Born in Los Angeles, California in 1953, the youngest of three sons to an artist and a songwriter (who made their livings as a cocktail waitress and a grocery store clerk), Jim was drawn to puppets, theatre, magic, cartoons and puns for as long as he can remember. He put on puppet and magic shows in his back yard, and later plays with classmates beginning in Kindergarten, and has never stopped. At 18 years old he started his own theatre group, designing and directing several plays at the Academy Theatre in Chatsworth.