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".

Shortly after the Tempe split, Edwards took time off to get married and have kids, living a "normal" life until he was approached by filmmaker T. Michael Conway, director of the gritty cop drama "PiG". Conway was getting ready to go into pre-production on a reality horror film entitled "June 9". Edwards, excited to get back to film, came aboard as producer and actor.

Edwards followed up "June 9" with a string of independent features such as "The Spook Show", "Poison Sweethearts", "Wrestlemassacre" and "Killer Campout" , which he also co-wrote.

In February of 2020, Edwards released his directorial debut, the romantic drama/horror hybrid HER NAME WAS CHRISTA starring Shianne Daye, Drew Fortier, Rick Jermain, Kaylee Williams and Edwards. In 2021, Edwards released his follow-up directing effort, the horror anthology BRIMSTONE INCORPORATED.