20 Must-Know Facts About Stephan James    

20 Must-Know Facts About Stephan James    

I remember Stephan James from Race, the 2016 biographical sports drama film that chronicled the incredible true story of Jesse Owens, the African-American athlete who defied the odds and racism to win four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Stephan James is a Canadian actor, who is one of the most promising in Hollywood. This actor has steadily built his career with a lot of hard work, determination, and passion. Putting in the required effort has work paid off and he has been featured in several ground-breaking roles like in Selma and Race.

Stephan delivers compelling and remarkable performances in both television and film. With his impressive acting skills and charisma, James continues to captivate audiences from all corners of the world. Let me tell you 20 must-know facts about this talented actor.

1. Stephan James Has Jamaican And Canadian Heritage

Canadian Film Centre, Jesse Grant, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Stephan James was born on 16th December 1993, in Scarborough, a borough of Ontario and now part of the city of Toronto. He is an award-winning Canadian actor and his family is Jamaican. He is the younger brother to the Canadian actor Shamier Anderson (who plays Jesse Owens’ track rival Eulace Peacock in Race) and the older brother to Sheldon James. He credits his brother Shamier for inspiring him to get into his acting career. 

2. He Started Acting At An Early Age

Stephan James kicked off his acting career with the long-running Canadian teen series Degrassi: The Next Generation playing recurring roles for two seasons. James went on to play various supporting roles on television including, My Babysitter’s a Vampire, the ABC Family made-for-TV movie 12 Dates of Christmas, Clue, and How to Be Indie in 2011. In 2012 he featured in a supporting role for The LA Complex and The Listener. 

3. James Got His Big Break in 2012

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Home Again, a Canadian film was his first film role-playing opposite Fefe Dobson and Tatyana Ali. James played a Jamaican deportee, and despite the film getting mixed reviews, both the Mail and The Globe gave his performance a positive review calling it “heartbreaking”. 

For his superb performance, he garnered the 1st Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. James was recognized as a rising star at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2016. 

4. The Film Selma, Was His First Film to Be Nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars

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James was contacted in a mere 20 minutes after sending an audition tape for the film Selma and was asked to chat via Skype with director Ava DuVernay and producer Oprah Winfrey. In 2013, he was cast as a civil rights activist, John Lewis in Ava Duvernay’s Martin Luther King Jr, film Selma, which was released in 2014. The film went on to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. He was also nominated for the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Breakthrough, Male. In 2014, he also featured in the film Perfect Sisters where he played Donny.

5. James Was Named One of the Industry’s Foremost “Rising Stars” At The Toronto International Film Festival

MTV UK, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

James was named as one of the industry’s foremost “Rising Stars” at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. This was after he starred in the 2015 CBC television mini-series The Book of Negroes, which was based on the award-winning novel of the same title by author Lawrence Hill. CBC in celebration of Black History Month also named James as one of their ‘6 Black Canadian Culture-Makers citing Oprah Winfrey as one of his biggest influences.

6. He Has Portrayed Several Real-Life Figures in African American History and Has Won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor

James, though a native of Canada, has portrayed prominent real-life figures in African American history through films. In 2016, he starred in the lead role of African-American track and field sprinter Olympic hero Jesse Owens in the biopic film Race, which was directed by Stephen Hopkins. He replaced John Boyega as Jesse Owens in Race after Boyega had to drop out to film Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Stephan James spent time training with a college track and field coach to adequately prepare for the role of Jesse Owens. For his role in Race, he won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor and also got an NAACP Image Award nomination.

7. He Has A Background In Theater

Photo by Kyle Head on Unsplash

Stephan James represented Canada in several competitive track and field events before pursuing acting. He trained at the Armstrong Acting Studio in Toronto with renowned acting coach Dean Armstrong and later honed his acting skills through theatre performances.

8. James Does Charity Work and Has a Non-Profit Organization

In 2016, James and his brother, fellow actor Shamier Anderson founded B.L.A.C.K, an acronym for Building a Legacy in Acting, Cinema and Knowledge, a non-profit organization. In the same spirit, they extended to The Black Academy whose aim is to showcase black talent across Canada in entertainment, culture, arts, and sports. The mission of this academy is to continuously inspire and elevate the Francophone and Anglophone communities. Its vision is to build a support base that can offer funding, and mentorship programs plus also give awards to support Black excellence in Canada.

James supports various charitable organizations including the SickKids Foundation and the We Movement. He is also actively involved in promoting mental health awareness and advocating for destigmatization.

9. He Has a Passion for Youth Welfare and Activism

Canadian Film Centre, Jesse Grant, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

James is a big supporter of various youth initiatives, advocating for social change and equality. His commitment to using his platform to address social issues and create positive change is commendable. Stephan James has become a role model for aspiring young actors.

10. James is a Cultural Ambassador

James has been praised for his ability to portray a wide range of characters that showcases his versatility as an actor. He uses his platform to enhance inclusivity and to celebrate diversity, which has enabled him to become a cultural ambassador. He also advocates for gender equality and has expressed the need for equal representation and opportunities for women and artists from all backgrounds in the film industry. He has served as an ambassador for the Toronto International Film Festival, showcasing his commitment to promoting Canadian cinema globally.

11. This Actor Has Versatile Language Skills And Great On-Screen Chemistry

MTV UK, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

James has explored diverse roles in French and English because he is proficient in both. He is also talented in establishing strong on-screen chemistry with co-stars which has been praised by both the audiences and critics alike.  He is proactive and self-driven, always looking for the next opportunity to work with the best actors and directors in the entertainment industry.

12. He Appreciates Character-Driven Stories

James playing many different roles in movies and on television shows an affinity for character-driven stories that delve into the complexities of human emotions and experiences. His ability to realistically and perfectly breathe life into every character he plays evokes pure emotion and shows his passion and dedication to the craft.

13. James Constantly Evolves an Actor

Stephan James is a versatile and talented actor who undoubtedly has made a major impact in the entertainment industry in a short time. He has shown formidable ability to portray a wide range of characters with authenticity and depth. James continues to evolve as an actor, taking on dynamic and challenging roles that showcase his range and dedication to his craft. His hard work has not gone unnoticed as he has received 3 awards and numerous nominations so far.

14. He Gives Great Speeches

Canadian Film Centre, Jesse Grant, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On various platforms, Stephan James has delivered powerful speeches addressing important issues such as representation in the entertainment industry and racial equality. With a significant following on social media, he shares updates about his various projects and uses his platform to inspire and empower others. He has become a cultural ambassador, using his platform to celebrate diversity and encourage inclusivity in the film industry.

15. James Can Hold His Own On the Basketball Court

Apart from acting, James can play basketball like a pro. He does not shy away from playing a basketball game even in front of his fans. In the 2016 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, held in Toronto, he joined tennis star Milos Raonic, Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott, and Arcade Fire’s Win Butler to play for Team Canada. James scored 10 points in less than 20 minutes of playing, drove the crowd crazy, and fouled the famous comedian Kevin Hart to seal the victory.

16. He Has Worked With His Brother Shamier Anderson Severally

Video Courtesy of YouTube. 

James and his brother Shamier are a major force in the screen industry and are climbing the ranks. They frequently collaborate in many marquee projects such as The Black Academy and Boat Rocker. They have both worked together on a few projects, including the 2015 flick Across the Line, the Fox series Shots Fired, and Race, where Anderson played Jesse Owens’ rival, Eulace Peacock. 

James looks up to his brother. In 2016, James told the Toronto Star “He was just someone in front of me, somebody who was tangible, whom I could see and say, he was doing incredible work, and maybe I can follow in his footsteps in some capacity.” Anderson has appeared in numerous movies, television shows, and on Netflix for Dear White People.

17. James Once Worked With Regina King

Regina King is a trailblazer in the entertainment industry and has earned recognition and accolades for her phenomenal work. James and Regina King had an opportunity to work together in the 2018 feature film If Beale Street Could Talk. The romantic drama film was written and directed by Barry Jenkins and based on James Baldwin’s 1974 novel of the same name. It involves a young woman who seeks to clear the name of her wrongly charged lover before their child is born.

18. Idris Elba Is One Of The Actors Who Inspires Him

Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As James’s acting career continues to shine, it is no wonder that he would want to work with the best of the best in the industry. Given a chance, he would love to work with various actors who inspire him like Idris Elba, Leonardo Di Caprio, Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Don Cheadle.

19. James Paid a Tribute to Harry Belafonte

At the NAACP Image Awards in 2018, James paid tribute to Harry Belafonte, honoring the legendary actor, music, and activist’s contribution to the industry. Belafonte died on April 25, 2023, at the age of 96 from congestive heart failure in his home in Manhattan, New York.

20. He Has Worked In Successful Projects In Hollywood

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James had an opportunity to work with the late Chadwick Boseman in the 2019 action thriller film 21 Bridges. He reunited with his If Beale Street could talk co-star KiKi Lane for the romantic drama film All the old knives in 2022. He also starred in the Shots Fired, Unveiled, and The Book of Negroes.

James also shared the screen with Julia Roberts in the Amazon Prime Series Homecoming which is based on the podcast of the same name. James gained critical acclaim for his portrayal of civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis in the movie Selma.

Those are my 20 facts about Stephan James. He is a talented and ambitious actor who has continually and consistently played great roles something he is admired for. To top that, he has a great fashion sense and does not shy away from showing it off. James is a true definition of how hard work pays. Now I know, nothing is impossible if you put your mind and heart to it.