Paul James, an African American actor, was born on June 6, 1981, in Washington, D.C., and raised in suburban Maryland. He pursued his passion for the arts by studying theater at Syracuse University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. James was also a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity during his time at the university.
Coming from a supportive family, Paul credits his parents for encouraging his artistic ambitions. Though his mother once dreamed of acting and his father aspired to be a painter, neither pursued creative careers. Instead, they provided their time and financial support to help Paul pursue his dreams, earning James's lasting gratitude and admiration.
Paul James is best known for his role as Calvin Owens on the ABC Family (now Freeform) series Greek. The show, a comedy-drama chronicling life within the Greek system at the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University (CRU), featured James as a confident and openly gay student and jock. Calvin begins the series as a closeted athlete who eventually embraces his identity, becoming one of the earliest representations of a non-stereotypical gay Black character on American television.
In the show, Calvin is one of the first friends of the main character, Rusty. Initially, he joins the academically and socially elite fraternity Omega Chi Delta, known for its achievements and networking opportunities. However, due to shifting loyalties and personal convictions, he later aligns more closely with the underdog fraternity, Kappa Tau Gamma, alongside Rusty.
For his grounded and authentic portrayal of Calvin, Paul James was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.
James has built a diverse acting portfolio in both film and television. His film credits include roles in Cry Wolf, The Architect, Spinning into Butter, Dragon Crusaders, and Crawlspace.
On the small screen, he has made appearances in popular series like CSI: Miami, NCIS: Los Angeles, Bones, Torchwood, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Last Ship, reinforcing his reputation as a versatile television actor.
James's acting career took a pivotal turn while he was working at P.F. Chang’s in Santa Monica. With three years of experience at the restaurant, he was discovered by casting director Johnny Barba, a regular customer who had become friends with several staff members.
Barba, aware of James's past work in films like Cry Wolf and The Architect, informed him about the role of Calvin in Greek. Initially skeptical about whether James would relate to the fraternity lifestyle portrayed in the show, Barba was reassured after learning of Paul’s own fraternity background. James auditioned and ultimately landed the role that significantly boosted his career.
Though he portrayed a gay character on television, Paul James is not gay in real life. Nonetheless, he has expressed deep respect for the LGBTQ+ community and has shared, in interviews, that he has witnessed discrimination against both Black and gay individuals. He aims to portray roles that break stereotypes and believes the role of Calvin in Greek was a well-rounded, non-stereotypical portrayal of a gay man.
James also once shared a story from college where a gay student was initially rejected from joining his fraternity, a decision that was later reversed—but not in time, as the student had already joined another fraternity. This experience left an impression on James and highlighted ongoing challenges around acceptance and inclusion, themes he has since tried to reflect meaningfully in his work.
| Net Worth 2021: | 900 thousand |
