Liam James Collins

Canadian Liam James's acting choices reflected a penchant for playing roles outside of the usual scope offered to young talent, from a troubled young man with a photographic memory on "Psych" (USA Network, 2006-14) to an emotionally volcanic teen on "The Killing" (AMC, 2011-13; Netflix, 2014) before giving a star-making performance as a lonely young man on summer vacation in the box-office independent hit "The Way, Way Back" (2013). Though essentially a light-hearted show, "Psych" provided James with the earliest showcase for his talent at playing conflicted young men, which he would continue to essay in features like "Fred Claus" (2007) and "The Killing." But it was the layers of sadness and longing he brought to his turn in "The Way, Way Back" that vaulted James from juvenile performer to as an up-and-coming player with the ability to transition capably to leading man status.

Born August 7, 1996 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Liam James entered the entertainment business through a friend of his mother's, a casting agent who hired him to work as an extra and body double on various projects. James soon developed a taste for screen work and began auditioning for roles. He made his acting debut in 2006 as the younger version of James Roday's bogus psychic in the popular comedy-drama "Psych" and would reprise the role in 60 episodes of the series while also landing bit parts in features like "Good Luck Chuck" (2007) and "Fred Claus" (2007). Within two years' time, James had moved up to major supporting roles like John Cusack's son in the apocalyptic drama "2012" (2009). His breakout role came as Mireille Enos' sullen teenaged son in "The Killing" (AMC, 2011-13; Netflix, 2014), which began as a recurring character in its first season before James moved up to the main cast for its sophomore run on the network. After "The Killing" was cancelled and then revived by AMC for a third season, James returned to the role, though as a guest performer. In 2013, James enjoyed critical acclaim in the independent comedy-drama "The Way, Way Back" (2013). Directed by Oscar winners Nat Faxon and Jim Rash ("The Descendants," 2011), the film offered a heartfelt look at James' emotional maturation as he endured a summer vacation with his recently divorced mother (Toni Collette) and her verbally abusive new boyfriend (Steve Carell). A critical and box office hit in the summer of 2013, "The Way, Way Back" also firmly established James as a performer capable of carrying a picture on his own acting abilities.