| Pseudonym | Thomas Dresden James Barwick James Taylor |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Donald James Wheal |
| Birth date | 22 August 1931 |
| Birth place | World's End, London, UK |
| Death date | 28 April 2008 (aged 76) |
| Death place | London, UK |
| Occupation | Screenwriter, novelist, nonfiction writer |
| Alma mater | Pembroke College, Cambridge |
| Years active | 1964–2007[1] |
| Notable works | Inspector Vadim novels |
Donald James (born Donald James Wheal; 22 August 1931 – 28 April 2008)[1] was a British screenwriter, novelist and non-fiction writer.
Early life
James was born in World's End, Chelsea. In 1944, the Wheal home was destroyed during a German bombing raid and the family moved to White City.[1][2] In 1946 James visited post-war France, an experience which would influence his writing.[1]
Educated at Sloane Grammar School and Pembroke College, Cambridge (where he read history), James completed his national service in the Parachute Regiment before returning to London to become a supply teacher.[1] He also briefly worked in public relations and at the Daily Telegraph library.[2] In the early 1960s, James was a television actor.[3]
Writing career
In 1964 he began a career as a screenwriter, mostly in TV, making his debut with crime drama No Hiding Place.[2] His writing also included the TV series The Adventurer, The Avengers, The Champions, Department S, Joe 90, Mission: Impossible, The Persuaders!, The Protectors, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), The Saint, The Secret Service, Space: 1999, Terrahawks and UFO. From the 1960s to the 1980s, he penned over 250 TV scripts.[2] He wrote for a total of 22 TV productions and films, including the Century 21 film Doppelgänger.
In the 1970s James became a thriller novelist, publishing his first title, A Spy at Evening, in 1977.[1] His later works included The Fall of the Russian Empire (1982), Monstrum (1997), The Fortune Teller (1999), and Vadim (2000). He also wrote non-fiction, co-authoring The Penguin Dictionary of the Third Reich (1997) under pseudonym James Taylor.[1] Other pen names included Thomas Dresden and James Barwick (originally in collaboration with Tony Barwick, a fellow writer on the TV productions of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and their company AP Films/Century 21).
His autobiographical account of London life during World War II, World's End, was published in 2005. A second volume of memoirs, White City, followed in March 2007.[2]
James died in London on 28 April 2008.[1] Married three times and divorced once, he was survived by twin daughters from his first marriage.[1]
References
- ^ Gaughan, Gavin (24 July 2008). "Obituary: Donald James Wheal – Writer of 1960s TV Scripts and Inspector Vadim Novels". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ "Donald James Wheal: Screenwriter and Novelist". thetimes.com. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ^ "IMDb Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
External links
- Donald James at IMDb