TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine is always excited to present to its readers actors with multiple talents. There are many celebrities that fans have been surprised by in discovering the many abilities they have. One such actor is James Mapes.
James you first appeared in the 1973 movie ‘Shamus’. What first interested you in this career, and what training did you undertake before starting out in it ?
JM- I wanted to be an actor since I was a child but that was not very practical. I entered college as a math major and chemistry minor. It was a disaster. Six years later I graduated from California State University Northridge with my Master in Theater. My first season was with the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival making $15.00 a week and sleeping under the stage. My next acting gig was a year at The New Orleans Repertory Theater where I got my Equity card. Then, off to New York doing commercials, soaps stage and getting a foot in the door for film. Oh yes, and developing my one man hypnosis show which I finally presented on Broadway a little over six years ago. (more…)