
Brion James was an American character actor. Born on February 20, 1945, in Redlands, California, he stood at 6 feet 3 inches tall. James appeared in over 100 films before his death. He was often cast as heavies or in lower budget horror and action films throughout the 1980s and 1990s. James' commanding screen presence and physical stature made him a frequent choice for these types of roles. He died of a heart attack on August 7, 1999, at the age of 54.
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Career overview
Brion James was an American character actor. He was known for his commanding screen presence and formidable physique, which often resulted in his casting as a heavy in various films. James appeared in over 100 films throughout his career.
James' filmography includes a wide range of American films, such as 48 Hrs., Another 48 Hours, Tango & Cash, Silverado, Red Heat, The Player, and The Fifth Element. He often appeared in lower budget horror and action films, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s. James' tall stature, at 6 feet 3 inches, likely contributed to his frequent casting as a heavy in these types of films.
Brion James' acting credits span multiple decades, showcasing his versatility as a character actor. His extensive filmography and commanding presence on screen demonstrate his ability to take on a variety of roles.
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Frequent co-stars
Tim Thomerson
4 shared titles
Robert Z'Dar
3 shared titles
Jeff Fahey
3 shared titles
Bruce Willis
2 shared titles
Luke Perry
2 shared titles
Tommy Lister Jr.
2 shared titles
Rutger Hauer
2 shared titles
Edward James Olmos
2 shared titles
M. Emmet Walsh
2 shared titles
William Sanderson
2 shared titles
Career timeline
Swimming with DolphinsPhoenix Point
The Thief & the Stripper
The King Is AliveFarewell, My LoveThe Operator
Dirt MerchantDiplomatic SiegeThe Hunter's MoonJoseph's GiftMalevolence
The Magnificent SevenMen in WhiteBrown's RequiemA Place Called TruthDeadly Ransom
The Fifth ElementSnide and PrejudiceBombshellBack in BusinessThe Underground
MillenniumSuperman: The Animated SeriesSuperman: The Animated SeriesThe SentinelEvil Obsession
The MarshalNature of the BeastSketch Artist II: Hands That SeeSteel FrontierIndecent Behavior III
Knight Rider 2010Radioland MurdersScanner CopThe CompanionFuture Shock
Walker, Texas RangerStriking DistanceRio DiabloShowdownBrain Smasher... A Love Story
Highlander: The SeriesBatman: The Animated SeriesBatman: The Animated SeriesRenegadeThe Player
Ultimate Desires
Another 48 Hrs.Enid Is SleepingStreet AsylumMom
Tales from the CryptTango & CashThe Horror ShowZ-TVDesperado: The Outlaw Wars
Red HeatRed ScorpionNightmare at NoonD.O.A.The Wrong Guys
Cherry 2000Love Among ThievesSteel Dawn
MatlockSledge Hammer!Sledge Hammer!SidekicksArmed and Dangerous
Amazing StoriesSilveradoFlesh + BloodEnemy MineCrimewave
Miami ViceHunterA Breed Apart
The A-TeamThe A-TeamThe HitchhikerThe Gambler: The Adventure ContinuesThe Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
American PlayhouseBlade Runner48 Hrs.Hear No Evil
The Postman Always Rings TwiceSouthern ComfortKilling at Hell's GateSoggy Bottom, U.S.A.
Conquest of the EarthGalactica 1980When the Whistle BlowsThe Jazz SingerWholly Moses
Big Shamus, Little Shamus
Mork & MindyCorvette SummerKISS Meets the Phantom of the ParkFlying High
The Incredible HulkRootsCHiPsCHiPsBlue Sunshine
Quincy, M.E.NickelodeonBound for GloryTreasure of MatecumbeHarry and Walter Go to New York
Hard TimesThe Kansas City Massacre
Little House on the PrairieThe Rockford Files
The Waltons
Full Filmography
155 titles- Swimming with Dolphins (2005)
- Phoenix Point (2005) as Spider Rico
- The Thief & the Stripper (2002) as Shoe
- The King Is Alive (2000) as Ashley
- Farewell, My Love (2000) as Renault
- The Operator (2000) as Vernon Woods
- Dirt Merchant (1999) as Detective Harry Ball
- Diplomatic Siege (1999) as Stubbs
- The Hunter's Moon (1999) as Sheriff Foulkes
- Joseph's Gift (1999) as Frank Childress
- Malevolence (1999) as Warden Walker
- Arthurs Quest (1999) as Trent
- Heist (1999) as Caz
- The Magnificent Seven (1998) as Stuart James
- Men in White (1998) as Air Force
- Brown's Requiem (1998) as Cathcart
- A Place Called Truth (1998) as Hank
- Deadly Ransom (1998) as Bobby Rico
- In God's Hands (1998) as Capitaine
- Jekyll Island (1998) as Lawton Goodyear
- Black Sea 213 (1998) as Captain Killick
- Kai Rabe gegen die Vatikankiller (1998) as Monk
- The Fifth Element (1997) as General Munro
- Snide and Prejudice (1997) as Hermann Goering
- Bombshell (1997) as Donald
- Back in Business (1997) as Emery Ryker
- The Underground (1997) as Captain Hilton
- The Killing Jar (1997) as Dr. Vincent Garret
- Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills (1997) as Salvador Dali / Sam
- Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills (1997) Associate Producer
- Millennium (1996) as Sheriff Bowman
- Superman: The Animated Series (1996) as Parasite / Rudy Jones (voice)
- Superman: The Animated Series (1996) as Parasite (voice)
- The Sentinel (1996) as Warren Chapel
- Evil Obsession (1996) as Stavinski
- Precious Find (1996) as Sam Horton
- American Strays (1996) as Oris
- Billy Lone Bear (1996)
- Assault on Dome 4 (1996) as Chairman
- The Marshal (1995)
- Nature of the Beast (1995) as Sheriff Gordon
- Sketch Artist II: Hands That See (1995) as Larry Walker
- Steel Frontier (1995) as General J.W. Quantrell
- Indecent Behavior III (1995) as Andy Cowens (uncredited)
- Dominion (1995) as Lynwood
- Spitfire (1995) as Tough Guy (uncredited)
- Cyberjack (1995) as Nassim
- Knight Rider 2010 (1994) as Jared
- Radioland Murders (1994) as Bernie King
- Scanner Cop (1994) as Dr. Hampton
- The Companion (1994) as Ron Cocheran
- Future Shock (1994) as Jack Porter
- Savage Land (1994) as Cyrus
- The Soft Kill (1994) as Ben McCarthy
- Art Deco Detective (1994) as Jim Wexler
- Cabin Boy (1994) as Big Teddy
- F.T.W. (1994) as Sheriff Rudy Morgan
- Hong Kong 97 (1994) as Simon Alexander
- Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) as Rafer Cobb
- Striking Distance (1993) as Eddie Eiler
- Rio Diablo (1993) as Jake Walker
- Showdown (1993) as Vice Principal Kowalski
- Brain Smasher... A Love Story (1993) as Brown
- Precious Victims (1993) as Agent Jimmy Bivens
- Time Runner (1993) as Neila
- The Dark (1993) as Paul Buckner
- Highlander: The Series (1992) as Armand Thorne
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992) as Additional Voices (voice)
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992) as Irving (voice)
- Renegade (1992) as Eli Starke
- The Player (1992) as Joel Levison
- Nemesis (1992) as Maritz
- Wishman (1992) as Staten Jack Rose
- Black Magic (1992) as Tom McKay
- Frogtown II (1992) as Prof. Tanzer
- Ultimate Desires (1991) as Wolfgang Friedman
- Another 48 Hrs. (1990) as Ben Kehoe
- Enid Is Sleeping (1990) as Trucker
- Street Asylum (1990) as Reverend Mony
- Mom (1990) as Nestor Duvalier
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Steve Dixon
- Tango & Cash (1989) as Requin
- The Horror Show (1989) as Max Jenke
- Z-TV (1989) as Self
- Desperado: The Outlaw Wars (1989) as Roy Grimes
- Circles in a Forest (1989) as Mr. Patterson
- Mutator (1989) as David Allen
- Red Heat (1988) as Streak
- Red Scorpion (1988) as Krasnov
- Nightmare at Noon (1988) as The Albino
- D.O.A. (1988) as Detective Ulmer
- The Wrong Guys (1988) as Glen Grunski
- Dead Man Walking (1988) as Decker
- Cherry 2000 (1987) as Stacy
- Love Among Thieves (1987) as Andre
- Steel Dawn (1987) as Tark
- Matlock (1986) as Mr. Grock
- Sledge Hammer! (1986) as Felix Ridel
- Sledge Hammer! (1986) as Don Merrill
- Sidekicks (1986)
- Armed and Dangerous (1986) as Anthony Lazarus
- Amazing Stories (1986) as Willie Joe
- Annihilator (1986) as Alien Leader
- Amazing Stories (1985) as Willie Joe
- Silverado (1985) as Hobart
- Flesh + Blood (1985) as Karsthans
- Enemy Mine (1985) as Stubbs
- Crimewave (1985) as Arthur Coddish
- Miami Vice (1984) as Edward Reese
- Hunter (1984) as Lt. Jeff Wadsworth / Thomas Duffy
- A Breed Apart (1984) as Peyton
- The A-Team (1983) as Ryder
- The A-Team (1983) as David Plout
- The Hitchhiker (1983) as Lionel
- The Gambler: The Adventure Continues (1983) as Reece
- The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1983) as Captain Rogers
- The Gambler: The Adventure Continues (1983) as Reece
- American Playhouse (1982) as Captain Rogers
- Blade Runner (1982) as Leon
- 48 Hrs. (1982) as Ben Kehoe
- Hear No Evil (1982) as Billy Boy Burns
- The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) as Crapshooter
- Southern Comfort (1981) as Trapper
- Killing at Hell's Gate (1981) as Turkey Jones
- Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. (1981) as Defalice
- Conquest of the Earth (1980) as Willy
- Galactica 1980 (1980) as Willy
- When the Whistle Blows (1980)
- The Jazz Singer (1980) as Man in Bar
- Wholly Moses (1980) as Guard at Banquet
- Trouble in High Timber Country (1980) as Eddie Rhodes
- Big Shamus, Little Shamus (1979)
- Mork & Mindy (1978) as George
- Corvette Summer (1978) as Wayne's Car Wash Henchman
- KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978) as Guard
- Flying High (1978) as Clyde Boyer
- The Incredible Hulk (1977) as Al
- Roots (1977) as Slaver
- CHiPs (1977) as Billy Joe Ackerman
- CHiPs (1977) as Monk Adler
- Blue Sunshine (1977) as Tony
- Quincy, M.E. (1976) as Henry Moeller
- Nickelodeon (1976) as Bailiff
- Bound for Glory (1976) as Pick Up Truck Driver at the Border
- Treasure of Matecumbe (1976) as Roustabout
- Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976) as Hayseed
- The Invasion of Johnson County (1976) as Ben Jones
- Hard Times (1975) as Man (uncredited)
- The Kansas City Massacre (1975) as Homer Van Meter
- Little House on the Prairie (1974)
- The Rockford Files (1974) as Clamshell
- The Waltons (1972) as Henry Ferris Jr.
- The F.B.I. (1965)
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Joe Barnes
- New Line: Independent Legacies as Self (archive footage)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Brion James best known for?
Brion James is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Farewell, My Love (2000), Dirt Merchant (1999), The Hunter's Moon (1999), Mimic 2 (2001).
When and where was Brion James born?
Brion James was born on February 20, 1945 in Redlands, California, USA. They passed away on August 7, 1999.
How many credits does Brion James have?
Brion James has accumulated over 155 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1955 to 2005.
What is Brion James's background in cinema and television?
Brion James was an American character actor. Born on February 20, 1945, in Redlands, California, he stood at 6 feet 3 inches tall. James appeared in over 100 films before his death. He was often cast as heavies or in lower budget horror and action films throughout the 1980s and 1990s. James' commanding screen presence ...
Brion James by the numbers
155credits
117films
38TV series
1955–2005active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992) as Additional Voices (voice) — aged about 47
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992) as Irving (voice) — aged about 47
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Steve Dixon — aged about 44
- Sledge Hammer! (1986) as Felix Ridel — aged about 41
- Sledge Hammer! (1986) as Don Merrill — aged about 41
- Blade Runner (1982) as Leon — aged about 37
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