Hawthorne James

Hawthorne James is an American character actor and director. He is best known for his role as Big Red Davis in the 1991 film The Five Heartbeats. James has also appeared in popular films such as Speed, Seven, and Patty Hearst. On television, he has made guest appearances on shows like NYPD Blue and Frasier. James was born as James Hawthorne in Chicago, Illinois. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Theater from the University of Notre Dame and a master's degree from the University of Michigan. Before pursuing his acting career, he taught Theater at Illinois State University. James showcased his talent in the funeral scene of Jimmy Potter in The Five Heartbeats, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare's Richard III.