Person Details

Birthday:

Aliases: No known aliases

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 6

TV Involvements: 0


Most Famous Work

Biography

James Hayden was an American actor from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Apart from starring on Broadway, he is best known for playing Patrick "Patsy" Goldberg in the 1984 film Once Upon a Time in America. Hayden trained and served as a medic in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. On his discharge, he returned to New York, attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began working as an actor. In 1983, the year of his death, he portrayed a heroin addict in the critically acclaimed Broadway play American Buffalo, co-starring with his close friend Al Pacino. At 4:30 AM, he was speaking to his estranged wife, on the telephone, when his voice suddenly ceased. Mrs. Hayden immediately called Hayden's physician, and the physician called the 911 emergency number over to Hayden's Manhattan apartment at 69th Street and Broadway. Police discovered James Hayden slumped over the kitchen sink, telephone still in hand. On the floor of the kitchen, police had found a hypodermic needle and several glassine envelopes believed to contain heroin. He was pronounced dead at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center. Just six hours before his death, he had received a standing ovation for his performance. In 1984, during the making of The Pope of Greenwich Village, Mickey Rourke dedicated his performance to the memory of Hayden.

Most Famous Work

Once Upon a Time in America
Average
8

Once Upon a Time in America

(1984) Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg
Cruising
Average
7

Cruising

(1980) Cockpit Cake Man
The First Deadly Sin
Average
6

The First Deadly Sin

(1980) Young Policeman
The Nesting
Average
5

The Nesting

(1981) GI #1
The Patricia Neal Story
Average
5

The Patricia Neal Story

(1981) Martin Sheen
The Intruder Within
Average
6

The Intruder Within

(1981) Harry Colman

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
1984 Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg
1981 Martin Sheen
GI #1
Harry Colman
1980 Young Policeman
Cockpit Cake Man
Year Character Movie/Tv

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