Steve James(1952-1993)

Actor
Stunts
Writer

A man newly trained in the martial arts must save his trainer from experimentation.

Play trailer1:41

American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (1989)

Steve James was often cast in action movies as the hero's sidekick, despite usually being a better actor and fighter than the star. James was raised in New York City, attended C.W. Post College as an Arts and Film major, and upon graduating, became involved in stage work and TV commercials. He started in film as a stuntman, working in such New York productions as Ghostbusters, The Wiz, The Warriors, and The Wanderers. His first major film role was as Robert Ginty's sidekick in The Exterminator; he later played sidekick to such stars as Michael Dudikoff (3 times), David Carradine, and Chuck Norris. His last 2 films were the pilot for the TV series "M.A.N.T.I.S." which aired on the Fox network just a few weeks after his death at age 41 of pancreatic cancer and "Bloodfist V: Human Target" with Don "The Dragon" Wilson which premiered after Steve's death.

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Photos12

+ 6

Known for

To Live and Die in L.A.

7.3

Jeff Rice

1985

The Warriors

7.5

Baseball Fury(as Steven James)

1979

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

6.6

Kung Fu Joe

1988

Đằng Sau Chiến Tuyến

5.0

Sgt. Johnston

1986

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

M.A.N.T.I.S.
5.7
TV Movie
- Antoine Pike
- 1994
Bloodfist V: Human Target
5.0
Video
- Marcus
- Drew Washington
- 1994
Weekend at Bernie's II
4.8
- Henry
- 1993
Raven
7.3
TV Series
- Paul Dodson (uncredited)
- 1993
The Player
7.5
- Steve James
- 1992
McBain
4.8
- Eastland
- 1991
Hammer, Slammer, & Slade
6.3
TV Movie
- Kung Fu Joe
- 1990
Street Hunter
5.0
- Logan Blade
- 1990
Mister Johnson
6.4
- Aliu
- 1990
Pee-wee's Playhouse
8.1
TV Series
- Derek (as Steven James)
- 1989
Riverbend
5.9
- Maj. Samuel Quentin
- 1989
American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt
3.7
- Curtis Jackson
- 1989
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
6.6
- Kung Fu Joe
- 1988
Hero and the Terror
5.2
- Robinson
- 1988
C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf
4.2
TV Movie
- Bud Raines
- 1988

Stunts

The Atlanta Child Murders
6.7
TV Mini Series
- stunt driver
- 1985
The Brother from Another Planet
6.7
- stunt coordinator
- 1984
Hanky Panky
5.6
- stunts
- 1982
Fighting Back
6.0
- stunt player
- 1982
Ragtime
7.3
- stunts (uncredited)
- 1981
Wolfen
6.3
- stunts
- 1981
Fort Apache the Bronx
6.7
- stunts (uncredited)
- 1981
He Knows You're Alone
5.0
- stunts (uncredited)
- 1980
Sát Thủ Bí Ẩn
7.1
- stunts (uncredited)
- 1980
The Wanderers
7.3
- stunts (uncredited)
- 1979
Oliver's Story
4.7
- stunts (uncredited)
- 1978
The Wiz
5.6
- stunts (uncredited)
- 1978
The Education of Sonny Carson
6.8
- stunts (uncredited)
- 1974

Writer

Videos7

To Live and Die in L.A.

Personal details

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Official site
- Facebook
Alternative names
- Steve W. James
Height
- 1.85 m
Born
- February 19, 1952
- New York City, New York, USA
Died
- December 18, 1993
- Burbank, California, USA(pancreatic cancer)
Spouses
Other works
(February 2 to March 23, 1975) He acted in the musical revue, "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris," at the Actors Theatre of Louisville (Mainstage) in Louisville, Kentucky with David Canary, Andrea Levine and Teri Ralston in the cast. Teri Ralston was also director. Jacques Brel was composer.
Publicity listings
- 3 Articles

Did you know

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Trivia
Eulogies at James's memorial were delivered by the legendary Sidney Poitier (for whom Steve's wife worked), his father Hubie James, his wife Christine Pan James, and his best friend John A. Gallagher...and by fellow martial arts-actor Michael Dudikoff, with whom James co-starred in "Avenging Force" and the "American Ninja" series, and who also served as one of Steve's pallbearers.

Quotes
I don't like getting beat up much in films, but Jackie [Chan] could beat me up anytime. My first influence was Bruce Lee, and then I saw Jackie afterwards, and it was entirely different. When people ask me who I think is the best action star, I don't say Stallone, I don't say Schwarzenegger, I say Jackie. He's my influence, I learn from him, that's why I'm here.