Sid James attack while performing on stage at the Sunderland Empire Theatre; he died in hospital an hour later. Some, including comedian Les Dawson, claim to have seen the ghost of James at the theatre, and subsequently refused to appear at the theatre again. James was born Solomon Joel Cohen on 8 May 1913, to Jewish parents in South Africa, later changing his name to Sidney Joel Cohen, and then Sidney James. His family lived on Hancock Street in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. Upon moving to the UK later in life, he claimed various previous occupations, including diamond cutter, dance tutor and boxer; in
Brian James (actor) Brian James (actor) Brian James (5 July 1918 – 2 November 2009) was an Australian radio, stage, television and film actor, He was born in Victoria. James did much stage work, including the 1952 J.C Williamson production of "Seagulls Over Sorrento". He would also appear in the 1960 TV production of the play. He also appeared in ABC radio plays. James appeared in several ABC drama plays in the late 1950s, including "Duke In Darkness" and "Killer in Close-Up: The Wallace Case" in 1957, "Gaslight", "The Small Victory", "The Public Prosecutor", and "The Governess" (all 1958), "Crime Passionel", "Treason", and