James Hayden

James Hayden (November 25, 1953 – November 8, 1983) was an American actor from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Apart from starring on Broadway, he is best known for playing Patrick "Patsy" Goldberg in the 1984 film Once Upon a Time in America.

James Hayden
Hayden as Patrick ‘Patsy’ Goldberg in the film Once Upon a Time in America
Born	(1953-11-25)November 25, 1953 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	November 8, 1983(1983-11-08) (aged 29) New York City, New York, U.S.

Life and career

Hayden trained and served as a medic in the United States Army during the Vietnam War.^[1] On his discharge, he returned to New York, attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began working as an actor.^[1]

In 1983, the year of his death, he portrayed a heroin addict in the critically acclaimed play American Buffalo, co-starring with his close friend Al Pacino.^[2][3] Hayden died of a heroin overdose during the production.^{[citation needed]}

In 1984, during the making of The Pope of Greenwich Village, Mickey Rourke dedicated his performance to the memory of Hayden.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1980	Cruising	Cockpit Coke Man	(scenes deleted)
1980	Marilyn: The Untold Story		TV movie
1980	The First Deadly Sin	Young Policeman
1981	The Intruder Within	Harry Colman	TV movie
1981	The Nesting	GI #1
1981	The Patricia Neal Story	Martin Sheen	TV movie
1984	Once Upon a Time in America	Patrick "Patsy" Goldberg	Posthumous release