James is a rugged and intense character player with leading man good looks. He first gained recognition in 1979 as Ajax in his second film, The Warriors. That same year, he garnered acclaim on Broadway with Richard Gere in the concentration camp drama "Bent".
Throughout his nearly four-decade-long career, James has demonstrated his versatility by taking on a wide range of roles and making solid career choices. He has played psychopaths, such as Dutch Schultz in Francis Coppola's The Cotton Club and Albert Ganz in Walter Hill's 48 Hrs. He has also played characters with a more vulnerable side, like his guitarist in the Oscar-winning short, Session Man, and his artist who falls in love with a gargoyle come to life in the best segment of the horror anthology, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie.
In addition to his film work, James has also had notable roles in television. He starred alongside Michael C. Hall in the hit Showtime series Dexter, playing Dexter's wise and compassionate adoptive father, Harry Morgan. He has also appeared in Grey's Anatomy as Karev's long-lost father.
James has been recognized for his work with several awards and nominations. He won the 8th annual SAG award as a member of the Outstanding Comedy Ensemble for his work in Sex and the City. As a member of the ensemble cast of Dexter, he has been nominated for the SAG award and the Emmy. He was also honored with the Saturn Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 for his work in Sci-Fi Fantasy and Horror.
In recent years, James has continued to work in television and film. He completed Season Two of CW's Black Lightning, where he co-stars as Peter Gambi. He has also reunited with Quentin Tarantino, appearing in the highly anticipated Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.
