ACTOR · BORN 1953
James Remar
- Born
- 31 December 1953, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Known for
- Django Unchained (2012), Ratatouille (2007), Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019), X-Men: First Class (2011)
19 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
All facts (19)
- #001
James Remar decided to become an actor at the age of seven, after watching Stanley Kubrick's 1960 epic Spartacus. That early decision marked the start of a long and prolific career that made him one of Hollywood's best-known character actors. His first passion for cinema later led him to unforgettable roles on both the big screen and television.
- #002
His role as Ajax in the 1979 cult film The Warriors earned James Remar a small but devoted fan base. The film dealt with a gang struggle on the streets of New York, and Remar's aggressive, overconfident gang member became one of its most memorable characters. The part was a major turning point in his film career and foreshadowed the tough, dangerous characters he would often play in later years.
- #003
James Remar lent his voice to Lexus car commercials released in 2009 and 2010, delivering a compelling narration that reinforced the brand's luxurious and sophisticated image. This commercial work demonstrated his versatility and the power of his voice. The experience in car advertising proved that he could succeed in another area of his career as well.
- #004
James Remar was cast as Hicks in Ridley Scott's 1986 science-fiction classic Aliens, but Michael Biehn replaced him shortly after filming began. Remar can still be seen from behind in one scene: the shot of the marines walking down a corridor was kept in the film because the in-camera miniature of the set had been thrown away and reshooting the scene would have been too expensive. The incident is regarded as a missed major opportunity in Remar's career, though his talent continued to show in other projects.
- #005
Over his career James Remar played an adoptive father twice, and the two characters were very different from each other. In Dexter he played a police officer trying to make the world a better place, a character who turned the child he adopted into a serial killer and trained him to kill murderers the justice system could not catch. In Black Lightning he played an agent working for an evil organization, a father who regretted his actions and this time raised a superhero. These two contrasting roles showcased Remar's ability to convey his characters' psychological depths and moral dilemmas.
- #006
James Remar's family surname was originally 'Remarman'; his paternal grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants and his mother was English. This multicultural family background helped shape his identity and worldview. Remar always carried these origins with pride and reflected a sensitivity to different cultures throughout his career.
- #007
James Remar speaks fluent Japanese. This language skill holds an important place not only in his acting career but also in his personal life. His interest in Japanese culture and his determination to learn the language show that he is a multifaceted individual. The ability has occasionally served him in projects and made it easier for him to connect with different cultures.
- #008
During the shooting of the 1980 film Windwalker, the Cheyenne tribe gave James Remar the honorary name 'Standing 20'. The name indicated that he had earned a respected position in the tribe's eyes and reflected the respectful attitude he showed during filming. The honorary name showed that Remar was appreciated not only as an actor but also as a person.
- #009
Although most of the characters James Remar has played are ruthless, arrogant or even villainous, in real life he has the opposite personality. He is known as a proud father and a loving husband. This contrast shows how wide his acting range is: while playing characters audiences love to hate on screen, he has managed to remain a warm and affectionate person in his private life.
- #010
James Remar played Richard Gere's lover in the play 'Bent', staged on Broadway in 1979, making an impressive Broadway debut with that performance. The play dealt with the persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany, and Remar's performance drew great praise from both critics and audiences. The experience was an important step in his theater career and proved his talent to a wider audience.
- #011
In his spare time James Remar pursues various hobbies such as photography, scuba diving and golf, activities that give him a chance to rest both mentally and physically. Photography sharpens his artistic perspective, scuba diving brings him close to nature, and golf, a game requiring patience and strategy, is an enjoyable pursuit for him. These hobbies help him lead a balanced life outside his intense acting career.
- #012
James Remar worked with director and actor Mario Van Peebles on four different projects: The Cotton Club (1984), Blowback (2000), Guardian (2001) and Sharpshooter (2007). This long-running collaboration shows the strong professional bond and mutual trust between the two artists. Working together on films in different genres, both men delivered performances that complemented each other's talents.
- #013
James Remar trained as an actor at the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. The school is known as an institution that produced famous acting teachers such as Sanford Meisner, and it played an important role in developing Remar's core acting skills. This training laid the foundation for his success on stage and in front of the camera and allowed him to add depth to his characters throughout his career.
- #014
James Remar grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, and completed his early education at John Ward Elementary School. This period shaped his childhood years and was when his interest in acting first sprouted. Newton's quiet and peaceful environment influenced the development of his personality and provided a solid foundation for his later career.
- #015
The actor who handcuffed James Remar to a park bench in The Warriors was Mercedes Ruehl, who was at the very start of her career and for whom it was also her second film. A friend of Ruehl's who was a Washington Post reporter wrote after seeing the film that he was disappointed by his friend's tough role. The incident became an amusing anecdote from the film's production and highlights both actors' experiences at the beginning of their careers.
- #016
James Remar is probably best known for his role as Richard on Sex and the City. The character was the compulsively unfaithful jet-set boyfriend of Samantha, played by Kim Cattrall, and the pair's stormy relationship drew great interest from viewers throughout the series. The role became one of Remar's most memorable television performances and made him recognizable to a wide audience.
- #017
James Remar completed his high school education at Newton North High School. The school contributed to his social and academic development during his youth. His high school years further reinforced his interest in acting and were a period in which he took important steps toward his future career. His education at Newton North High School helped him grow into a disciplined and hardworking individual.
- #018
James Remar has formed a close friendship with the actor Marcus Henderson. This friendship has allowed both actors to support each other in their careers. In Hollywood's tough competitive environment, such strong friendships provide an important anchor in artists' personal and professional lives. The friendship between Remar and Henderson is a fine example of solidarity in the industry.
- #019
James Remar was born on exactly the same date as the actress Jane Badler, known for her performance in the series V (2009). Although the two actors have followed different paths in their careers, sharing a birth date creates an interesting connection between them. Remar and Badler have both done significant work in their fields in television and film, and this shared birthday is a small but striking detail of their lives.
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