James served in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer and then as a Staff Sergeant in the Army Special Forces as a Green Beret. He then went into Law Enforcement where he won multiple awards for Service, Bravery, Honor, multiple Purple Hearts, and the Medal of Valor. He served both as an undercover agent and in uniform where he obtained the rank of Chief of Police. He was inducted into the American Police Hall of Fame in Miami Florida. On August 2, 2001 James was Knighted by the Venerable Order of the Knights of Michael The Arch Angel. He holds Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do, and is a Master in American Free-style Karate. James became an actor in 2011. He has acted for film, theater, TV, web, and commercials. 

"I've seen James around a few times, and I try to go to as many indie film functions as I can. One night at the Southern Ohio Film Association monthly meeting, I went up to him had a nice chat about why we each seemed familiar to each other, that we'd met briefly before. I talked with him a little about Zelda and about another fantasy project he was doing, and before I left that night I had offered him the part. This guy has all the natural charisma you'd want from a respectable knight. The part is small, but it's important, and I think James is the absolute perfect person for the job."

--Stephonika W. Kaye