Calarco's hometown is North Bay, Ontario. He married Claire Calarco in 1969.
He taught media and drama classes from 1969 to 2000. His career began when he was working as the Artistic Director of Caruso's Dinner Theatre in North Bay in 1981 and 1982. Claire and Jim Calarco formed Pine Creek Theatre Productions in 1983, producing independent freelance theatre. Calarco was a drama consultant with the Near North School Board of Education prior to retirement in 2000.
After retirement, Calarco focused his career exclusively on film and television.
Film and television
Calarco became a board member of Loon Film Productions and of Nipissing University's Nipissing Stage in 2007. He served as a member of the Theatrical Advisory Committee for Canadore College between 2008 and 2009. Calarco worked through various casting agencies to seek new talent within northern Ontario by promoting original, innovative film development as a spokesperson for the Show Us Your Shorts film competition.
Calarco is a member of ACTRA and the Actors' Equity Association. His most recent works include A Dark Truth, The Riverbank (also known as Tracing Iris) and One Wish. One Wish won the Mexico City International Film Festival's Golden Palm Award and the Canada International Film Festival's Award of Excellence.
In 2010, Calarco established North Star Talent Agency with producer Brigitte Kingsley to better represent actors from northern Ontario. Within the same year he started Real to Reel BG Agency with Kate Adams. In 2011, Calarco started Castnorth, a film and television casting and audition agency.
Calarco's latest movies have been available on Super Channel (Canada), including Dark Rising 1 and 2, A Dark Truth, High Chicago, The Riverbank and The Entitled.
North Bay Nugget was released in September 2013: "Calarco can now add the Northern Flicks Award — top honours in CTV Television Network Best in Shorts competition — to his list of awards from a film that put the spotlight on dementia and Alzheimer's."
Jim's contribution as an actor, producer, writer, director,casting director,music and voice over artist.
1985 Street Smart (film) – Waiter1988 No Angel - Mayor Ruttan - Caruso Production1989-1990 Moonlight Shadows – Jonah Rebus (Six episodes)1991 Ravens Peak - Edison Croft1992 The Scaganegy Man - Harrison1999 The Lost Patrol – Nick Delgenio - Pine Creek Production2001 Picture Claire - Passenger on the train2001 Soul Food - Senior lawyer (Two episodes)-2001 The Big Heist - Mobster #2-2001 The Judge - Prisoner in docket, jailed husband2002 My Name Is Tanino - Mafia Don2002 Conviction (2002 film) - Parole Board Chairman James Calarco - Director Kevin Rodney Sullivan2003 Benchmark - Nick2003 Into The Sunset - Walt2005 Shania: A Life in Eight Albums - Tony Barna2006 That Beautiful Somewhere - Sergeant Mathis - Loon Films Inc2006 Left Behind (Short) - Joe2007 That Was Easy (Short) – Man - Pair of Ducks Production2008 Push (Short) – Doctor Roberts2008-2011 Météo+ (TV Series) - Homeless Man #1 / Chairman / Commissioner - Charbonneau Production-2008 Alea jacta... et tout le reste - Homeless Man #1-2008 Vox pop - Homeless Man #1-2009 Une culture attend pas l'autre - Commissioner-2011 Hollywood North - Chairman2010 Medium Raw: Night of the Wolf (TV Movie) - News Reporter #1 - Defiant Empire2010 The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town (TV Mini-Series) - Townsperson #1 -2010 Death Checks In - Townsperson #1 James Calarco2010 It Started with Rabbits (Short) - Dr. Carlino - Pair of Ducks Production2011 Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster - Priest Nathan Molando2011 High Chicago - Frank Alfons2011 Dark Rising: The Savage Tales of Summer Vale (Video) - The Priest - Director Andrew Cymek2011 Dark Rising 2: Summer Strikes Back! (Video) - The Priest2011 I'm Yours (film) - Bus Station Attendant (uncredited)2011 The Entitled - Detective (uncredited)2011 Running Mates - Garrettesville Mayor - Buck Productions2011 One Wish (Video short) – Walter (Walt) - Last Best Hope Production2011 The House (Short) – Husband - Pair of Ducks Production2012 The Riverbank aka Tracing Iris - Mayor Jack Stubbs - The Film Works Inc.2012 Les Bleus de Ramville (TV Series) - Dr. Egervari - Carte Blanche Production-2012 Commotions - Dr. Egervari2012 Morning Zombies (Short) - Janitor - Film North – Huntsville International Film Festival2012 A Dark Truth, aka The Truth – Robert2013 Strangers (Short) – Bill2013 Hard Rock Medical (TV Series) - Jason Cahill-2013 Diamonds and Dust - Jason Cahill-2013 Gratitude - Jason Cahill2013 Be My Valentine (TV Movie) - Carney Jim Callarco2014 The Captive – Manager - Director Atom EgoyanMusic and voice over
2002 The Morning Song (music video)2012 Boys Will Be Boys (Short) - Narrator2011 The Entitled - Stand-in 2006 That Beautiful Somewhere - Casting Associate2011 Dark Rising 2: Summer Strikes Back! (Video) - Extras Casting2011 I'm Yours (film) - Extras Casting2012 The Riverbank - Northern Ontario Casting Associate2012 Still Mine - Extras Casting2013 Hard Rock Medical (TV Series) – Casting Associate2013 Dark Rising: Warrior of Worlds (TV Series) - Season's Change & The Trankartak - Northern Casting2007 That Was Easy (Short) - Casting Director2011 Dark Rising – Background Casting Director2011 Dark Rising 2: Summer Strikes Back! (Video) - Casting Director2006 That Beautiful Somewhere - Unit Manager2011 Dark Rising 2: Summer Strikes Back! (Video) - Unit Production Manager2007 That Was Easy (Short) - Screenplay Writer2011 One Wish (Short) - Writer2011 The House (Short) - Writer2013 Strangers (Short) - Writer2007 That Was Easy (Short) - Producer2011 One Wish (Short) - Executive Producer2011 The House (Short) - Producer2013 Strangers (Short) - Executive Producer2011 One Wish (Short) - Director2011 The House (Short) - DirectorCalarco won the Quonta Best Actor award in 1973 and in 2008 was inducted into the Northern Ontario Entertainers Hall of Fame. Many of Calarco’s recent shorts have been nominated for awards, some as finalists, and his movies won many festival awards.
1973 How The Other Half Lives – Best Actor Quonta Festival - Frank2007 That Was Easy – Best Screenplay from Music and Film in Motion Awards, Nomination and finalist from Music in Film and Motion Festival2008 Inducted into the Northern Ontario Entertainers Hall of Fame2011 The House - CTV Best In Shorts: Film North: Finalist, Mexico City International Film Festival: Silver Palm Award, ICFILMS (Milan): Top Twenty finalist2012 One Wish - Mexico City International Film Festival: Golden Palm Award, Canada International Film Festival: Award of Excellence2013 Strangers – Mexico City International Film Festival: Bronze Palm Award, Canada International Film Festival: Award of Excellence, Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival Northern Flicks Award and winner at The Rimini Italy Film Festival1973 How The Other Half Lives - Frank – Best Actor at Quonta Festival1981-82 Artistic Director of Caruso's Dinner Theatre1983 Claire and Jim Calarco formed Pine Creek Theatre Productions performing freelance theatre2000 Retired and began working exclusively in Film and Television2007 That Was Easy – Best Screenplay2008 Started Real to Reel BG Agency with Kate Adams2008 Inducted into the Northern Ontario Entertainers Hall of Fame2010 Established North Star talent Agency with Producer Brigitte Kingsley in order to represent Northern Ontario Actors2011 The House - CTV Best In Shorts: Film North: Finalist, Mexico City International Film Festival: Silver Palm Award, ICFILMS (Milan): Top Twenty finalist2011 Established Castnorth, a film and Television casting and audition agency2012 One Wish - Mexico City International Film Festival: Golden Palm Award, Canada International Film Festival: Award of Excellence2013 Strangers – Mexico City International Film Festival: Bronze Palm Award, Canada International Film Festival: Award of Excellence, Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival Northern Flicks Award and winner at The Rimini Italy Film Festival