James Lesure

If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that we’ve been watching and quietly cheering for this confident, poised, influential actor for years because, well, there’s just something about him. That something is actually several things. It’s the class and style he exudes minus the bravado. It’s the fact that he is a serious actor who has worked for many years to perfect his craft after earning a bachelor of fine arts degree in theater from the University of Southern California and studying abroad at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. But wait, there’s more. It’s also the idea that as the two-time MVP of the Entertainment League, he can shoot an explosive jumper on the basketball court and has been known to drop defenders to the ground with his deadly crossover. Who knew?

James Lesure first grabbed our attention in his series debut as attorney Mel Ellis on the comedy, For Your Love, co-starring the lovely and accomplished, Holly Robinson Peete. Arguably his most memorable role is the suave, competitive head of surveillance, Mike Cannon, on the hit series Las Vegas, opposite legendary actor James Caan. We’ve seen James most recently as Alonzo, a former basketball star, ladies man, and best friend to Matthew Perry in the ABC comedy, Mr. Sunshine.

A natural in front of the camera and on stage, James has also worked in a professional theater company in Los Angeles, where he played the role of Macduff in Shakespeare’s great tragedy, Macbeth. This role holds special meaning for him. Read the full interview below to find out why.

LeslieWrites: James, I understand that you were recently on location in New Orleans shooting a film. Can you tell me about the film?

James: Yes, I just shot a movie called Fire with Fire starring Josh Duhamel, Rosario Dawson, Bruce Willis and Vincent D’OnFrino. It’s a story about a fireman who takes an unexpected course of action when he’s threatened by a man who he’s been ordered to testify against him. Basically, he has to take justice into his own hands. He’s being bullied a little bit so he’s out there defending himself and getting revenge for things that are happening to him.

LeslieWrites: What’s your role in the movie?

James: I play a fire fighter and the friend of the lead, Josh Duhamel’s character.

LeslieWrites: Did you have a good time while you were shooting in New Orleans?

James: New Orleans treated me great. I’ve been to New Orleans several times for different reasons and this was my longest stay. The city was really good to me.

LeslieWrites: I know you’re from Los Angeles. Tell me about your family. Are you married? Do you have children? What’s your relationship with your parents? Any siblings?

James: I have yet to start a family. I’m still very close to my immediate family. I have my biological parents who raised me. We are very tight. I grew up in a family of four. It was my parents, my sister and myself. My sister passed away in 2003. She had a child before she left and so it’s still a family of four really, my parents, myself and my niece.

LeslieWrites: I’m really sorry about the loss of your sister. Are your parents raising your niece?

James: Yeah, they do most of the raising. I get to have her every other weekend to kind of help out with the raising and providing but my parents do most of the heavy lifting. They have since she was four years old.

LeslieWrites: How old is your niece now?

James: She is twelve.

LeslieWrites: Wow. So you have a special little girl in your life.

James: Yes and I can attest to that parenting stuff, you know. Right now she is in her tweens so she’s doing a lot to dissuade me from having my own family. [Laughter]

LeslieWrites: I’ll bet. That’s a tough age. I have a 12-year-old son and kids that age are something else. Let me shift gears a bit. What do you think has been the key to your longevity in film and television?

James: I wonder… I know that I feel I have been incredibly blessed to work as much as I have. With each job I try to do the best I can. You know, I try to be positive and easy to work with and it has served me well.

LeslieWrites: So as far as you know, do you have a reputation in the business for being easy to work with?

James: I wonder what my reputation is. I just know that each gig I get I’m grateful for and I just want to enjoy every experience to the fullest. I just want it to be a great working experience for myself and those I am surrounded with. That’s kind of the mindset that I go into each project with.

LeslieWrites: This speaks to your work ethic. Clearly if you were not as focused on bringing your best self and getting a lot out of the experience you wouldn’t get as much work as you do so I think that is a huge nod to who you are.

James: Yeah, thank you, Leslie.

LeslieWrites: What motivates you to get up and get out of bed each morning, especially when you’re between projects? What keeps you going?

James: Ah, you know, I want to contribute as much positive energy in this world as possible, that’s kind of my thing. Each morning I want to be a better human being and a positive force in the world so I get up and see where life will take me and how I can do that. I find it to be challenging because there are times when I get frustrated with what’s going on with myself personally and what’s going in the world so you know, I have challenges with that and at the same time I’m still trying to be better everyday.

LeslieWrites: In a recent article you used adjectives like nerdy and klutzy when referring to yourself. You don’t come across that way on-screen or maybe that just means you really are one hell of an actor. Tell me more about who you are off-screen.

James: Well, yeah, I think I have said stuff like that. I’ll give you an example. When I go to dinner and I’m trying to impress somebody, I’m the guy who ends up with a stain on my shirt from spilling food on myself. It’s those little things when I want to be suave in my lifetime, I end up doing something to embarrass myself. I think I’m good for doing stuff like that.

LeslieWrites: Are you introverted or extroverted?

James: Actually, I think I’m quiet most of the time and I may get that from my father. I think my mother is more verbal, so I have that side as well. I am usually more verbal in a social setting. There are a few people I can open up like that with and be social around but most of the time I’m quiet.

LeslieWrites: What do you enjoy doing outside of your professional life? Do you go out a lot or are you a home body? What’s your “thing,” if you have a “thing?”

James: I love spending time with dear friends and family. I like to do the cookout thing and we’re big into karaoke. We also like to play board games like Taboo or Scattegories so these things bring me joy. I do love dancing still. If the DJ is nice and there is a good vibe at a spot, I could spend hours on the dance floor working up a sweat. I like visiting places with warm climates that have warm, clear water, specifically Cancun or Hawaii. I like to leisure in places like that.

LeslieWrites: You said earlier that you’re very close to your family. Do you host cookouts at your home or are they at your parent’s home?

James: I do host cookouts where I live. My mother is a great hostess as well. She often hosts gatherings too so I guess I have sort of adopted that. I mostly have small gatherings, usually ten to fifteen people. I have a long way to go to become a good cook but you know, I can put on some bachelor things. Recently people have been complimenting me on the turkey burgers so I got an “in” there, I got a little something I can go to! Or I just throw some sausage on the grill or something like that. [Laughter] I still have a long way to go to consider myself a good cook but it reminds me about being New Orleans. I had some great meals there and people are doing some great things in the kitchen.

LeslieWrites: I have a favorite restaurant in New Orleans called Cochon. They make some amazing dishes!

James: Leslie, what are you talking about? You know, that was the first place I went when I got back to New Orleans. I had been there before and I love that spot. I love it there! It’s over on Tchoupitoulas Street. I have another spot called NOLA. It’s great and everybody who goes there should ask for a waiter named Matt. He’s an intelligent, funny waiter and really hospitable and he makes the experience even better. And the food there is slammin’.

LeslieWrites: Let’s talk about your look. How do you define your style of dress and generally your whole vibe? I’ve seen you with your hats and you seem to have a very funky, cool vibe.

James: My style of dress… I’m open to being helped. [Laughter] I’m more like a jeans and t-shirt guy for the most part and I like nice, long shorts, you know. I like looking good and yet I hate shopping to be honest. One of my favorite brands is Hugo Boss. I like LRG when it’s cool and casual. I like causal, funky so I’m open. I like the suits every now and then but I’m mostly causally comfortable.

LeslieWrites: What’s your take on the lack of cultural diversity and the lack of meaningful roles for actors of color on television and in film today? I realize there’s no magic bullet but what do you think it’s going to take to see more diversity and encourage Hollywood to embrace a more multicultural reality reflective of today’s society?

James: Yeah, I find the business challenging for every hue and people from different ethnic backgrounds. And I notice especially recently, all of these movies with superheroes. I look at the leads and they all seem to be a certain sort of ethnic group and I go, “What’s going on here? Come on! Where’s my Samoan Thor or where’s my African American Ironman?” Yes, there is definitely room for more diversity.

I hope the industry catches up to the world because it’s a diverse world full of amazing human beings with different stories. So I do hope the industry catches up in that regard because film and television are powerful mediums and a lot of good can be done by embracing stories of people with different ethnic backgrounds. You know, I hope to do my part in making this world a better place by bringing strong, positive images through film and television and I’m cool with other people adopting that philosophy as well and making that happen.

LeslieWrites: Do you do any producing or screenwriting? Any work on the other side of the camera?

James: I am open to producing but I have yet to do so. I want to still work on this acting thing. It is sort of a work in progress for me and at the same time I would like to start producing as well.

LeslieWrites: Talk to me about your views on Hollywood and the idea that celebrity is an overused, ambiguous term used to define anyone who can get fifteen minutes of fame.

James: Yeah, that whole thing to me, I just think people can calm down a little bit. I’m doing a job. It’s just a job and I’m grateful when I have gigs and want to continue to work but it’s just a job. Like anybody that works as a conductor on a train or as a doctor is just doing a job and we should do our jobs the best we can. So all of this sort of over importance in what actors do, I think people can just calm down a little. It’s just a job so relax.

Regarding the whole fame thing, I want to keep my personal life to myself and maintain some mystery for the audience. I don’t know, hopefully that’s sexier and I’m hoping people find it a little more appealing to know less about me personally so they can accept my work for what it is. It’s funny to me, I open the computer everyday and there is a story about somebody having a child and that makes the news and I think, everybody has children. That’s so natural so what’s all the hype about somebody having a kid and what they’re naming their children? To me it is just ridiculous.

But I have to admit that I loved the first two seasons of Jersey Shore so I have my guilty pleasure as far as reality TV is concerned. [Laughter] Yeah, I am inclined to slip every now and then but seriously I try to keep the whole fame thing in perspective because truthfully, for me it’s a job.

LeslieWrites: You can hold your own on the basketball court as we have discussed. I saw you play a few years ago in one of Lamar Odom’s celebrity basketball games benefiting his charity, Cathy’s Kids. I also recall hearing that you’re a Boston Celtics fan.

James: Yes, I am a Celtics fan since they got KG (Kevin Garnett) and Ray Allen. Those are kids I get behind and support. I kind of follow my favorite players in sports. KG, Ray Allen and Steve Nash are the basketball players I root for.

LeslieWrites: Any love for your home team, the Lakers?

James: My family and close friends would tell you no and they’d be right with that. I mean, I respect the Lakers. I respect what they’ve accomplished. Those kids get it done. Kobe to me is still the best player on the planet but I root for the Celtics.

LeslieWrites: Where did your love for the game begin? Did you play in high school or college?

James: I did play in high school and I played a year of organized ball at the Air Force Academy Preparatory School after high school. Since then I’ve just been sort of a gym rat. I love the sport.

LeslieWrites: I understand you’re passionate about fitness and living a healthy lifestyle. What does this mean to you and why is it important?

James: Well, healthcare is expensive in this country. It will help me save a buck if I can stay healthy and avoid the hospitals and I like the feeling of being healthy. To me it is priceless. I look at other people’s situations and I sympathize because I’ve been through some things physically in my life, some ailments, and it really kind of frustrates me when I’m going through that. I want to be as healthy as I can and live that way for as long as I can. It is really important to me.

LeslieWrites: Who or what inspires you?

James: People being generous, people being sort of selfless, people being open and soulful, those things inspire me. Sincerity and honesty, that kind of energy inspires me. Specifically, I look at my parents, they’ve been getting up and getting after it for over 40 years now. Everyday they’re getting up and working and I appreciate the examples they’ve set for me. They have been a big influence in my life.

LeslieWrites: Tell me about one or two of the greatest moments in your career? What made them great and how did they affect or change you?

James: I was doing a play a few years ago for a theater company in Hollywood. We were doing Macbeth and I was really connected to the piece. I said to myself, “This is what it is to be acting.” I loved the way it felt. It was sort of invigorating. That feeling is what I strive to have when I work and it’s what I want to have in the future. I remember that moment as being a great moment for me.

LeslieWrites: Will you do more theater as you continue your acting career?

James: Yes, I will. I am definitely open to it. Theater is where I got my foundation. I went to school for theater at USC and I did plays in Europe and then came back to Hollywood. I am definitely open to revisiting theater.

LeslieWrites: If you had it to do all over again would you pursue an acting career? Is there any other path you considered pursuing?

James: You know I might want to be a professional basketball referee. I love the game so much that I sometimes get frustrated with how the game is being called. Yeah, I’d be a referee.

LeslieWrites: What kind of advice would you give, not to referees, but to up and coming actors?

James: I would tell them to referee! [Laughter] I’m kidding. I hesitate to give advice, period. I just know I got into acting because it was something within me that I felt I wanted to do. It had nothing to do with someone telling me to do it and so I pursued it. I am glad that I had the courage to do so back in the day because it was a leap of faith on my part. I had very little support at the time from anybody to pursue acting. I had a very dear friend, John Flowers, back in high school. He supported my aspirations and maybe just a couple of other people. Mostly I chose to do it on my own because of that voice inside me and I am glad I did.

LeslieWrites: So did your parents want you to go into finance or something stable?

James: Right. I was at the Air Force Academy Preparatory School. My parents did their part to help me get into this very prestigious school because you can go on to become an officer. It’s an incredible opportunity and accomplishment for some. I was there for a year, that’s when I discovered that I wanted to do it very little.

LeslieWrites: How old were you?

James: I was eighteen at the time. That’s when I discovered that I wanted to pursue acting. My parents wanted me to stay because of the reputation of the academy and because it was sort of a more secure lifestyle so they definitely wanted me to do that.

LeslieWrites: But they’ve got to be incredibly proud of you and your career.

James: I’m hoping I made them proud. They return my calls now. Back in the day it was hard to get in touch with them but now yes, they return my calls. [Laughter]

LeslieWrites: Tell me about any philanthropic projects you’ve been involved with.

James: I like to work with my friends Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, Rodney Peete. They have a foundation that helps provide compassionate care to those living with Autism and Parkinson’s disease, the HollyRod Foundation.

I have a dear friend that does work related to fighting Sickle cell anemia and I have done some things in the past to sort of bring awareness to that also. I plan to do more in the future.

Note: James is the recipient of the Celebrity Honoree and Distinguished Support Awards from the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation.

LeslieWrites: Do you have other projects on the horizon?

James: That remains to be seen. Right now I just focus on the opportunities I have today and I look to see what life has to offer me.

LeslieWrites: Is there one word that best describes you?

James: Good question. I would have to say no. I feel like I may change so much and kind of morph and grow so it is difficult for me to sum myself up in one word. At the end of the day I just want to give thanks to the universe, to give thanks all of those folks doing positive and considerate things with their time and energy. I appreciate them and I want to have a good time while I am living.

For more information on James Lesure, please visit jameslesure.com.