"I want to be like a rock star, I want to be a sex symbol. And it’s not because I want to be surrounded by screaming women. But I want people to believe that you can still be sexy with different physicalities. It’s so important. I look at rock stars as the most expressive people going. They go out there and do a show that’s incredibly expressive; they’re singing their songs and they’re moving around and they’re dancing. But then they’re also known for trashing hotel rooms or getting into some sort of trouble. There’s this thing about the rock star. And I want people to be able to associate that freedom to express with disability, and for artists with disabilities not to be afraid to say, No, I want this. This is how I need it and this is how I want it, and this is not a special request, this is reality."
James explored careers in music, modelling and comedy before being accepted into the acting program of the Douglas College School for the Contemporary Arts in the fall of 1989. After three semesters, James broke his neck in a diving accident, resulting in a spinal cord injury that left him quadriplegic. He spent one year in a hospital and rehabilitation centre adjusting to his injury.
James returned to Douglas College to complete the program, and then graduated in the spring of 1992. Despite several physical complications, he was determined to continue his acting pursuits. In the fall of the same year, James was accepted into Simon Fraser University’s School for the Contemporary Arts in the Bachelor of Fine Arts Theatre Program. James wrote, directed and acted for several productions in SFU’s student-produced Black Box Theatre. James graduated as Valedictorian for the Arts in 1998.
James’ professional debut came in episodic television, playing Ralphie on ABC’s The Commish. Notable actors he has worked with in his ten productions for the camera include Jonathon Silverman, Louis Gosset Jr. and Ally Sheedy. His latest television credit is for The Chris Isaak Show. James had his most recent theatrical performance, Invisible Love, staged at kickstART! He is currently staging a play and developing a comedy for television.
“There are some days when I just wanna say, ‘Screw it’ and get trained as a computer tech or something that’s really tangible, where there’s a start to the program and an end to the program. So I have to decide why I am doing this, right? I think the long-term objective of getting the image of disability out there is worthy, and if I can keep my spirits up and plug away at it, the pay-off will be huge.”