James L. Edwards began his acting career at the age of 12 when he answered an ad in his local newspaper about a casting call for zombie extras in the low budget horror film "The Dead Next Door". At the time, he was interested in coming aboard as a special effects make-up artist. Edwards soon learned that although he did not have the artistic knack for effects, he enjoyed acting and many other facets of production work. Hired on to the film as a production assistant and featured in multiple roles in zombie or victims roles, Edwards soon became a stable actor and production team member for Tempe Entertainment.

While working with Tempe, Edwards was also head review writer on their Alternative Cinema magazine, as well as writing freelance for Blackest Heart. During this time, Edwards also served as co-screenwriter on Pete Jacelone's Psycho Sisters, a film in which he ironically got the job because he wrote a scathing review of Jacelone's original. Also, during this time, Edwards turned in his most memorable performance as a serial killer in the Matthew Jason Walsh horror film "Bloodletting".