Biography
A tall (6'3"), strapping and versatile character player of film and TV since the mid-1970s, Brion James, with his malicious smile and leering eyes, quickly became established playing oddball heavies, lowlifes and hicks in genre fare, notably in collaboration with action guru Walter Hill in "Hard Times" (1975), "The Driver" (1978), "Southern Comfort" (1981), "48 Hours" (1982) and "Another 48 Hours" (1990). He may be best known as Leon, a …
Career Milestones
2001 | Last released film, the Dogme 95 feature "The King Is Alive" | |
1997 | Portrayed General Munro in Luc Besson's "The Fifth Element" | |
1992 | Chosen by Robert Altman to essay the studio head in "The Player" | |
1990 | Reprised role in "Another 48 Hrs." which caused him to quip, "This is the first sequel I've ever because I rarely live through a film" | |
1982 | Co-starred in "48 Hrs.", directed by Hill | |
1982 | Cast as the replicant Leon in "Blade Runner" | |
| Appeared in over 100 TV guest spots | ||
1975 | Made feature debut in Walter Hill's directorial debut, "Hard Times" | |
1975 | TV debut, one of the last episodes of "Gunsmoke" | |
| Received positive notices for his performance in L.A. production of "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel" | ||
1974 | Decided to act full-time | |
1973 | Returned to L.A. | |
| Performed standup comedy at the Improv in NYC | ||
| Appeared in Off-Broadway productions | ||
| Worked as a live-in cook/butler for Stella Adler in return for acting lessons | ||
| Moved from California to New York | ||