Actor James McCaffrey, best known for lending his voice to the popular video game character Max Payne, recently died after battling cancer. James was the voice of Max Payne, Remedy Entertainment’s protagonist from the game of the same name.
Reports suggest that McCaffrey passed away on Sunday surrounded by friends and family. It is said that he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and that he eventually succumbed to the disease. A source close to the actor said, “One of Dick Wolf’s proteges (“Swift Justice”), McCaffrey went on to a successful 35-year career in television and film. Trained at the Actor’s Studio, he never lost his love for creating characters; however, his good looks often pushed him toward leading man roles.”
The news spread after a post from ‘Entourage’ star Kevin Dillon went viral. In the post, Kevin honored his friend by sharing a photo of both of them as a remembrance. 65-year-old McCaffrey is survived by his wife Rochelle Bostrom and daughter Tiernan.
James McCaffrey as Max Payne
James McCaffrey voiced the character of Max Payne across Remedy’s three-game series. Remedy Entertainment issued a statement expressing their grief at the loss of the actor via a post on X. The post read, “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our beloved friend and collaborator James McCaffrey, the iconic voice of Max Payne and Alex Casey. His remarkable talent gave life to our characters and left an enduring impact on our community. Our hearts go out to his family.”
We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our beloved friend and collaborator James McCaffrey, the iconic voice of Max Payne and Alex Casey. His remarkable talent gave life to our characters and left an enduring impact on our community. Our hearts go out to his family. pic.twitter.com/GEJL7aXyNt
— Remedy Entertainment (@remedygames) December 18, 2023
Remedy’s creative director Sam Lake shared he was “heartbroken” to learn about James’ death. “We worked together for more than 25 years. He was a lovely man and a dear friend. He was a key part of the Remedy family.” Sam mentioned that James was a brilliant actor and that no one could do what he did better than him.
He further added, “James was Max Payne, Thomas Zane, Zachariah Trench, and finally Alex Casey. I had the honor of sharing Max Payne’s role and Casey’s role with him. He was a joy to work with. I will cherish his memory and I miss him. My deepest condolences to his family. Rest in peace, Jim.”
Besides, Rockstar Games, the publisher of the Max Payne series, also issued a statement, saying: “Rest in Peace James McCaffrey.” They described James as the inimitable and commanding person who brought Max Payne to life.
What other roles has James McCaffery played?
Apart from voicing Max Payne, James McCaffery has also played a part in other Remedy Entertainment titles including Alan Wake and Control. McCaffrey was most recently seen as the voice of Alan Wake 2‘s Alex Casey. It was a character whose physical appearance resembled that of Remedy’s Sam Lake.
He was also seen on TV and in movie roles on big-time shows. Most notably he appeared in “Rescue Me,” where he played the role of Jimmy Keefe for 56 episodes between 2004 and 2011. Other than that he also starred in TV shows like “Revenge,” “Beautiful People,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “As the World Turns,” “Swift Justice,” “Civil Wars,” “Canterbury’s Law,” “Suits,” “Blue Bloods,” “Bluff City Law,” “She’s Gotta Have It” and more.
He is also remembered for his lead role in the famed “Viper” in the ’90s. When it comes to movies, he was seen in films like “The Truth About Cats & Dogs,” “The Big Take,” “A Gifted Man,” “American Splendor,” and “She Hate Me” among others.