James Carroll Pickett III was born on December 17, 1949, near Louisville, Kentucky, and initially gained local fame after playing the role of Daniel Boone in a Louisville pageant. He worked behind the scenes at the Actors Theatre in his early twenties, laying the groundwork for his future endeavors.
Pickett's early career in the film industry began with a small part in the 1972 low-budget drive-in exploitation movie "Asylum of Satan", where he also contributed to the gruesome makeup effects. He then went on to play more substantial roles in "Three on a Meathook" (1972) and "The Get-Man" (1974),solidifying his position as a talented actor.
In the mid-1970s, Pickett relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he established himself as a renowned poet, playwright, and community activist. He was the writer-in-residence at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, and his stage plays were performed globally, earning awards from "The LA Weekly" and Drama Logue.
One of his most acclaimed works was the groundbreaking gay play "Dream Man", which was adapted into a film in 1991. Pickett was also the co-founder of and executive director for Artists Confronting AIDS, and he founded and produced the STAGE benefits for AIDS Project Los Angeles.
Tragically, James Carroll Pickett III passed away at the young age of 44 on July 4, 1994, due to AIDS-related complications in Los Angeles, California.
