Clifton James (born May 29, 1921) is an American actor.
James was born George Clifton James in New York City, New York or Spokane, Washington, the son of Grace (née Dean), a teacher, and Harry James, a journalist. James is a decorated World War II veteran, U.S. Army Combat Infantry Platoon Sergeant CO."A" 163rd INF. 41st DIV. He served forty-two months in the South Pacific, from January 1942 until August 1945. He spent time in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. His decorations include: Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Presidential Citation, Combat Infantry Badge and Six Battle Stars. He resides in New York City with his wife of 55 years. He has six children, fourteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
James is known for playing the role of Sheriff J.W. Pepper in the James Bond films Live and Let Die and The Man with the Golden Gun. He also played a very similar character in both Superman II and Silver Streak. Despite being born in New York City, he has been cast as a Southerner in many of his roles. As an example, James played powerful Houston lawyer Striker Bellman in the daytime soap opera Texas from 1981 to 1982. Also, he acted as the Southern Carr the floor walker in Cool Hand Luke, and as Sheriff Lester Crabb, a temporary one off replacement for regular Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane (James Best) in the second season Dukes of Hazzard episode "Treasure of Hazzard" (1979). Other television credits include two episodes of The A-Team, as murderous prison Warden Beale in the first season episode 'Pros and Cons' (filmed 1982, broadcast 1983), and as corrupt Sheriff Jake Dawson in the second season's 'The White Ballot' (1983). In 1996, he played the role of "Red Kilgreen" on the ABC daytime drama series, All My Children.
He also had a role as a district attorney in The Untouchables alongside Robert De Niro, Sean Connery and others.
