James Hanlon is a renowned American television executive producer and director, boasting an impressive array of credits in his repertoire. His extensive body of work includes directing several notable series, such as Animal Kingdom on TNT, NCIS: Los Angeles on CBS, Chicago Fire on NBC, and Station 19 on ABC.
Born in the Bronx, New York, James grew up in a large family of eight, with his parents having distinguished careers at The New York Daily News. He began his journey in the entertainment industry by studying acting at the tender age of 21 under the tutelage of Stella Adler and James Price at The Acting Studio-New York in New York City.
Throughout his career, James has performed in an astonishing 23 plays in New York City and regionally, as well as guest-starred on numerous New York-based shows. Prior to his tenure in the entertainment industry, James worked at The Daily News from 1989 to 1994 and later joined the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) in 1994 as a firefighter.
In 2001, James embarked on a documentary project about a rookie firefighter, which would eventually become the award-winning film 9/11. As the director, producer, and cinematographer, James received numerous accolades, including the Emmy Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, the George Foster Peabody Award, and the Satellite Award.
After retiring from the FDNY as a decorated veteran in 2007, James went on to become a proud graduate of the Directing Program at UCLA and a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Throughout his illustrious career, James has had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed directors such as Ang Lee, Martin Scorsese, Gary Marshall, and Sidney Lumet.
James has also made appearances on television, playing the roles of Detective Pierson on CBS's Cold Case and Detective Joe Van Stone on the Lifetime series The Protector.
In his latest endeavor, James serves as the executive producer and director of the documentary series 9/11: Fifteen Years Later for CNN, which has become the most-watched television documentary of all time. This groundbreaking series provides an unprecedented and exclusive insider's account of the World Trade Center attack, featuring the only known footage of the first plane striking the World Trade Center and from inside Ground Zero during the attacks.
