James was born in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and grew up in Kennesaw, Georgia. He is a graduate of the DePaul Theatre School in Chicago (BFA Acting) also formerly known as the Goodman School of Drama. He's performed in several regional theaters across the country including The Goodman Theatre in Chicago, The Contemporary American Theatre Festival in Shepherdstown, WV and Center Theatre Group's Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. He's also been an ensemble member for The Interact Theatre Company based out of North Hollywood and he continues to pursue his passion for the stage. He has also been studying comedy improvisation at The Upright Citizen's Brigade (UCB) in Hollywood.