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
John James (actor) 1978. They have two children. In 2012, James' daughter, Laura, won America's Next Top Model, Cycle 19. His son Phillip is serving in the United States Air Force. John James (actor) John James Anderson (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor and producer best known to television audiences for playing the character of Jeff Colby in both the prime-time soap opera "Dynasty" and its spin-off series "The Colbys" throughout the 1980s. James is a veteran of daytime soaps, first appearing in "Search for Tomorrow" in the late 1970s. In 1981 he won the role of Jeff Colby in "Dynasty",