Biography james wood

1. Biography of James Woods
2. Early Life
3. Early Career
4. Acting Career
5. Later Career

Biography of James Woods

James Woods, a popular actor and recipient of prestigious awards such as the Golden Globe and Emmy, is known to the public primarily for his roles as negative characters. Throughout his career in film and television, Woods has gained a reputation as a 'cool Hollywood villain,' but he has never been considered an actor of one role or one character.

Early Life

James Howard Woods was born on April 18, 1947, in Vernal, Utah, USA. His father, Gail Peyton Woods, was a military man who raised his sons (James had a younger brother, Michael Jeffrey Woods) with strictness, instilling discipline and obedience from an early age. When James was 13 and Michael was only 3, their father died while participating in a planned operation. As a result of Gail Peyton Woods' strict upbringing, James developed insecurity, introversion, and constant fears. However, there was also another side to the coin, which manifested in Woods' academic achievements. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to study political science. However, during his time there, James realized that politics was not his path and decided to try himself in the creative profession of acting.

Early Career

While studying at MIT, Woods became an active member of the student theater troupe Dramashop, where he not only acted but also directed plays. After leaving MIT, Woods joined the Boston Theater Company, where he dedicated himself fully to his acting craft. Woods considers Tim Affleck (the father of popular actors Ben and Casey Affleck), who worked as a director at the Boston Theater Company during Woods' training, as his inspiration and mentor. James appeared in 36 productions before making his Broadway debut in 1970 at the Lyceum Theatre, which is part of the world-renowned Broadway theater, in a play by Frank McMahon called 'Borstal Boy'. His next Broadway work was in the play 'The Trial of The Catonsville Nine' (1971), followed by a role in 'Moonchildren' at the Arena Stage in Washington (1971). For his role in 'Moonchildren,' which he reprised on Broadway in 1972, Woods received the Theatre World Awards.

Acting Career

However, Woods did not want to limit himself to just theater, and from 1971, he began to explore television and the big screen. His first work outside of theater was in the TV movie 'All The Way Home,' which did not bring him fame in the film industry. However, his next project, the crime drama 'The Visitors' (1972), in which Woods played one of the main roles, received positive reviews from critics and audiences and was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

James Woods appeared in films and TV shows almost every year. Some were successful, while others were not, but in 1979, he had his first breakthrough in his career. The film 'The Onion Field' was released, in which Woods portrayed the sadistic murderer Gregory Powell. His performance was so convincing that he received a nomination for a Golden Globe for 'Best Actor,' as well as nominations from the National Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle. He also won the Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for 'Best Supporting Actor.'

In Hollywood, a new star was born, but no one knew yet that James Woods would stake his claim as the archetype of a cinematic villain for years to come. The year 1980 was successful for the actor not only professionally but also personally, as Woods married costume designer Kathryn Morrison. However, their marriage did not last long, and they divorced in 1983.

Later Career

James Woods experienced another triumph in his career when he turned 40. In 1987, he received nominations for three prestigious film awards - the Emmy, Golden Globe, and Academy Awards. He won the Emmy and Golden Globe for 'Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Television Film' for the movie 'Promise' (1986). Although he did not win the Oscar for his brilliant portrayal of reporter Richard Boyle in Oliver Stone's war drama 'Salvador' (1986), the fact that he was nominated for these awards speaks to his high level of skill and the love he receives from the public, critics, and film experts.

James got married for the second and final time in 1989. His chosen one was his colleague Sarah Owen, but their relationship ended even quicker than his first marriage, as they divorced a year later. Besides acting, Woods is passionate about video games and poker. He sees poker not just as a hobby but as a serious endeavor, participating in many poker tournaments where he demonstrates excellent results.

In 2017, James Woods celebrated his 70th birthday. In 2016, he ventured into voice acting, and his voice can be heard in the animated series 'Justice League.'

James Woods' iconic villainous roles in films such as 'The Onion Field,' 'Videodrome' (1982), 'Once Upon a Time in America' (1983), 'Best Seller' (1987), 'Chaplin' (1992), 'Nixon' (1995), 'White House Down' (2013), and many others are unlikely to be forgotten.