James Gaines
Encyclopedia
James Gaines, birth name James Larry M. Gaines Jr., is an African-American-Filipino
character actor
, writer and director with dual nationality, born on May 18, 1955, in Maui
, Hawaii
. He was sometimes also credited as Jaimes Gaines, Jim Gaines, and James Gainers. He acted mainly in low-budget action film
s in the Philippines
during the 1980s, many of which were produced by K.Y. Lim's Silver Star Film Company (called Kinavesa in the Philippines), and directed by Teddy Page
or John Gale
. Next to Mike Monty
, with whom he appeared in several films together, Gaines was one of the most prolific actors in Filipino B-movie
s. He also appeared in some Italian
and American
productions shot in the archipelago.
Gaines acted in numerous movies with fellow Filipino exploitation veterans Romano Kristoff
, Bruce Baron
, Mike Cohen, Ken Watanabe (not to be confused with the other, more famous Ken Watanabe), Ann Milhench, Gwendolyn Hung, and Ronnie Patterson. Gaines also appeared in all of the films Richard Harrison
made for Silver Star: As Digger the informer in Fireback
, as Tom in Hunter's Crossing, as a gangster in Blood Debts
(1983), and as Greene, one of the heroic mercenaries led by Harrison in Intrusion Cambodia (1984). Characterized by very low production values and often seemingly improvised narratives, the Silver Star films have since become minor cult films in Z-movie fandom.
Arguably the most well-known movies Gaines appeared in were The Last Hunter (starring David Warbeck
, Tisa Farrow
, Tony King and John Steiner
) (1980) for director Antonio Margheriti
, Robowar (starring Reb Brown
, Catherine Hickland
, John P. Dulaney, Max Laurel and Mel Davidson) (1988) for director Bruno Mattei
and brief parts in American Ninja
(starring Michael Dudikoff
and Steve James
) (1985) for director Sam Firstenberg and Enter The Ninja (starring Franco Nero
, Susan George
, Christopher George
and Sho Kosugi
) (1981) for director Menahem Golan
.
Gaines also co-wrote the script for Black Fire (1985) and wrote War Without End (1987), both directed by Teddy Page, and probably had other writing credits under different pseudonym
s. As the Filipino film industry dwindled in the early 1990s, James Gaines slowed down his film work and is now semi-retired as an actor.
Gaines now mostly work behind the camera as director and producer. Gaines co-directed with Teddy Page Phantom Soldiers (1986), Matira ang Matibay with Page and Phillip Kho, directed Joe Reyes (starring Roi Vinzon
) in 1996. His first directorial debut Secrets Of King Maji's Treasure (starring Gary Daniels
), a film shot in the mid-1980s, and had other directing credits under different pseudonym
s. His latest work as writer and director is Mundo which he also co-produced (2007).
His most recent film appearances were in 2007, in Zombi: La Creazione directed by Bruno Mattei
, and Vengeance of Cleopatra Wong, directed by Bobby A. Suarez. Gaines was also interviewed in the 2007 documentary The Search for Weng Weng. Gaines is also mentioned briefly by Richard Harrison, Sebastian Harrison and John P. Dulaney in the books Gods In Polyester, Or, A Survivors' Account Of 70's Cinema Obscura (2004/Succubus Press) and Gods In Spandex, Or, A Survivors' Account Of 80's Cinema Obscura (2004/Succubus Press).
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
character actor
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
, writer and director with dual nationality, born on May 18, 1955, in Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. He was sometimes also credited as Jaimes Gaines, Jim Gaines, and James Gainers. He acted mainly in low-budget action film
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
s in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
during the 1980s, many of which were produced by K.Y. Lim's Silver Star Film Company (called Kinavesa in the Philippines), and directed by Teddy Page
Teddy Page
Teddy Page is a Filipino film director and occasional writer. Page, whose real name is Teddy Chiu, began his career as a young man in the early 1980s, directing low-budget action movies for producer K.Y...
or John Gale
John Gale (director)
John Gale, born Jun Gallardo, was a Filipino B-movie director, who started his career with martial arts movies in the 70's and continued to Z-movie actioners in the 80's, often produced by K.Y. Lim's Silver Star Film Company...
. Next to Mike Monty
Mike Monty
Mike Monty was an American character actor, born in 1936 in Chattanooga, Tennessee as Michael O'Donahue but he changed his name to Mike Monty late in life....
, with whom he appeared in several films together, Gaines was one of the most prolific actors in Filipino B-movie
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
s. He also appeared in some Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
productions shot in the archipelago.
Gaines acted in numerous movies with fellow Filipino exploitation veterans Romano Kristoff
Romano Kristoff
Romano Kristoff was a Spanish-born B-movie actor working in the Philippines in the 80's and early 90's. He was also credited as Rom Kristoff, Ron Kristoff, Run Kristoff, Ron Krastoff, and other similar variants...
, Bruce Baron
Bruce Baron
Bruce Baron is an American movie actor.Born in New York, he graduated from Cornell University . He starred in several Asian movies, playing over a dozen lead roles in Hong Kong and Manila productions, including among others, in Godfrey Ho's "Ninja" features and Filipino low-budget action films for...
, Mike Cohen, Ken Watanabe (not to be confused with the other, more famous Ken Watanabe), Ann Milhench, Gwendolyn Hung, and Ronnie Patterson. Gaines also appeared in all of the films Richard Harrison
Richard Harrison (actor)
Richard Harrison is an American B-movie actor and occasionally a writer/director/producer.Harrison was very prolific and worked with most of the better-known names in European B-movies during the 1960s and 1970s, branching out to exploitation films shot all over the world in the early 1970s...
made for Silver Star: As Digger the informer in Fireback
Fireback
Fireback is a Filipino low-budget action movie directed by Teddy Page and starring Richard Harrison, Bruce Baron, James Gaines, Ann Milhench, Gwendolyn Hung, Mike Monty, Ronnie Patterson, and Ruel Vernal.- Characters :...
, as Tom in Hunter's Crossing, as a gangster in Blood Debts
Blood Debts
Blood Debts is a Philippines action movie directed by Teddy Page starring Richard Harrison.-Plot:While enjoying a picnic, Sarah Collins and her boyfriend are surprised by a gang of juvenile hunters...
(1983), and as Greene, one of the heroic mercenaries led by Harrison in Intrusion Cambodia (1984). Characterized by very low production values and often seemingly improvised narratives, the Silver Star films have since become minor cult films in Z-movie fandom.
Arguably the most well-known movies Gaines appeared in were The Last Hunter (starring David Warbeck
David Warbeck
David Warbeck was a New Zealand actor best known for his film roles in Europe.-Career and move into Italian cinema:...
, Tisa Farrow
Tisa Farrow
Theresa Magdalena 'Tisa' Farrow is an American actress and nurse.-Early life:Farrow, one of seven children, was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Irish-born actress Maureen O'Sullivan and Australian-born film director John Farrow. She was raised Roman Catholic...
, Tony King and John Steiner
John Steiner
John Steiner is an English actor. Tall, thin and gaunt, Steiner attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and worked for a few years at the BBC. Steiner featured in a lead role in a television production of Design for Living by Noel Coward. Later he found further work primarily in films...
) (1980) for director Antonio Margheriti
Antonio Margheriti
Antonio Margheriti , also known under the pseudonym Anthony M. Dawson, was a prolific Italian filmmaker. He was born in Rome and died in 2002 from a heart attack in Monterosi, Viterbo, near Rome at the age of 72....
, Robowar (starring Reb Brown
Reb Brown
Reb Brown is an American actor.Known as superhero Captain America in the TV pilot/movies, he's also known for the 1983 cult classic, Yor, the Hunter from the Future, as well as the scifi film, Space Mutiny, and for the collaborations with director Bruno Mattei in films Strike Commando and Robowar ...
, Catherine Hickland
Catherine Hickland
Catherine Hickland is a singer and an actress best known for roles in soap operas broadcast in the United States, most notably as the character of Lindsay Rappaport on ABC's One Life to Live, a character which she has portrayed since 1998.- Early life :Hickland was born and raised in Fort...
, John P. Dulaney, Max Laurel and Mel Davidson) (1988) for director Bruno Mattei
Bruno Mattei
Bruno Mattei was an Italian film director, screenwriter and editor who gained a cult following for a wide variety of exploitation films that covered many genres, ranging from women in prison to zombie films...
and brief parts in American Ninja
American Ninja
American Ninja is a 1985 ninja action film produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus's Cannon Films. Directed by Sam Firstenberg, who specialized in this genre in the 1980s, the film stars Michael Dudikoff in the title role, with Steve James as his side-kick. Domestic box office grosses for the...
(starring Michael Dudikoff
Michael Dudikoff
Michael Joseph Dudikoff II is an American actor who has been in numerous films, including the American Ninja series , Tron , Bachelor Party , Platoon Leader , River of Death , Soldier Boyz , Ringmaster , and The Silencer , to name a few...
and Steve James
Steve James (actor)
Steve James was an American actor, stuntman and martial artist. He starred mostly in action films such as the American Ninja series, The Delta Force , The Exterminator , and Enter the Game of Death...
) (1985) for director Sam Firstenberg and Enter The Ninja (starring Franco Nero
Franco Nero
Franco Nero is an Italian actor.-Early life:Nero was born Francesco Sparanero in San Prospero Parmense , the son of a sergeant in the...
, Susan George
Susan George (actress)
Susan Melody George is an English film and television actress, and film producer.-Career:She trained at the Stage School, Corona Theatre School and has acted since the age of four, appearing on both television and film...
, Christopher George
Christopher George
Christopher John George was an American television and film actor who was perhaps best known for his starring role in the 1966-1968 TV series The Rat Patrol. He was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1967 as Best TV Star for his performance in the series...
and Sho Kosugi
Sho Kosugi
Sho Kosugi is a Japanese martial artist with training in shindō jinen-ryū karate who gained popularity as an actor during the 1980s, usually playing a ninja. He is the father of Kane Kosugi and Shane Kosugi. After taking a hiatus from film, he started a taiko group in California...
) (1981) for director Menahem Golan
Menahem Golan
Menahem Golan is an Israeli director and producer. He has produced movies for such stars as Sean Connery, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Charles Bronson, and was known for a period as a producer of comic book-style movies like Masters of the Universe, Superman IV:...
.
Gaines also co-wrote the script for Black Fire (1985) and wrote War Without End (1987), both directed by Teddy Page, and probably had other writing credits under different pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s. As the Filipino film industry dwindled in the early 1990s, James Gaines slowed down his film work and is now semi-retired as an actor.
Gaines now mostly work behind the camera as director and producer. Gaines co-directed with Teddy Page Phantom Soldiers (1986), Matira ang Matibay with Page and Phillip Kho, directed Joe Reyes (starring Roi Vinzon
Roi Vinzon
Roi Vinzon is a filipino action star, better known for his villain roles and lead role films like Adan Lazaro, Baby Paterno and Jesus Salonga alyas Boy Indian...
) in 1996. His first directorial debut Secrets Of King Maji's Treasure (starring Gary Daniels
Gary Daniels
Gary Edward Daniels is a British kickboxer and martial arts actor. Daniels appears mostly in action-oriented B-movies. Daniels has been in over 50 films since his start as an extra in an episode of the 1980s television series Miami Vice. He is best known for playing Kenshiro in the live-action...
), a film shot in the mid-1980s, and had other directing credits under different pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s. His latest work as writer and director is Mundo which he also co-produced (2007).
His most recent film appearances were in 2007, in Zombi: La Creazione directed by Bruno Mattei
Bruno Mattei
Bruno Mattei was an Italian film director, screenwriter and editor who gained a cult following for a wide variety of exploitation films that covered many genres, ranging from women in prison to zombie films...
, and Vengeance of Cleopatra Wong, directed by Bobby A. Suarez. Gaines was also interviewed in the 2007 documentary The Search for Weng Weng. Gaines is also mentioned briefly by Richard Harrison, Sebastian Harrison and John P. Dulaney in the books Gods In Polyester, Or, A Survivors' Account Of 70's Cinema Obscura (2004/Succubus Press) and Gods In Spandex, Or, A Survivors' Account Of 80's Cinema Obscura (2004/Succubus Press).