James Colby facts for kids

James Leo Colby (born September 20, 1961 – died February 23, 2018) was an American actor. He was known for his work in movies, TV shows, and plays. Colby appeared in many plays on Broadway and in Connecticut.

He was in popular movies like The Peacemaker (1997), Tower Heist (2011), and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). He also played roles in TV shows such as Sergeant Ray Dwyer in Chicago P.D. and Burleson in Empire.

Early Life and Education

James Colby was born in Arlington, Massachusetts. He went to college at Bridgewater State University and Brooklyn College. In the 1980s, he moved to Manhattan. There, he started his career in theater.

Acting Career Highlights

James Colby had a busy acting career. He worked in theater, television, and movies.

Stage Performances

Colby performed in many plays. In 1992, he was in a Broadway production of Hamlet. He also acted in many Off-Broadway theaters. These included The Public Theater and Manhattan Theatre Club.

He often worked with Hartford Stage. There, he performed in plays by Tennessee Williams. Some of these were A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He also played Stan in the play Sweat (2016). This play later won a Pulitzer Prize.

Film and Television Roles

Colby appeared in many well-known films. These include Tower Heist, Safe, and Demolition. One of his last movie roles was in Patriots Day (2016). In this film, he acted alongside Mark Wahlberg.

On television, he had roles in many popular shows. He was in Law & Order, Blue Bloods, and The Blacklist. He also played Lieutenant Bill Cranston in Gotham in 2014. His last TV role was in the series Taken in 2018.

Personal Life

James Colby was married to actress Alyssa Bresnahan. They met in 1998 while acting together in A Streetcar Named Desire. They got married in December 2008. They had one daughter together.

Death

James Colby passed away on February 23, 2018. He was 56 years old. He died in New York City.