Biography

Jim was born in Brooklyn, NY April 29th 1936. He moved with his family to San Diego, California in 1947, growing up around the beaches of Pacific Beach and La Jolla. Jim began his career in the entertainment industry at the age of 14 working as an apprentice in Summer Stock Theater at the La Jolla Playhouse in 1950. Jim completed high school with three years on the school stage crew, the last two years as Stage Manager. He spent two years at San Diego State College majoring in Theatre Arts and six seasons at the La Jolla Playhouse. In September of 1955 Jim transferred to UCLA to complete his studies and to be nearer to the entertainment industry.

Through contacts made at the La Jolla Playhouse Jim sought to work part time out of I.A.T.S.E. Local 33 while attending school. Within a month of enrolling at UCLA, Jim found himself working 60 to 80 hours a week or more and had to drop his classes. Shortly thereafter Jim was working full time in the Special Effects Department at CBS. Jim worked at CBS for three and a half years before being drafted into the Army in 1959. Jim spent 9 months of his army tour taking a show around the world for Department of Army Special Services as Stage Manager and Technical Director.

After returning from the service Jim continued to work in television. His longest job was at KTLA TV where he started in the set construction shop and over 6 ½ years worked his way up to Shop Supervisor and then Art Director. He also worked at Hollywood Video Center and the Universal Amphitheater as Propmaster. In 1976 Jim began working out of Local 44 of the I.A.T.S.E. as a Propmaster on films and commercials. One of the highlights of Jim's career was working on the movie Overboard in Tahiti with Angie Dickinson and Cliff Robertson.

Although Jim officially retired in 2001 he continued to work occasionally. He worked the first 6 years of America's Got Talent as assistant prop master. In 2015 Jim retired completely, deciding that 65 years in the entertainment industry was enough to call it a career.

Jim's other interests included racing sports cars in the 50's, and traveling. With in a year of returning from the army in 1961 Jim took a 9 month trip around the world. The trip started with 4½ months of cruising the South Pacific on a 106 foot Schooner. Although Jim never returned to racing he still enjoyed fast cars having owned a Lamborghini Espada for 23 years. Jim is the former Los Angeles director of the Lamborghini Club America and active in the Fabulous Fifties a loose organization of people involved in sports car racing in the 50's.

Jim has been married to his wife Terry Since 1965. They live in the Hollywood Hills on a one acre property with views across Hollywood to the ocean. Two years after they were married they took a 6 month trip around the world by ship and plane. They still enjoy traveling, their favorite travel spots are the South Pacific and Italy.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jim Fox

Jim became known in the 1950s for having created the star used in the opening credits on Playhouse 90.