James McCaffrey, the renowned actor famous for lending his voice to the iconic character Max Payne throughout the acclaimed video game trilogy, has passed away at the age of 65 following a courageous battle with cancer. The actor’s demise was confirmed by a representative to EW, revealing that McCaffrey peacefully departed on December 17, surrounded by his loved ones.
TMZ initially broke the news, disclosing that McCaffrey had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Born in 1959, McCaffrey underwent training at the Actor’s Studio, commencing his career with several direct-to-video films before making a breakthrough in television. His notable journey included a pivotal role in the 1992 legal drama Civil Wars, paving the way for a seven-episode appearance in the Fox procedural New York Undercover, portraying Captain Arthur O’Byrne during the show’s third season.
James McCaffrey (Credits: PEOPLE Magazine)
Subsequently, McCaffrey took the lead in the inaugural season of the crime drama Viper, originally airing in 1994 as a single season and later revived for its fourth and final installment, where McCaffrey reprised his role. He also starred in the singular season of the widely recognized detective drama Swift Justice alongside Giancarlo Esposito.
McCaffrey’s television credits extended to The Big Easy, Sex and the City, The Job, and a standout role as firefighter Jimmy Keefe in the FX dramedy Rescue Me. His diverse TV appearances also included Blue Bloods, Revenge, Suits, White Collar, She’s Gotta Have It, and Jessica Jones. On the big screen, McCaffrey contributed to films such as American Splendor, Hide and Seek, Camp Hope, Confidence Game, and The Big Take.
However, McCaffrey’s most enduring legacy lies in his voiceover work, notably portraying the titular character in the Max Payne trilogy of video games—comprising the original 2001 third-person shooter Max Payne, its 2003 sequel Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, and the final installment in 2012, Max Payne 3. His involvement extended to a cameo in the 2008 film adaptation alongside Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. McCaffrey’s recent performance was in Alan Wake 2, where he took on the role of FBI agent Alex Casey, paying homage to the Max Payne series. He also had roles in Control and Alone in the Dark.
Kevin Dillon, an actor from Entourage and a longtime friend of McCaffrey, paid a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, saying, “James McCaffrey, we were lucky to have known you. My best friend, you will be missed.” McCaffrey is survived by his wife, Rochelle Bostrom, and their daughter, Tiernan.
