Joe James

Joe James aka Joseph H. James, Jr. is an award winning actor, producer, director and writer. The acting bug bit Joe at an early age. At the age of thirteen he starred in his first two-act play. Before realizing he wanted to be an actor, Joe first ambition came from the late and great Arthur Ashe. At the tender age of six, he wanted to follow in Ashe’s footsteps and become a professional tennis player. This dream stayed with him all the way through his senior year in high school. Tennis camps, coaches, high school tennis, district and regional tennis tournaments were a part of his life. He juggled both dreams of playing tennis and acting. While in his late teens, he won the role of the prodigal son in CBN’s production of “God’s Trombones” that lead him to a two-year contract on the CBN’s soap opera “Another Life.” He won fans from all around the world playing the juvenile delinquent and mischievous Monroe “Monk” Lassiter. He has worked in film, television, commercials, stage and as a successful print model. Some of his favorite roles were playing Gordon’s father on “Sesame Street”, drug kingpin Larry Hoover in the “Prosecutors”, various roles on ABC and CBS soaps and his critically acclaimed performance as his hero Arthur Ashe in the award winning labor of love docudrama “Arthur! A Celebration of Life,” which he also produced, wrote and directed. In addition, he produced the full-scale soundtrack to “Arthur!” lead by 15-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys. Joe wrote the screenplay “Soul Baby” back in 2002 and shopped it around before deciding to adapt it into a novel. He’s written the television pilot for “Soul Baby” as well as spearheaded several other projects. His screenplay “Truest of Friends” will impact theaters soon. He and his writing partner David Allensworth adapted playwright Terrance Afer-Anderson’s play “The Fifth” into a screenplay. Joe and David also have several other projects that they have created including the innovative short film “Hope’s Portal” and a trivia game called “Flashback Trivia” for the iPhone and iPad. Joe is currently working on the book and lyrics for a Broadway bound musical. He co-produced the award-winning short film “Alienated,” starring Vincent Pastore with Pavaline Studios and wrote the television pilot for “Alienated” with Douglas Gilbert. He has partnered with Pavaline Studios to create and contribute several reality television programs that are being pitched to the networks. Original website: