Photo: Toglenn / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
James Woods fascinates me because his intelligence is audible. That machine-gun delivery is not a gimmick; it is an MIT-trained mind running faster than the dialogue, and it made him the definitive wired, dangerous character actor of his era. Salvador remains one of the great unhinged performances of the eighties, and his Hades in Hercules might be Disney's wittiest villain, improvised charm and all. He is a polarizing figure off screen, which I suspect has muddied appraisals of the work itself. Strip that away and you find an actor with multiple Emmys and a genuinely singular rhythm. Few performers have ever talked their way into greatness so literally.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- James Woods
- Name (Japanese)
- ジェームズ・ウッズ
- Reading
- じぇーむず・うっず
- Born
- April 18, 1947 (age 79)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Boar
- Origin
- Vernal, Utah, United States
- Occupation
- actor / poker player
2. Background
- High school
- Pilgrim High School
Awards & achievements
- 1972 Theatre World Award
- 1998 star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 2000 Daytime Emmy Award
- 1987 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
- 1989 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
- Clarence Derwent Awards
- 1996 Sitges Film Festival Best Actor award
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Hercules | — | |
| Notable work | Salvador | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was James Woods born?
Born April 18, 1947 (age 79).
Where is James Woods from?
James Woods is from Vernal, Utah, United States.
What does James Woods do?
James Woods works as actor, poker player.
What is James Woods known for?
Notable works include Hercules, Salvador.
Actor — see all → · Poker player — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-11
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.