Biography

Six hours after receiving a standing ovation on Broadway for his acclaimed performance as a junkie in David Mamet's "American Buffalo," he died from a heroin overdose.

Died before his predicted "breakthrough" role Once Upon a Time in America (1984) was released.

On November 8, 1983, at about 3:40 a.m., Hayden arrived at his residence at the Nevada Towers, 2025 Broadway in Manhattan's Upper West Side. He immediately phoned his estranged wife Barbara, a waitress from California who had moved back home because Hayden refused to have medical treatment for his heroin addiction. Despite his involvement with another woman at the time, he told Barbara that he would kill himself if she did not take him back. He then said he felt he was about to overdose and then he was silent. This was about 3 50 a.m., at which time Barbara immediately contacted a NY family physician, who then phoned 911. When EMT's arrived, they found Hayden dead in the kitchen, sitting on a stool and slumped over the sink, with the phone still held up to his ear. A hypodermic needle, envelopes of heroin, a spoon and cotton swab were found on the kitchen floor.

Mickey Rourke dedicated his performance in the The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984) to "The Memory of James Hayden 1953-1983.".

Was very close friends with Al Pacino. Pacino tried very hard to get him the role of "Manny Ribera" in Scarface (1983), which eventually went to Steven Bauer. When he failed to get the part, Hayden auditioned for Once Upon a Time in America (1984), instead, and won the role of "Patsy" Goldberg.