Summary
James McCaffrey, best known for his leading performances in theMax Paynetrilogy, has died at 65 from cancer. While the actor was renowned within the world of gaming thanks toMax Payne, he also had a storied career in television and film, and was prized for his inimitable persona and penchant for playing gruff, masculine leads.
A long-time staple inmany Remedy Entertainment titles, McCaffrey starred not only as Max Payne, but also as Alex Casey inAlan Wake 2and Zachariah Trench inControl. His instantly recognizable voice made him famous among gaming enthusiasts, and he also made a name for himself on TV, where he starred as Jimmy Keefe inRescue Meand featuring in numerous other programs, includingLaw and Order: SVUandBlue Bloods. McCaffrey’s career extended to film as well, where he turned out notable performances in movies like 1994’sViper.
Asreported by TMZ, McCaffrey passed away on July 31, 2025 from multiple myeloma. A representative for the actor issued a statement announcing his unfortunate passing and praisingMcCaffrey’s committment to character-building: “One of Dick Wolf’s proteges, McCaffrey went on to a successful 35 year career in television and film. Trained at the Actor’s Studio, he never lost his love for creating characters; however, his good looks often pushed him toward leading man roles.” McCaffrey is survived by his wife and daughter.
McCaffrey may not have been as prolific in the gaming sphere as some other actors, but his impact on the industry was immeasurable. When Rockstar acquired the rights to theMax Paynefranchise and developedMax Payne 3without Remedy, McCaffrey still reprised his role as the titular character, proving himself to be crucial to the essence of the franchise. While he would not play a protagonist inControlorAlan Wake 2, his performances were nonetheless memorable and key to the identity of those titles.
One of Dick Wolf’s proteges, McCaffrey went on to a successful 35 year career in television and film. Trained at the Actor’s Studio, he never lost his love for creating characters; however, his good looks often pushed him toward leading man roles.
Max Payne 3was cinematic in the way that contemporary games often are, with impressive visuals and cinematography, but the first two entries in the series were far more minimal on the visual front. Because of this, the high-stakes, gritty stories of those games were carried by McCaffrey’s voice performance. Indeed, theMax Paynefranchise would likely not have been as influential or significant without him. It’s possible that fans will hear McCaffrey’s voice once more in theupcomingMax Payneremakes, which will hopefully serve as a moving tribute to the beloved actor.
Max Payne
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Max Payne is a man with nothing to lose in the violent, cold urban night. A fugitive undercover cop framed for murder, hunted by cops and the mob, Max is a man with his back against the wall, fighting a battle he cannot hope to win. Max Payne is a relentless story-driven game about a man on the edge, fighting to clear his name while struggling to uncover the truth about his slain family amongst a myriad of plot-twists and twisted thugs in the gritty bowels of New York during the century’s worst blizzard.The groundbreaking original cinematic action-shooter, Max Payne introduced the concept of Bullet Time® in videogames. Through its stylish slow-motion gunplay combined with a dark and twisted story, Max Payne redefined the action-shooter genre.
