
Photo: Peabody Awards / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Public records list James McDaniel as a film actor, television actor and stage actor. James McDaniel was born in Washington, D.C., United States on March 25, 1958. That works out to 68 years old in 2026. Education on record includes University of Pennsylvania. Listed accolades include Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1995).
My Take
What I admire about James McDaniel is his gift for quiet authority. As Lt. Arthur Fancy on NYPD Blue, he made restraint compelling, anchoring a chaotic ensemble without ever shouting for attention. That 1995 SAG ensemble award feels right to me, because his is the kind of work that lifts everyone around him. A University of Pennsylvania graduate who proved himself on the Lincoln Center stage in Six Degrees of Separation, he reads as a craftsman rather than a celebrity. I have a soft spot for actors like him, the dependable presence who makes a whole production feel grounded and true.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- James McDaniel
- Name (Japanese)
- ジェームズ・マクダニエル
- Reading
- じぇーむず・まくだにえる
- Born
- March 25, 1958 (age 68)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Dog
- Origin
- Washington, D.C., United States
- Occupation
- film actor / television actor / stage actor / television director / actor
2. Background
- University
- University of Pennsylvania
Awards & achievements
- 1995 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
3. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James%20McDaniel
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1059226
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-23
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was James McDaniel born?
Born March 25, 1958 (age 68).
Where is James McDaniel from?
James McDaniel is from Washington, D.C., United States.
What does James McDaniel do?
James McDaniel works as film actor, television actor, stage actor, television director, actor.
Film actor — see all → · Television actor — see all → · More people from the United States →