James Pax was inspired by classical music and began classical piano training at 8-years-old. James, later, inspired by Bruce Lee’s movies, started martial art and Kung Fu training during his teens. James went on to learn guitar to begin writing songs and performing in high school music events and later became a street singer in Rome, Italy.
Inspired by Nureyev, the famous Russian ballet dancer, James began training at Geoffrey Ballad in NY when he was 17 years old and determined to become a professional ballad dancer. James later attended jazz classes with famous Broadway show choreographer JoJo Smith and later became the first ever Asian male dancer in TV shows and Music videos. At age 23, James became a semiprofessional singer, when he visited Santiago Chile and through his best friend, Coco-Legrand’s, a local comedian’s introduction, he was invited to be one the entertainer in the local TV show “Mr. Chile” where he mesmerized audiences. The awesome reaction from the audience planted a seed in his mind to become an entertainer/actor one day.
James graduated from New York University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing and went on to work for EF Hutton stock brokerage house on Wall Street as trainee to prepare himself to work in his family’s stock Brokerage company in Hong Kong.
In the 30 years of acting & producing career, James played the Legendary role of Lightning starred next to Kurt Russell & Kim Cattrall in “Big Trouble in Little China,” “Kinjite” with Charles Bronson, “Invasion USA” with Chuck Norris, TV movie “In Love & War” with James Woods, NBC TV series “Nasty Boys” as series regular as Narcotic cop Jimmy Kee with Benjamin Bratt. And “Shoot Fighters” with Bolo Yeung, & William Zabka.
In Hong Kong and China, James starred with Michelle Yeoh, the Oscar Award winner in a hit movie called “The Heroic Trio.” The movie grossed $20 million USD at the Asian Box office. James has also starred in a multitude of popular Hong Kong & China made films such as ‘‘Love Among The Triad (1993)’’ and ‘‘Shanghai Fever (1994)’’.
In 1988 China, James stared next to Donald Sutherland in an art film called “Bethune”, which was shot in China.
In the 90’s Japan, James becomes the first American Asian to stared in Japanese movies with titles such as: “Harimao” for Shojiku Studio and TV series “The New Recruits“ for TBS TV station as series regular, starring next to Japanese super stars such as Kuroki Hitomi and Abe Hiroshi.
In 1997 James Produced & Directed the TV Show ‘‘L.A What’s Happening?’’. He became the first Asian producer to appear on the Red Carpet at the Chinese Mann Theater to interview hundreds of Hollywood directors, producers and actors. The program soon became known as the Asian Version of “Entertainment Tonight”, airing on Asian channels & Sky TV in Japan. Morgan Freeman, John Woo & many other well-known Hollywood stars guest appeared on the show.
In 1993 Milan, James was the first ever Chinese American celebrity model to work with famous designer Giorgio Armani as celebrity model to walk on his winter runway show.
In 2006, James produced and starring in a Docu-drama called The First Emperor for Discovery USA and Channel 4 UK with 18% rating when it was first premiered on Channel 4 UK. The TV rights was sold out throughout the Global TV stations, and now the movie is viewed on YouTube with 4.5 million viewers.
Later in 2017, James Directed & Produced a series of international Ice-Skating shows that included “Christmas on Ice & Cinderella, in the GD Mall Theater, Guangzhou, China for a nightly 3,000 strong audience. The show was a great success and made James to become the first ever Eurasian Ice-Skating producer & director in a predominantly Caucasian professionals only.
James has continuously striven to develop himself further in the world of film making, becoming also an adroit script writer. Author of the book ‘‘A Bowel of Fish’’. Screenwriter & director of the highly anticipated Big Screen film adaption “Pirate Warriors of South China Sea”, “Vortex” and “Kung Fu me in the Zombie Land”.
