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FATHER GEEK salutes the replicant LEON, aka BRION JAMES!
Yet again ol FATHER GEEK is here to write about the passing of an all too familiar face.
BRION JAMES, born in 1945 in Beaumont, California (your writer was born in 1945 in
Beaumont, Texas), who played the scoundrel in a long chain of successful Hollywood
shockers has died way too soon at the age of 54. Brion, who characterized evil incarnate
as the blood-thirsty replicant Leon in persuit of Harrison Ford in "Blade Runner" and
greed personified as a self-serving studio honcho in "The Player", suffered a fatal heart
attack at his home in Malibu this past week.
James, who had emerged into the public pop culture consciousness through hard
work in around a 100 motion pictures since the 70s, had most often played a bad guy and
sadly many of his films were relegated to the obscurity of the video rental shelves of
America’s suburban strip malls without ever gracing a theater screen. However, James was
a versatile actor whose 1992 role in Robert Altman's "The Player", starring Tim Robbins,
helped him break out of the oblivion of his smaller roles. Although he was relatively
famous for his chiller-villainesque parts, he was actually an actor who had a broad range of
talent that was far too often not utilized correctly by the people incharge of his career. He
handled comedy very well in films like “Silverado”, "Cabin Boy", and “The Wrong Guys”. One of FATHER
GEEKS favorite characters created by Brion was that of the laughable redneck mob leader in the
Amazing Stories TV episode “Mummy Dearest” where he uttered the unforgettable line,
“Hanging’s for everybody!”
His big screen credits include a role in Luc Besson's science fiction adventure "The Fifth
Element", starring Bruce Willis (1997), "Tango & Cash”(89), “Red Heat”(88),
“DOA”(88), “Dead Man Out”(87), “The Postman Always Rings Twice”(81), “KISS
Meets the Phantom of the Park”(78), “Southern Comfort”, “Enemy Mine”, and several
other movies that were under the guidance of explotation director and close friend Philippe Mora, including ``A Breed Apart'' with Kathleen
Turner (1984) and a hilarious comic turn in ``Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills”
which he also produced. He also appeared with Nolte and Murphy in the action
crime-comedy films ``48 Hours'' (1982) and ``Another 48 Hours'' (1990).
``This is the first sequel I've ever been in because I rarely live througha film,'' he
facetiously told the L A Times about his part in the the second of the highly successful
films. ``I've been boiled in oil; I've had my head ripped off by a freeway overpass; I've
been thrown off a cliff. ... I've killed a lot of people, too.''
Brion did tons of Television work also, including roles on “Highlander”,
“Millennium”, “The Magnificent Seven”, “M.A.N.T.I.S.”, “Tales from the Crypt”, and
several appearances on “Chips”. He did voice work in animation also. Like in the “Spawn”
TV series, the “Feeding Time” episode of Superman, and the “Joker’s Wild” episode of
Batman.
In most fans minds, however, he is best remembered as the nervous replicant Leon,
who issued forth the chilling line: "Wake up ... time to die" in the futuristic detective
thriller "Blade Runner" . To many of us that's one of the most memorable moments in
sci-fi filmdom. Farewell, Brion; your fans are going to really miss you. I know that the Knowles
household and the Headquarter's staff of AICN will for sure!
work in around a 100 motion pictures since the 70s, had most often played a bad guy and
sadly many of his films were relegated to the obscurity of the video rental shelves of
America’s suburban strip malls without ever gracing a theater screen. However, James was
a versatile actor whose 1992 role in Robert Altman's "The Player", starring Tim Robbins,
helped him break out of the oblivion of his smaller roles. Although he was relatively
famous for his chiller-villainesque parts, he was actually an actor who had a broad range of
talent that was far too often not utilized correctly by the people incharge of his career. He
handled comedy very well in films like “Silverado”, "Cabin Boy", and “The Wrong Guys”. One of FATHER
GEEKS favorite characters created by Brion was that of the laughable redneck mob leader in the
Amazing Stories TV episode “Mummy Dearest” where he uttered the unforgettable line,
“Hanging’s for everybody!”
His big screen credits include a role in Luc Besson's science fiction adventure "The Fifth
Element", starring Bruce Willis (1997), "Tango & Cash”(89), “Red Heat”(88),
“DOA”(88), “Dead Man Out”(87), “The Postman Always Rings Twice”(81), “KISS
Meets the Phantom of the Park”(78), “Southern Comfort”, “Enemy Mine”, and several
other movies that were under the guidance of explotation director and close friend Philippe Mora, including ``A Breed Apart'' with Kathleen
Turner (1984) and a hilarious comic turn in ``Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills”
which he also produced. He also appeared with Nolte and Murphy in the action
crime-comedy films ``48 Hours'' (1982) and ``Another 48 Hours'' (1990).
``This is the first sequel I've ever been in because I rarely live througha film,'' he
facetiously told the L A Times about his part in the the second of the highly successful
films. ``I've been boiled in oil; I've had my head ripped off by a freeway overpass; I've
been thrown off a cliff. ... I've killed a lot of people, too.''
Brion did tons of Television work also, including roles on “Highlander”,
“Millennium”, “The Magnificent Seven”, “M.A.N.T.I.S.”, “Tales from the Crypt”, and
several appearances on “Chips”. He did voice work in animation also. Like in the “Spawn”
TV series, the “Feeding Time” episode of Superman, and the “Joker’s Wild” episode of
Batman.
In most fans minds, however, he is best remembered as the nervous replicant Leon,
who issued forth the chilling line: "Wake up ... time to die" in the futuristic detective
thriller "Blade Runner" . To many of us that's one of the most memorable moments in
sci-fi filmdom. Farewell, Brion; your fans are going to really miss you. I know that the Knowles
household and the Headquarter's staff of AICN will for sure!
facetiously told the L A Times about his part in the the second of the highly successful
films. ``I've been boiled in oil; I've had my head ripped off by a freeway overpass; I've
been thrown off a cliff. ... I've killed a lot of people, too.''
Brion did tons of Television work also, including roles on “Highlander”,
“Millennium”, “The Magnificent Seven”, “M.A.N.T.I.S.”, “Tales from the Crypt”, and
several appearances on “Chips”. He did voice work in animation also. Like in the “Spawn”
TV series, the “Feeding Time” episode of Superman, and the “Joker’s Wild” episode of
Batman.
In most fans minds, however, he is best remembered as the nervous replicant Leon,
who issued forth the chilling line: "Wake up ... time to die" in the futuristic detective
thriller "Blade Runner" . To many of us that's one of the most memorable moments in
sci-fi filmdom. Farewell, Brion; your fans are going to really miss you. I know that the Knowles
household and the Headquarter's staff of AICN will for sure!
who issued forth the chilling line: "Wake up ... time to die" in the futuristic detective
thriller "Blade Runner" . To many of us that's one of the most memorable moments in
sci-fi filmdom. Farewell, Brion; your fans are going to really miss you. I know that the Knowles
household and the Headquarter's staff of AICN will for sure!
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+ Expand All
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The beauty of film is that an actor's legacy lives on long after he or she has passed. To think, I was just considering putting on Silverado earlier today and the scene that came to mind was the one where he tells someone to open a chest to get out payment for the guys he thinks will provide security. In all sincerity, rest in peace.
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Poor taste, sorry. He will be missed..a fine and memorable character actor who deserved better roles than what he got. Farewell
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may you find the treasure of soul
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My condolences to his family and friends. His memory will live on through his films. Goodbye, Mr. James. May you rest in peace.
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Despite the fact that the movie was repugnant horse feces, Brion was cool as a bona fide asshole cop in Striking Distance. The majority of his screen time was dedicated to busting Bruce Willis' chops. To tell you the honest truth, I have yet to see Blade Runner. I've heard some people say it's unforgettable, and others say it's crap. Is it worth seeing?
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For providing me with some wonderful movie memories and moments. Brion was one of those faces you always saw in movies, yet could rarely put a name to (not unlike Brad Dourif). It's a shame he's gone, and it's a shame he was always bogged down playing villains, but hey! With a face like that, he was born for it. But most of all, I'd like to thank him for supplying me with one of the funniest movie moments I've ever seen (and I'm not talking about his hilarious turn in The Fifth Element). His Cockney "accent" in Tango & Cash was a joy to behold, and one line in particular, makes me chuckle to this day...I can't remember who he says it to, but he's on a rooftop with Russell and Stallone, and he pulls a knife on them, with the immortal line..."I'll cut your throat, you fucking wanker!" Now, wanker is a British swearword, not likely to be recognised by American audiences. But the way Brion mangled it, it was virtually unrecognisable to Brits, too: "Oi'll caht yoor froat, yoo fahking waink-AHR!"
Ah, where's Dick Van Dyke when you need him?
RIP, Brion...just don't try the accent in Heaven. -
Yes, Unfortunitly, It is true. i was one of the first to find out about Brion James death. Nobody covered it, and that, is what is truely sad. Brion Died two Saturdays ago of a heart attack. Not untill only a couple days ago did Cinescape make a blub about it. And to every web site who did'nt cover it, I say "Shame Shame, Dont you know ponytails are out this season!" Ahh..that was a great line that Sly said to Brion in "Tango & Cash." Me, Cereal Killer and another of our buddies (Matt) met him this May at a Chiller Convention. He was not in good shape at all. In fact, we didnt even know who he was at first. We figured "He has AIDS!" he wa hunched over, couldnt stand, and could barley write. However, he did the best he could to make a scarey face when having his picture taken. A trooper till the end! He looked like he was 80 years old. The only ones who covered the story of his passing right away was www.chillertheatre.com and thats when I heard. Brion will be missed...he was 54. REST IN PEACE GOVEN'A! BRION FOREVER!!!!
"Who, who's the Goven'a?"
if you want to read chiller theatre's story of it and a truley sad picture of brion at the end...go here: http://www.chillertheatre.com/brion_james.htm But lets not remember him like this..lets remember him like he was in Blade Runner and Tango & Cash: Young, tall, built, and healthy! WE LOVE YA BRION!
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One of our era's great Villanous actors who will be greatly missed...perhaps he will be hanging with Basil Rathbone and Peter Lorre in another place as we speak.
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My money was on Joe Turkel or M. Emmet Walsh. Who would have thought?
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I haven't seen too many of his films. In fact, when I heard that he was dead, I thought "Who?" It wasn't until I heard that he played Leon that I knew who he was. He was so perfect in that role. My condolences to his family. And to the person who asked whether he should see Blade Runner or not, yes. See it. Some like it, some don't. See it and decide for yourself what you think try and watch the Directors Cut. The changes are only minor, omitted voiceover, an added 20 second dream sequence, and the ending (added after test screenings) removed. But the effect is immesurably better. See it.
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A damn good actor. He never became a superstar but he was the next best thing: a continuously working actor, able to practice his craft regardless of the quality of many of the movies he had to appear in in order to make a living. Thank God he made it into a genuine classic: Blade Runner. By the way, A minor issue with Harry's description of Leon. He wasn't evil, just desperate.
P.S. Is anyone aware that David Allen, a great stop-motion animator passed away from cancer on Monday, August 16? He was in the midst of realizing a 30 year dream called The Primevals. The visual effects field lost a true artist (and that's not an exaggeration) with his passing. -
Last year, J.T. Walsh dropped dead of a heart attack, and now Brion James. The L.A. Times didn't even report it until two weeks after it happened. Young audiences don't realize how much character actors like these add to a movie. A lot of today's young leading men look the same to me. But these old guys could go toe to toe with the biggest stars and make a memorable impression. They'll be missed.
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You can not honestly remember Brion James without remembering his performance in the Sam Raimi Classic "Crimewave" as Arthur. Not many people saw this movie, but Brion gave one of his funniest performances in this film.
He was also in the last film George Lucas produced before the Phantom Menace, 1994's Radio land Murders. He played Bernie King, the owner of the Radio Station on the premier of thier radio network. -
Having produced a Brion James movie a couple of years ago, I know that Brion was involved some years back in a very bad car wreck in Malibu which almost killed him. According to him, his health was never the same after that. I remember that he was always trying various non-traditional cures, although admittedly, none of them seemed to work. Although I hadn't talked to him in a couple of years, I actually left a message on his machine on the day he died. Needless to say....there was no return call. We'll miss him.
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Deforest Kelley, J.T. Walsh, Bob Peck and now Brion James...it seems that 1999 is sadly shaping up to be a year in which we have lost many of our great character actors.
Brion James was probably still best known for his perfect portrayal of replicant Leon in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner even though his contributions to film mounts up to so much more than that one classic part.
Brion James was one of those character actors that lived up to the 'busiest people in hollywood' tag, his range of credits including near a hundred feature films as well as dozens upon dozens of tv guest spots, and while it is true that many of the films that he appeared in weren't of the highest calibre he was was the kind of workmanlike performer that always acted like they were and always tried his hardest to give a good performance despite often limiting material.
He was one of those actors who many would know the face but perhaps not the name, and among some of his better known roles were General Munro in Luc Besson's The Fifth Element, Detective Eddie Eiler in the Bruce Willis vehicle Striking Distance, Detective Ulner in the under rated Dennis Quaid/Meg Ryan thriller D.O.A., the ponytailed Requin in the Sylvester Stallone/Kurt Russell actioner Tango & Cash, the bizarro Arthur Coddish is the Joel and Ethan Cohen written/Sam Raimi directed cult comedy Crimewave, slave trader Stubbs is Wolfgang Petersen's neglected Enemy Mine and a great turn as studio head Joel Levison is Robert Altman's The Player. He also made strong appearances in such films as 48 HRS (and it's sequel, his first), Walter Hill's Southern Comfort, Arnie vehicle Red Heat, under rated prison drama Dead Man Out, Radioland Murders (concieved by George Lucas), Nature Of The Beast, American Strays and FTW, as well as a host of films that he starred in along side longtime friend Rutger Hauer, including Paul Verhoeven's under appreciated epic Flesh + Blood, A Breed Apart, Precious Find and the
afore mentioned Blade Runner. His Tv roles included work in a diverse range of programmes over the years, including Little House On The Prairie, CHiPs, Benson, The Waltons, The Dukes Of Hazzard, Hunter, The A Team, Matlock, Miami Vice and the short lived cult hit Sledge Hammer, along with more recent shows such as a couple of great appearances in Tales From The Crypt, Highlander, Millennium, The Sentinel, The Magificent Seven and the animated Batman, Spawn and Superman series.
Also another thing that was never widely known or publicized was Brion James' near constant work over the years with helping young actors overcome drug and alcohol
dependancy problems so that they could get their lives (and careers) back in check.
One of the great character actors along with the likes of the late J.T. Walsh, Brion James was always worth watching (even if some of his films were not) and will be remembered for much more than just his (justifiably) lauded role of Leon in Blade Runner. He will be missed, whether it be by name or by people who just knew the face and wondered 'whatever happened to...' A sad loss indeed and my thoughts and best wishes go out to his friends and family.
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What a great actor this guy was. It's always heartbreaking when the good ones go.
Here's to you, Brion.
By the way, the Amazing Stories episode mentioned is actually called "Mummy Daddy". Just thought I'd set the record straight. ;-) -
8-31-99, just heard about this. I wish the media paid more respect to this man's career, he's got more time on screen than half of Hollywood. Gonna rent "The Player" tonight. I was so pleased to see him in that movie, wealthy, empowered, in a suit, like he finally got the deserved treatment for dues paid in full.
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Harry said he was sleeping. He lied! He lied! Why does such a person have to be dead? Why couldn't the media get Carrot Top instead?
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