Anthony James, veteran character actor known for his villainous roles in films like Unforgiven and In The Heat of the Night , has passed away. He was 77.
Born as James Anthony on July 22, 1942, in Myrtle Beach, Carolina as the only child of Greek immigrants, James was encouraged by his mother Marika Palla – whom he considered his hero – to pursue his dreams of acting. The actor wrote the memoir Acting My Face , in honor of his mother, after her death in 2008.
The actor’s very first movie role as Ralph in the 1967 movie In the Heat of the Night, which won the Best Picture Oscar, instantly got him noticed by the rest of Hollywood. James would then go on to shine on television shows like Gunsmoke, Hawaii Five-O, The A-Team, Simon & Simon, and Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as appearing in films like Burnt Offerings and Blue Thunder, also memorably spoofing the types of villains he typically portrayed in the 1991 comedy The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear.Â
In 1992, James retired from acting following his performance as Skinny Dubois in the hit Western Unforgiven, starring alongside Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, and Morgan Freeman. Perfectly bookending his career, Unforgiven also managed to win the Oscar for Best Picture much like James’ first movie. Following his acting run, James relocated to the Boston area and spent the rest of his days as an artist; painting abstract artwork and writing poetry.
Never married and with no children, James who lost his battle with cancer , is survived by the many friends he has crossed paths with throughout his life. Some have since begun planting trees in memory of James with those close to the actor now mourning his loss. Those looking to make charitable donations in his memory can give to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
May he rest in peace.