James McDaniel’s career has spanned over three decades. He is a veteran of more than a hundred theater pieces. Most notably CJ in A Soldiers play, Before it Hits Home–for which he won the Obie award–and Six Degrees of Separation, originating the role of “Paul”; the charming, chameleon like con-man (Clarence Derwent award). He appeared on Broadway and London’s West end in the three character play Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me opposite Stephen Rhea and Sir Alec McCowan. James has also worked consistently in film and television. From his early days on Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law to mini-series such as Alex Haley’s Queen and Steven Spielberg’s Taken. Films such as John Sayles’ Sunshine state, Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, and The Road to Galveston opposite Cicely Tyson. He received an Emmy and Peabody award for his work in Edge of America (a film he produced and starred in), and another Peabody and Screen actor’s Guild award for his role as Lt. Arthur Fancy on the legendary ABC show NYPD Blue.
James has returned to the stage in New York, and recently finished a successful run of an adaptation of Carson McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. And a new play by the Pulitzer prize winning author Suzan-Lori Parks Father Comes Home from the wars. Last season James starred as detective Jessie Longford in the abc series Detroit 187