Jim Fitzpatrick was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on Offutt Air Force Base, better known as SAC (Strategic Air Command) headquarters. He eventually returned to Florida where his parents (Jim Sr. and Cookie) are from and began his acting career on the stage at the tender age of 13 when he appeared in his first school play, "A Thousand Clowns", at Seminole (Florida) High School. Jim accepted a football scholarship to Illinois State University as a theater major where he became involved with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company founded by Gary Sinise and John Malkovich . He put aside an acting career to play professional football, however, starting in 1981 with the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the CFL (Canadian Football league) followed by short stints with the Chicago Bears ('81) and the Baltimore Colts ('82). His football career ended when he retired in 1985, after spending three seasons with the Tampa Bay Bandits in the USFL ('83-'85). However, playing for the Bandits was a blessing in disguise. One of the owners of the Bandits was 'Burt Reynolds', who was instrumental in setting Jim's career in Los Angeles in motion. Jim began auditioning for productions during the off-seasons. Before moving to L.A., he landed parts in "Miami Vice" (1984), Cocoon (1985) and D.A.R.Y.L. (1985). Since then, Jim has appeared in over 30 plays for the stage (six of which he has written, produced and directed in Los Angeles). He has also starred and guest-starred in over 50 roles in films and television such as U.S. Seals, Operation Delta Force 3: Clear Target, Armageddon (1998), Star Trek: "Enterprise" (2001), "JAG" (1995) and "All My Children" (1970). Besides acting, James has written, produced and directed a poignant romantic dramedy entitled An American Reunion (2003), one of 33 screenplays he has written and produced. James filmed a pilot for a TV series called Supernatural (2005) (TV), which he executive-produced and directed. Jim, his actress wife, Jodi Knotts , and their two sons, J.J. Fitzpatrick and Jadon Fitzpatrick , have recently moved from Los Angeles to Seminole, Florida, where he is directing the fifth film, after completing the first a series of three called The Adventure Scouts (2010).

His "Enterprise" (2001) character, Commander Williams, was named after William Shatner .Set-up Cameron Diaz with his agent, which helped launch her professional acting career.Jimmy was the first Tarzan at the theme park Busch Gardens, in Tampa Florida.In 1987, Jimmy became close friends with feature director Michael Bay (Armageddon, Bad Boys 1 & 2, The Rock). They met while Michael was still attending film school in college and holding auditions, when Michael asked Jimmy to Star in Senior Thesis Project. In fact, Jimmy has starred in over 18 different Films, National Commercials, Music Videos, and a short, titled 'Evicted', for Michael. They're still close friends to this day.He and Sam Shepard became friends in the late 80s, during an evening of Tequila and a deep discussion about the philosophy of writing two- and three- act semi-autobiographical plays for the stage. Several years later, James co-starred in one of Sam's most controversial Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, entitled, "Curse of The Starving Class".Writer/director David Klass was his best-man at his wedding to Jodi Knotts , aboard a 33 ft. yacht in the San Francisco bay, on the fourth of July, 1990.In 1986, he and his best friend, director/producer Corbin Timbrook , met at an audition for a feature film titled 'Money Can't Buy Me Love,' vying for the role of the same character. He and Corbin have since worked together over 20 times in feature films, TV series episodes, and theatrical plays for the stage in Los Angeles.Father, with Jodi Knotts , of sons J.J. Fitzpatrick and Jadon Fitzpatrick .While attending Illinois State University, James frequented the City of Chicago where he met and became friends with several influential individuals in the 1970's, such as, Nobel Prize Winner Linus Pauling, Chicago City Mayor Richard Daley Sr...and finally Hugh Hefner, founder of the Playboy Club and Magazine.