JAMES DEPAIVA MAX HOLDEN BUCHANAN (1987 - 1990 and 1992 - PRESENT)

James DePaiva plays the charmingly amoral, Max Holden, Llanview's Man Ready with a Plan or a Scam.  James was born in Livermore, CA and is not just a talented actor; he is musically accomplished, also.  James started his professional music career, playing the electric bass when he was still a teenager.  His musical repertoire includes punk rock, Latin rock and country-western and he played in a number of bands.  After eight years of performing as a professional musician, his interest in theater and drama overshadowed his interest in music and he switched to acting, appearing in local theater productions.  James DePaiva studied drama and to enhance his acting capabilities he also pursued fencing, ballet and jazz dance at a community college.  He hired an agent and moved to Los Angeles.  His first television role was on General Hospital playing Eddie Holton, a waiter with a crush on Holly Scorpio (Emma Samms). 

In 1987, after General Hospital, James auditioned for the role of Max Holden, his longest running part.  In 1990, he took a break from playing Max, and returned to Llanview in 1992.  He has also appeared on Simon and Simon, Days of Our Lives, and a made-for-television film, Commitment to Excellence.  His theater appearances in California productions include key roles in such a wide range of musical, dramatic and comedic plays such as The Fifth of July, The Hasty Heart, The Desk Set, Company, The Sound of Music, The School for Scandal and All’s Well That Ends Well.  James studied acting in Los Angeles with Stella Adler, and other teachers.  One of his proudest achievements is earning a black belt in kung fu.  In 1996 James married his One Life to Live co-star Kassie Wesley DePaiva (Blair Cramer Holden/Buchanan).  Their son, James Quentin was born in 1997.  James also has a daughter, Dreama Marie, born July 2, 1992, from his earlier marriage to actress Misty Rowe of Hee-Haw fame.