Biography for
James Healey
James was born in Ireland, raised in Manchester, and immigrated to Australia 1970. He
joined St. Martins Theatre appeared in Crawford Productions prime time TV series,
Homicide, Division 4, Cop Shop and Matlock Police, produced by some of Australia's most
acclaimed directors. He showed exceptional promise and attended (NIDA), and was granted
a scholarship to (RADA), where he portrayed James Tyrone in Long Day’s Journey into
Night. He graduated ‘77 with William Hope, Danny Webb and Juliet Stevenson.
He developed his writing, directing and producing, and adapted and produced a stage version
of Oscar Wilde's De Profundis. Siobhan McKenna, a Broadway and Tony Award nominated
actress, introduced him to the works of The Irish Classic Literary Movement. He made his
London stage debut in 1978 with Ms. McKenna at the Greenwich Festival in five plays titled:
The Golden Cradle, which she starred and directed in honor of Ireland's Abby Theatre.
James worked with Anglia TV & BBC in mini-series & plays: Penmarric, Even Solomon,
and Memories, before winning critical acclaim as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, with
Regional Premieres of West End Best Plays: Privates on Parade, Bedroom Farce and Ten
Times Table.
In 1980, James starred in the Australian prime-time series The Restless Years, and appearing
in television, theatre and films in a host of roles. He formed Sydney's Falcon Theatre
Company in 1983 to act, direct and produce a season of American plays. He starred in the
Aussie film Super sleuth & Fantasy Man, and produced a movie of John Lewis Carlino’s
The Snow Angel as actor, writer/director. The film was uncompleted due to lack of
Government funding which inspired James to take the screenplay and footage to America in
1985.
Donald P. Bellisario creator of Magnum, P.I.; JAG, NCIS; etc., screen tested James for the
starring role in his new prime time series The Ultimate Adventure Company, to replace his
international series Magnum, P.I. starring Tom Selleck. While under exclusive contract at
Universal Studios for two years, James developed skills in production, writing and directing.
As an actor he guest starred on Scarecrow and Mrs. King; Father Dowling Mysteries; and
Young Riders. After cancellation of The Ultimate Adventure Company due to a licensing
fee dispute, he attended UCLA Extension Program in film production and screenwriting. He
continued workshops with screenplay consultants John Truby & Robert McKee, after which
he graduated from the Hollywood Writing Academy in 1988.
James was prepared to pursue a career as writer director, when Aaron Spelling signed him to
co-star as Joan Collins' husband Sean Rowan on Dynasty (1988). The dilemma between
acting and writing continued throughout his career. The more successful he had become, the
less time to develop filmmaking interests. For the next five years he committed to day-time
and prime-time series Santa Barbara (1990), the mini-series Tarzan & Flair starring