Biography
James Healey was born in Ireland, raised in the UK and migrated to Australia in 1970, and joined Crawford Productions in TV series Homicide, Division 4, Cop Shop and Matlock Police, before the age of twenty. He attended the National Institute Dramatic Arts (NIDA) after winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy Dramatic Art (RADA).
Healey adapted/produced Oscar Wilde's "De Profundis", and made his London debut in "The Golden Cradle" in honor of the Abbey Theatre in 1978 with Irish stage legend Siobhan McKenna. He joined Ronald Pickup and the National Theatre cast in Anglia TV's "Memories"; appeared in the BBC Play Even Solomon (1979), and guest-starred on Penmarric (1979).
Healey won critical acclaim as Heathcliff in "Wuthering Heights" (with Regional Premieres of West End Best Plays: "Privates on Parade", "Bedroom Farce", and "Ten Times Table"). He starred in Australian prime-time series The Restless Years (1977), and as artistic director formed the Falcon Theatre Company in 1983 to act, direct and produce such plays as "This Property is Condemned", "Snow Angel", and "Zoo Story".
Donald P. Bellisario contracted Healey for the lead role of Joshua Leopard in his new prime-time series Ultimate Adventure Company, set to succeed Magnum, P.I. (1980), which was ending its run on ABC. While under exclusive contract at Universal Studios for two years, he attended UCLA Extension Writers' Program, and screenwriting workshops with John Truby and Robert McKee. He guest-starred on Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983), Father Dowling Mysteries (1989); and The Young Riders (1989). After the cancellation of the Ultimate Adventure Company, he would star opposite Joan Collins as Sean Rowan on Dynasty (1981).
Healey was accused of assault with charges reduced to a misdemeanor and community service. He rejoined Acapulco H.E.A.T. (1993) (with fellow Dynasty (1981) alum Catherine Oxenberg) in the reoccurring role of Strake. Producer Bernard L. Kowalski had reportedly previously optioned Healey's screenplay, "Ill-Fated". In 1995, famed producer and former head of Paramount Studios, Robert Evans, reportedly met with Healey for the actor to audition for the lead role in a possible reboot of "The Saint", and pick up the option for "Ill-Fated".
Healey returned to Australia in 1995 to rewrite the script, but his father was ill. Healey cared for for his father until the latter's death in 2000. Healey became a member of the Australian Writers' Guild (1997). In 2005, he formed Caesars Sword Productions. In 2008, Dion & Randall Productions engaged Healey to write "Gypsy Moon", which premiered at the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill in Seoul, South Korea. The show became a box-office hit with more than 400,000 attending 497 performances from 2008-10.
A documentary, "It'll be Right on the Night", written and directed by Healey and co-produced by Caesars Sword Productions & Dion and Randall Productions, concerns the challenges confronting Gypsy Moon from concept in Melbourne, to Opening Night in Seoul. In 2010, Healey re-wrote "Will-o'-the-Wisp", re-titled "Poacher", a semifinalist in film festivals, including the L.A. Shriekfest Festival. From 2011-12, "Will-o'-the-Wisp" is in development with Mitchell German at Reelwriting.com. In May 2012 the screenplay entered the Inktip Pitch Summit in Los Angeles.
"Ill-Fated" was purchased by Reel Movie Productions, Melbourne, and the script Precognition optioned. Healey tested for the lead role of Hunter in the pilot episode of a US TV series, "Awakening", and for the lead role of Michael Grace in another proposed U.S. television series, "Grace" (which was not picked up by the ABC network).
