Where Do You Know ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ Star James Remar From?
James Remar has long been one of Hollywood’s most reliable character actors, and on October 26, 2025, he returns to TV as one of the stars of It: Welcome to Derry. But while you may recognize Remar primarily from his running role as Harry Morgan, Dexter Morgan’s adoptive father in the Dexter franchise, the 71-year-old star has had a 40-plus year career, beginning with his turn as one of the leather-clad gang members in 1979’s cult hit The Warriors.He’s also appeared in everything from Miracle on 34th Street to2 Fast 2 Furious, Pineapple Express, Django Unchained, Hill Street Blues, Sex and the City, The Twilight Zone and many, many more.
Who is James Remar?
William James Remar was born on December 31, 1953 in Boston, Massachusetts. His father worked as an attorney, while his mother served as a mental health official for the state. After quitting school to experiment with music and playing in a rock band as a teenager, he decided to pursue acting and trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, making his film debut in On the Yard in 1978. But his real breakthrough arrived a year later when he landed the role of Ajax in The Warriors.
Paramount Pictures/Everett Collection
A few years later, Remar took on another career-defining role as murderous villain Albert Ganz in 48 Hrs. in 1982. Playing opposite Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy in their hit buddy cop film, Remar became known for his ability to portray dangerous, unpredictable characters. He cemented this reputation with films like The Cotton Club in 1984, where he played real-life mobster Dutch Schultz.
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What characters has James Remar played?
By the 1990s and early 2000s, Remar had broadened his career. He appeared in projects ranging from action to drama, but he also made a notable impact on television. He took on the role of Richard Wright, the wealthy love interest of Kim Cattrall‘s Samantha Jones, in Sex and the City. This introduced him to a new audience, stepping aside from many of his most familiar roles as a military or harsh persona.
HBO/Everett Collection
In 2006, Remar joined Dexter as Harry Morgan, Dexter’s adoptive father whose guidance shaped the entire premise of the show. Appearing throughout the series until its 2013 finale, Harry became one of Remar’s most recognizable characters and continues to appear in the recent Dexter adaptations.
After Dexter, he appeared on Gotham as Frank Gordon and became a fan favorite as Peter Gambi in Black Lightning. On the big screen, he continued to book high-profile projects, including a role as Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson in Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer in 2023. Now tell us, what do you know him from?
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