A product of the Brooklyn parochial school system, he later studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Arrested in Vancouver, British Columbia on July 23, 1991 after Royal Canadian Mounted Police intercepted a package containing 3.2 grams of cocaine being sent to his hotel room. Farentino was in town filming the TV movie Miles from Nowhere (1992) (TV). He was charged with cocaine possession and released on bail.
Ex-son-in-law of Jack Dusick.
Father, with Michele Lee, of son David Farentino.
He was awarded the 1973 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Guest Artist for his performance in the play, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", at the Arlington Park Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
In 2003, after a long down period, he received rave reviews on the L.A. stage playing a Russ Meyer-like porn producer in "Boy Gets Girl".
Married in 1994 to fourth wife, actress Stella Farentino, Stella filed for divorce in 1998 due to "irreconcilable differences," but later withdrew her petition. James himself then filed for divorce in January 2001, also due to "irreconcilable differences").
One of the last contract stars (Universal) in the late 60s.
Son of Anthony, a clothing designer, and Helen (nee Enrico) Ferrantino, a homemaker.
Was charged with stalking Tina Sinatra (daughter of Frank Sinatra).
Won a Theatre World Award for his portrayal of Stanley Kowalski in a 1973 revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire" opposite Rosemary Harris.