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Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

40

Gender

Male

Birthday

1960-05-30 (65 years old)

Place of Birth

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Also Known As

James Robert McGowan

James McGowan

Biography

James Robert McGowan was born on May 30, 1960, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. James is the youngest of three sons of Johnny McGowan a former light heavyweight boxer from Northern England. James grew up on the West Island in Montreal. He graduated from Concordia University with a B.A. in Communications. After graduation he took a job as a copy writer at an advertising agency rather than pursue an acting career as he did not believe he could make a living acting. He then took in the audio-visual department of McGill University. While there he got in touch with a friend who was directing plays at the Montreal university expecting to pursue acting as a hobby. He started out slowly doing student plays at the William Shatner Building. He loved it so much he decided to pursue it as a profession. It wasn't easy breaking into television in Toronto given his age (36) at the time as he was going up against other actors with lengthier resumes. It was hard at first to get auditions. He started out with guest spots in television shows such as the La Femme Nikita, Mutant-X, Falcon Beach, and Rent-a-Goalie. James also had minor roles in movies such as The Perfect Man with Heather Locklear, The Prince and Me with Julie Stiles, and Silent Night with Linda Hamilton. He has had success with two successful television ads. The first ad was entitled Doctor's Appointment and addressed the serious problem of erectile dysfunction. The ad was run continuously throughout the 2001 NHL Finals. The second ad was entitled The Deal and was for Verizon Wireless. One of his first big parts was a role in the TV movie 10,000 Black Men Named George. The 2002 film helped James find more work but he did not find substantial work until he auditioned for the CBC drama The Border. He had sent in an audition tape but had not heard back. He went to Winnipeg to film a guest part on the TV series Falcon Beach. While he was in Winnipeg, his agent contacted him and told him the show's casting directors wanted to meet with him. A second day of callbacks was added and he was able to return to Toronto in time. No one had heard of James but according to Peter Raymont, the co-creator of the show, James brought just the right degree of intelligence, compassion and authority to the character. While the producers were sure that James was right for the part, the network wasn't so sure. One of his biggest credits to that point was playing the goon in the Verizon Wireless commercial. His peers obviously approve of the portrayal. James received a Gemini nomination as outstanding actor in a drama. - IMDb Mini Biography

Known For

Acting

The Right Way

2004

The Right Way

as

Dad

Stage Fright

2014

Stage Fright

as

Victor Brady

Fixation

2022

Fixation

as

Warriors of Terra

2006

Warriors of Terra

as

Peter Isaacs

Compulsion

2013

Compulsion

as

Bob

Savage Planet

2007

Savage Planet

as

John Stotzer

Silent Night

2002

Silent Night

as

Capt. Dietrich

Lies and Crimes

2007

Lies and Crimes

as

Charlie Danzinger

On Their Knees

2001

On Their Knees

as

Bartender

Scent of Danger

2002

Scent of Danger

as

Gideon

Total Recall

2012

Total Recall

as

Military Adjutant

Suicide Squad

2016

Suicide Squad

as

Panda Man

Pyewacket

2017

Pyewacket

as

Rowen Dove

Christie's Revenge

2007

Christie's Revenge

as

Richard Colton

The Perfect Man

2005

The Perfect Man

as

Jean's Suitor

The Toll

2020

The Toll

as

Neil

The Prince & Me

2004

The Prince & Me

as

Photographer

Perfect

2003

Perfect

as

Michael

DC 9/11: Time of Crisis

2003

DC 9/11: Time of Crisis

as

Michael Gerson

The Border

The Border

as

Major Mike Kessler

Against the Wall

Against the Wall

as

Bob Barceli

Tilt

Tilt

as

WSOP Tournament Host

Tracker

Tracker

as

Bradford Kotan

Mayday

Mayday

as

Captain Ed Gannaway

Killer Wave

Killer Wave

as

Reporter Erik Adjuk

Transporter: The Series

Transporter: The Series

as

Ian O'Sullivan

Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye

Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye

as

Gordon, The Sniper

Republic of Doyle

Republic of Doyle

as

Damon Rhodes

Mutant X

Mutant X

as

Dr. Richard Haines

Good Witch

Good Witch

as

Mr. Jones

Production

Crew

Directing