James Healy Jr.

**James Healy Jr. Biography**

James Healy Jr., a Texas native, embarked on his acting journey at just 15 years old, performing in local theater and landing his first theatrical agent. His breakthrough came in 1980 when he made a memorable appearance with a "one-liner" in the iconic "Who Shot J.R.?" episode of *Dallas*, earning him a place in the Screen Actors Guild.

While pursuing a degree in theater, James fell in love with Claire Barney-Healy, and they have been happily married since 1984. Balancing the demands of family life with his passion for acting, James took on a more stable career path by becoming a police officer in 1983. Over the next three decades, he rose through the ranks, serving as a patrol officer, SWAT member, detective, and eventually Chief of Police until his retirement in 2016.

After relocating to Los Angeles in 1995, James began to secure roles in various productions, including an ABC afterschool special and a part on *News Radio*, where he had the pleasure of working alongside Phil Hartman. His diverse television credits include appearances on *The District*, *That's So Raven*, *The Division*, *Will & Grace*, *Judging Amy*, and a recurring role on *Even Stevens*.

In addition to his acting career, James holds a master's degree in Criminal Justice and has served as a professor at the University of Texas at Arlington and as an instructor at the Regional Police Academy. His expertise led him to Afghanistan in 2006, where he trained Afghan police command staff and officers in the aftermath of the war.

Since his retirement, James has returned to acting full-time, with recent projects including *Dust* alongside Sarah Paulson, *Killers of the Flower Moon* directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, as well as roles in *Law & Order: SVU*, *Leverage*, *Billions*, *East New