James Hendricks, born in 1949, began his journey in the entertainment industry in the late 1970s as a Disc Jockey at a radio station in Junction City, Kansas.
Working the late-night shift from 8pm to 2am, Hendricks created the character Uncle Willie, a persona that would later influence his future roles.
However, in 1981, the radio station underwent changes, and Hendricks' DJ job came to an end.
Undeterred, he relocated to New York City in search of new opportunities, eventually landing a job as a taxi driver from 1982 to 1984.
During his time as a cabbie, Hendricks continued to audition for various roles, and in 1984, he landed a part on the USA Cable Network's show presenting old science fiction and horror movies.
Initially, Hendricks wanted to reprise his character Uncle Willie, but management requested a superhero host instead.
Thus, Commander USA was born, with Hendricks adopting the persona's trench coat, cigar, mannerisms, and speech patterns, all reminiscent of his beloved Uncle Willie.
Commander USA's Groovie Movies premiered on January 5, 1985, and ran until 1989, with clips from the show appearing in films like The Color of Money (1986) and Scrooged (1988).
After the show's cancellation, Hendricks struggled to find consistent work, landing only a handful of bit parts in TV and film.
In the early 1990s, he appeared in a TV commercial for The Wiz electronics retail outlet, playing a warehouse foreman, a role his fans still remember.
Hendricks' last film credit was in The Hungry Ghosts (2009),and he continued to work in theater, taking on small parts in plays like "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" at a dinner theater.
James Hendricks passed away on March 17, 2018, at the age of 69, still residing in New York City, leaving behind a legacy as the beloved Commander USA and Uncle Willie.
