Actor. Born in Camden, New Jersey as Albert Paine Cardwell to Raymond and Bessie McCarroll Cardwell. While attending Woodrow Wilson High School, he found himself drawn to acting and, after appearing in a sophomore play, served as president of the school's drama club. He also showed athletic prowess on the football field, as well as in track and field. After his graduation in 1940, he worked odd jobs but, stayed committed to acting, James joined the Hedgerow Theater Group in Pennsylvania. While there he made ends meet by working in the shipping department for RCA Victor, meeting and marrying Esther Borton in June of 1942. In the summer of 1943, James was seen by agents scouting out fresh faces for an upcoming WWII picture about five patriotic soldier brothers. He won one of the brothers' roles. His wife Esther, however, had no interest in his acting career or to move to Los Angeles, and the marriage quickly ended. As James Cardwell, he made his debut in the 1944 war movie, The Sullivans. The next appearance was in Sweet and Low-Down. Both were nominated for Oscars. After James appeared in two B movie mysteries, he returned to major films in A Walk in the Sun. James would also make several Westerns with Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Rex Allen. He also appeared in He Walked by Night, this movie spawned the long running television show Dragnet. He also played in the Christmas classic It Happened on 5th Avenue, it was nominated for an Oscar. In anticipation of his fading career, James started attending UCLA at night and taking up pre med courses. At one point he toured Australia with Joe E. Brown in the top comedian's vaudeville act and joined a circus comedy acrobatic act called the Coleano Troupe that toured throughout the U.S. and Europe. Returning to the United States in 1953. After returning to the US, James tried to break into television to no avail. James had grown despondent with the lack of his career, with his debts mounting, James shot himself in the head in an automobile in a parking lot near his two room West Los Angeles bungalow. James was 32 years old.