A graduate of Fenelon Falls Secondary School, James earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Windsor. Since then, he has been a professional actor in theatre, film and television for over 30 years. With The Stage Co. James acted in ‘Chains of Justice’ the first show at The Kings Warf Theatre in Penetanguishene. He starred in ‘Biloxi Blues’ at Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon, ‘Written, Directed, Starring’ in 1993 at the Toronto Fringe, ‘Bordertown Café’, as well as ‘Peggy Grace’ at Kawartha Summer Theatre for two years and the former Red Barn Theatre. James was a founder of JEM Theatre in 1995, where he co-wrote, co-produced and starred in ‘MINE’ in 1996, touring it for several years across Canada, including being invited to do it on the 6th anniversary of the explosion in Halifax. The play was remounted and performed at Globus Theatre in 2012. With JEM, James also toured ‘Jackpot!’ throughout the Fringe circuit in 1997. On film and television, he had roles in ‘Missing Treasures’ (1991), ‘Codename Eternity’ (2000), ‘Amazon’, ‘D.C.’, ‘Twice in a Lifetime’ (2000), ‘Knockaround Guys’ (2001), ‘Welcome to Mooseport’ (2004) and ‘The Eleventh Hour’ (2005).

In 2003, he and Sarah Quick created Globus Theatre which is now in its 18th year of summer theatre. With Globus, James has performed in over 40 productions including ‘Blithe Spirit’, ‘The Foursome’, ‘Home to Roost’, ‘Here on the Flight Path’, ‘The Motor Trade’, ‘Art’, ‘It Had To Be You’, ‘Storm Warning’, ‘I Ought to be in Pictures’, ‘No Tell Motel’, ‘Buying the Moose’ ‘Funny Farmers’, ‘Real Estate’, ‘Raising the Barn’, ‘Lunenburg’, and ‘Sugar Road’. He has acted and directed in 7 world premieres including ‘Having Relations’, ‘Sunshine Express’, ‘Knickers’, ‘Do You Take this Man’, ‘Making a Move’, ‘That’s A’more’ and ‘Kama Sutra.’ He is also known for starring in their annual holiday pantomime as one of many comedic Dames. In 2017, James directed ‘Stones in his Pockets’ by The Irish Stage Company at the Alumnae Theatre in Toronto, which was seen by the world-renowned Colm Wilkinson and later remounted at Globus Theatre in 2018. He has directed a number of works including ‘Fanny Hill’, ‘April in Paris’, ‘Billy Bishop Goes to War’, ‘B4 & After’, ‘The Woman In Black’, ‘Glorious!’, ‘The 39 Steps’, ‘Harvest’, ‘Til it Hurts’, ‘The Men Commandments’, ‘The Mysterious Mr. Love’, ‘Halfway There’ and ‘Murder for Two.’

Along with being an accomplished actor and director, James has sat on several committees within the theatre and rural community. He was the Treasurer of the Ontario Summer Theatre Association, a member of the Board of Directors for RTO8, sat on the Tourism Advisory Board for the Kawartha Lakes, and was the Vice President of the Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce. When the City of Kawartha Lakes became a premier tourism and culture location, James was a part of Arts and Culture Steering Committee resulting in a 5-year strategic plan for the City of Kawartha Lakes, and the creation of the Kawartha Lakes Arts Council. James was a founding member of the Community Foundation of the City of Kawartha Lakes.