A tall (6'3"), strapping and versatile character player of film and TV since the mid-1970s, Brion James, with his malicious smile and leering eyes, quickly became established playing oddball heavies, lowlifes and hicks in genre fare, notably in collaboration with action guru Walter Hill in "Hard Times" (1975), "The Driver" (1978), "Southern Comfort" (1981), "48 Hours" (1982) and "Another 48 Hours" (1990). He may be best known as Leon, a memorably murderous replicant who gives Harrison Ford a hard time in Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (1982). James uttered one of the films most memorable lines:
