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IMDbPro

James MacDonald(I)

  • Actor
  • Director
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
James MacDonald
Watch Recent TV Reel
Play demo reel6:51
Recent TV Reel
3 Videos
26 Photos
A fellow actor once told James that he would "be the last man standing." Prophetically, that has come to pass...

As an actor working in film, TV, and theatre (on and off-Broadway), James Macdonald's distinguished career has spanned over thirty-five years. Starting with his debut performance as a young actor appearing with Jennifer Jason Leigh in Uli Edel's "Last Exit to Brooklyn," he has shared the big screen with some of Hollywood's heaviest hitters, including Harrison Ford, Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel, Tommy Lee Jones, Niecy Nash, Dennis Quaid, Josh Hutcherson, Josh Harnett, Rosario Dawson, and John Travolta, Mahershala Ali, Stephen Dorf, to name just a few.

He has worked with legendary directors such as John Woo, Clint Eastwood, Spike Lee, Joel Schumacher, Lisa Cholodenko, Irwin Winkler and Nic Pizzolatto in varying and diverse types of roles across the genres of comedy, drama, thriller, horror, and science fiction. From his portrayal as the iconic character of porn star/poet Garth in "Sex and the City" to Dwight Yoakum's bumbling sidekick in "Hollywood Homicide" to the sadistic drill sergeant in "Tigerland" and the cocky small-town cop in "Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D" (who has his face torn off), James has utilized his chameleon-like acting skills to convince audiences of those characters' pathos, authenticity, and humor. (He still receives fan mail for his portrayal of naive, young Captain Wainwright in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine")

James also writes and directs. Among his many accolades is Best Director, Screenplay, and Short Film awards for his film "Heavy Lifting," a Garland Award for creating the lead role of F.W. Murnau in the groundbreaking L.A. theatre company Zoo District's production of Nosferatu, and Best Lead Actor award at Hollywood's FirstGlance Film Festival for the indie film "Fissure."

In his free time, James works with the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated teaching writing and acting workshops. You can also find him roaming the varied and colorful neighborhoods of Los Angeles with his vintage Pentax K1000 film camera.

For more information about James, visit his website at JamesMacdonald.biz.
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    Known for

    Volcano (1997)
    Volcano
    5.6
    • Terry Jasper(as James G. MacDonald)
    • 1997
    Christian Slater and John Travolta in Broken Arrow (1996)
    Broken Arrow
    6.1
    • Park Ranger Baker(as James G. MacDonald)
    • 1996
    Colin Farrell in Tigerland (2000)
    Tigerland
    6.9
    • Staff Sgt. Thomas(as James McDonald)
    • 2000
    Steve Zahn, Leelee Sobieski, and Paul Walker in Une virée en enfer (2001)
    Une virée en enfer
    6.6
    • Local in Nebraska Bar
    • 2001

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actor



    • All Rise (2019)
      All Rise
      7.1
      TV Series
      • Judge Ken Maples
      • 2023
    • The Drop Off (2023)
      The Drop Off
      Short
      • Dad
      • 2023
    • Meg Donnelly and Drake Rodger in The Winchesters (2022)
      The Winchesters
      6.2
      TV Series
      • Jimmy Mixon
      • Nato
      • 2022
    • The Rookie : Le flic de Los Angeles (2018)
      The Rookie : Le flic de Los Angeles
      8.0
      TV Series
      • FBI Driving Instructor
      • 2022
    • David Eigenberg, Hanako Greensmith, Taylor Kinney, Joe Minoso, Miranda Rae Mayo, and Jocelyn Hudon in Chicago Fire (2012)
      Chicago Fire
      8.0
      TV Series
      • Assistant Deputy Commissioner Adam Perry
      • 2021
    • Finola Hughes, Maurice Benard, Steve Burton, Genie Francis, Kelly Monaco, Laura Wright, Donnell Turner, Tanisha Harper, Josh Kelly, Eden McCoy, Josh Swickard, and Tabyana Ali in Hôpital central (1963)
      Hôpital central
      6.6
      TV Series
      • Agent Edward Caldwell
      • 2019
    • Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in True Detective (2014)
      True Detective
      8.9
      TV Series
      • Major Blevins
      • 2019
    • Wilmer Valderrama, Rocky Carroll, Gary Cole, Katrina Law, Sean Murray, Brian Dietzen, and Diona Reasonover in NCIS : Enquêtes spéciales (2003)
      NCIS : Enquêtes spéciales
      7.8
      TV Series
      • Admiral Norton Padgett
      • Captain Faul
      • 2003–2018
    • American Horror Story (2011)
      American Horror Story
      7.9
      TV Series
      • The Horn
      • 2018
    • Sweet/Vicious (2016)
      Sweet/Vicious
      7.8
      TV Series
      • Officer Ballard
      • 2016–2017
    • What If He Wins (2016)
      What If He Wins
      • Craig
      • 2016
    • Scott Bakula in NCIS : Nouvelle-Orléans (2014)
      NCIS : Nouvelle-Orléans
      6.8
      TV Series
      • Navy Captain Tom Garrett
      • 2015
    • Lou Diamond Phillips, Katee Sackhoff, Robert Taylor, Cassidy Freeman, and Adam Bartley in Longmire (2012)
      Longmire
      8.3
      TV Series
      • Randolph Hale
      • 2015
    • Little Boy (2015)
      Little Boy
      7.3
      • Recruitment Sergeant
      • 2015
    • Battle Creek (2015)
      Battle Creek
      7.2
      TV Series
      • Stevie Venson
      • 2015

    Director



    • Heavy Lifting (2010)
      Heavy Lifting
      Short
      • Director
      • 2010

    Writer



    • The Drop Off (2023)
      The Drop Off
      Short
      • Writer
      • 2023
    • What If He Wins (2016)
      What If He Wins
      • Writer
      • 2016
    • Heavy Lifting (2010)
      Heavy Lifting
      Short
      • Writer
      • 2010

    Videos3

    James Macdonald Film TV Reel
    Demo Reel 8:18
    James Macdonald Film TV Reel
    Recent TV Reel
    Demo Reel 6:51
    Recent TV Reel
    Recent TV Reel
    Demo Reel 6:51
    Recent TV Reel
    Fissure Trailer
    Trailer 2:01
    Fissure Trailer

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Alternative names
      • James G. MacDonald
    • Born
      • Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, USA
    • Other works
      (March 1 to April 8, 1989) He played a Skinhead, Farrell, Philips, Savage and Father in Steven Dietz's play, "God's Country," in a Humana Festival production at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky with Jonathan Davison (Boy); Lizbeth Mackay (Mueller); Christopher Wells (Denver Parmenter, Robert Jay Matthews); Andy Backer (David Lane, Halprin); Jonathan Fried (Patrick Connor, Alan Berg, Ruark); David LIttle (Mister Jones, Farmer, Chappel, Peter Lake, Mister Smith): Bob Morrisey (Bruce Pierce, Elliott, Ward, Randall Rader); Edward James Hyland (Gary Lee Yarbrough, Zillah Craig, Student); Joanne Manley (Anath White, Judith Berg) and Mary Boucher (Leatherman) in the cast. Steven Dietz was also director.

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      James is related to the 23rd U.S. President Benjamin Harrison.

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