R.I.P. James McCaffrey: ‘Max Payne’ Actor Dead At 65

Actor James McCaffrey, who starred in shows like Viper and Rescue Me and provided the title character’s voice in the Max Payne video games, died this Sunday (Dec. 17) from cancer. McCaffrey was 65.

TMZ confirmed his death this morning, sharing that the actor’s rep said he died “surrounded by friends and family.”

McCaffrey joined The Actor’s Studio in the late 1980s, and appeared in dozens of shows and movies since then. His early roles included guest spots on Sex and the City, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and New York Undercover.

In addition, he had starring roles in NBC’s Viper and later on FX’s Rescue Me. On the latter show, McCaffrey spent seven seasons playing firefighter Jimmy Keefe, the best friend of Denis Leary‘s character Tommy Gavin, who died in the Sept. 11 attacks and would appear to Gavin as a ghost.

Leary paid tribute to his former co-star today on X, posting a photo collage of some of McCaffrey’s most notable roles.

The great James McCaffrey from #TheJob #RescueMe #MaxPayne RIP pic.twitter.com/2U30jI96gG

— Denis Leary (@denisleary) December 18, 2023

Starting in 2001, McCaffrey began voicing the character of Max Payne in the video game series of the same name. He appeared in three versions of the game between 2001 and 2012, and also appeared in an uncredited role in the 2008 Max Payne film, in which Mark Wahlberg played Payne. McCaffrey also provided voices in games like the Alan Wake series and Alone In The Dark.

McCaffrey is survived by his wife, Rochelle Bostrom, and their daughter.