James Howard Woods was born on April 18, 1947, in Vernal, Utah, to Martha A. (Smith) and Gail Peyton Woods, a U.S. Army intelligence officer who tragically passed away during James' childhood.
He grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island, with his mother and stepfather Thomas E. Dixon, and is of Irish, English, and German descent.
James graduated from Pilgrim High School in 1965, near the top of his class, and earned a scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
However, he dropped out during his senior year in 1969 to pursue his passion for the stage, along with his fraternity brother Martin Donovan, in New York City.
Woods' early film career consisted of small roles in productions such as All the Way Home (1971),The Way We Were (1973),and The Choirboys (1977).
It was his chilling performance as a cop killer in The Onion Field (1979),based on a Joseph Wambaugh novel, that showcased his on-screen power and earned him recognition.
He continued to impress audiences with his versatility, taking on roles in films such as The Black Marble (1980),Videodrome (1983),Once Upon a Time in America (1984),and Salvador (1986),for which he received a best actor Academy Award nomination.
The 1990s saw Woods' rise to stardom, with standout performances in productions such as Citizen Cohn (1992),Casino (1995),Nixon (1995),Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995),and Ghosts of Mississippi (1996).
In addition to his live-action work, Woods has also lent his voice to several animated productions, including Hercules (1997),Hooves of Fire (1998),and Stuart Little 2 (2002).
He has further expanded his range to encompass a wide variety of roles, including dramatic performances in The Virgin Suicides (1999),Riding in Cars with Boys (2001),and Any Given Sunday (1999),as well as comedic appearances in Scary Movie 2 (2001).
Throughout his illustrious career, James Howard Woods has consistently demonstrated his remarkable talent and versatility, earning him the reputation as one of Hollywood's most outstanding leading men.
