Biography
Hawthorne James is an American actor and director. He is known for his roles as Sam in the 1994 film Speed and as George the Night Guard at the Library in Se7en (1995). Other film credits include Big Red Davis in The Five Heartbeats (1991), a Jook Joint Patron in The Color Purple (1985) and Chuck Vincent in The Doors (1991).
Born James Hawthorne in Chicago, Illinois, he is the son of Robert Hawthorne and A.M. Alene. He holds a bachelor's degree in theatre from the University of Notre Dame and a master's degree from the University of Michigan, and taught theatre at Illinois State University. He has made guest appearances in television series including Frasier (as Bill), NYPD Blue and ER.
