Born Malcolm Webster in the West Midlands town of Walsall (and therefore a "Black Country" boy) Malcolm had a grammar school (Queen Mary's) and Oxford (Magdalen College) education before moving to London, where he trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and chose the acting name of Malcolm James. He lived and worked successfully in London for over 30 years before moving to Brighton to enjoy sea air. Primarily known as a stage actor, he has worked in all parts of the UK and beyond, and has appeared in the West End's two longest-running plays - The Woman in Black and The Mousetrap.