To Love, Honor, and Deceive

Background:

An American actor who began his career as a street performer, James Wilder has successfully transformed his gifts from the street to both film and television. Since his screen debut in 1987, he has gathered over 40 credits under his belt. He is perhaps best known for playing Det. Jim Sanders on the television film To Love, Honor, and Deceive (1996) and has starred in numerous other TV films, most recently McBride: Dogged (2007). Additionally, he has had regular roles in “Equal Justice” (1990), “Melrose Place” (1994) and “Models Inc.” (1994-1995). On the wide screen, Wilder is known for playing roles in such movies as Tollbooth (1994), the Venice Film Festival-screened The Coriolis Effect (1994), Flypaper (1997), Closing The Deal (2000), Touched by a Killer (2001), Perfume (2001), Knight Club (2001) and Mind Games (2003).

As for his romantic life, Wilder was once became engaged to actress Kirstie Alley. The couple, however, never got married.


Houdini’s Admirer

Childhood and Family:

“I was going to an all-boys parochial school, and that was their big thing - miracles. So that’s all I wanted to do, make my own miracles.” James Wilder

James Wilder, birth name Jimmy, was born on August 5, 1968, in Cleveland, Ohio. He relocated to San Francisco with his family when he was 2. After taking odd jobs like shining shoes, the big fan of Harry Houdini, James was inspired to become a street performer and then started taking burlesque and vaudeville. He also trained as an actor at The Beverly Hills Playhouse under the guidance of Milton Katselas.


Melrose Place

Career:

An ex-shoe shiner, James Wilder got his start in the industry as a street performer. At age 17, the Ohio-raised, San Francisco-raised performed in New York as the opening act for Pat Benatar, the B-52’s as well as the Dead Kennedys. His throwback to revue included fire eating, chainsaw juggling and improvisation.

After the acting bug bit him, Wilder moved to Los Angeles, and in 1987, made his TV movie debut with a starring role as Anthony Palmer in Midnight Magic, opposite Jennifer Dale. The same year, he also portrayed a teen track star in the drama-made-for-TV film Cracked Up (1987) and appeared in his first feature, Zombie High (1987), starring Virginia Madsen.

Wilder went on to dot his resume with performances in such movie as Murder One (1988), State Park (1990), Scorchers (1991, opposite Faye Dunaway and James Earl Jones), Prey of the Chameleon (1992), Tollbooth (1994) and The Coriolis Effect (1994), which took home the grand prize at the Venice Film Festival. On the small screen, he played Christopher Searls on the series “Equal Justice” (1990) and Reed Carter on the popular soap “Melrose Place” (1994), in addition to starring in several television films.

Next, Wilder joined the regular cast of “Models Inc.,” the spin-off to Melrose Place, in the role of Adam Louder. He played the part from 1994 to 1995. However, it was his performance opposite Vanessa Marcil in the great TV film To Love, Honor, and Deceive (1996) that brought the actor attention. The mystery film was nominated for an Emmy. After the success, Wilder played Scott Douglas in the TV film Daughters (1997) and had supporting roles in such independent films as Allie & Me (1997), Flypaper (1997, with Craig Sheffer), the Amy Brenneman-vehicle Nevada (1997) and Ivory Tower (1998) before starring as Billy D’Angelo in the CBS miniseries “The Last Don II” (1998).

Entering the new millennium, Wilder remained busy with his work on both the small screen and the big one. He shared the screen with Tamara Davies, Michael Bergin and Kelli Coleman for the award-winning independent film Closing The Deal (2000), starred with Isabella Hoffman in the based-on-play Touched by a Killer (2001), supported Scott Baio and Krista Allen in Face Value (2001), shared the top bill with Angie Everhart in the psychology thriller Heart of Stone (2001) and appeared in Michael Rymer’s Perfume (2001), with Jeff Goldblum, Paul Sorvino, and Omar Epps. He also had roles in the movies Burning Down the House (2001), Knight Club (2001, opposite Lou Diamond Phillips), Man of the Year (2002) and Mind Games (2003). Wilder’s more recent the television movies are The Perfect Marriage (2006) and McBride: Dogged (2007), a mystery starring John Larroquette in the title role.

“Obviously, I love live performance” James Wilder

Despite his hectic schedule, Wilder manages to return to the stage whenever he has chances. His latest play “Visions and Lovers” with Jenna Elfman is being made into a feature film.


Awards:
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