James Widdoes

Widdoes was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Barbara (Landauer) and W. Peirce Widdoes. His maternal great-grandmother was ephemera and sheet music collector Bella Clara Landauer. He graduated from The Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1972, and serves on its board of trustees. Widdoes began his acting career during college, starring in a production of The New Amen Show at the Diners Playhouse in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1974. He attended Skidmore College in 1972 and then transferred to New York University's Tisch School of Arts, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While in New York, he roomed with actors as Michael O'Keefe and The Great Santini. He then began performing in productions such as the 1977 Equity Library Theatre revival of Wonderful Town and the 1982 Broadway musical Is there life after high school? His role in this last production won him a Theatre World Award.