Reverend Herman James Sr. is a supporting character portrayed by Bill Cobbs.
Biography[]
James Sr. was the father of Herman James Jr. and a veteran of World War II, having been 26 years old[1] when the war began and being conscripted in 1943. After returning, he founded a congregation and became involved in the civil rights movement. By 1999, James Sr. appears to have retired, with his son having since become a reverend himself and being involved in labor activism much like this father was before him. As seen by the pictures in his son's house, James Sr. served during the 1943-1944 winter campaign of the war and has two grandchildren
In mid-1999, James Sr. is seen with his son, protesting at Jack Massarone's construction yard over the lack of jobs being given to African-American workers. The rally is subsequently broken up by members of the DiMeo crime family, who were paid by Massarone to disrupt the picket. James Sr. appears to be unaware that the protest was staged by his son in cooperation with DiMeo boss Tony Soprano to heighten James Jr.'s status in the black community and to earn him and Tony an even split of the money paid by Masserone for the assistance, at the cost of his followers' well-being. For this purpose, Tony visits the James residence, but finds only James Sr. present. Intending to wait for his son to arrive, Tony makes small talk with James Sr. about his military service, with James Sr. telling Tony about his belief in the perseverance of his people, likening it to the flight of the biblical Hebrews from Egypt. Tony leaves and says he would meet with his son another time.
Reverend James Sr. passes away at the end of the episode. His son and other family members attend his wake. DiMeo crime family boss Tony Soprano gives his condolences to Reverend James Jr.
- ↑ Tony mistakenly says James Sr. was 28 years old, despite the latter saying that he's 83 and a picture in his uniform from his time in WWII was taken 57 years ago