Emrys was born in Machynlleth, Powys, in 1928, to Jimmy and Ellen (Nellie) James.
Emrys had one brother and one sister, and the family lived at 46 Maengwyn St until they moved to the new housing estate Cae Crwn which Emrys used to visit on his holidays from Aberystwyth University and later, from RADA.
Emrys began his school life at Machynlleth Council School and then attended the Senior school in Doll Street before joining Machynlleth County School where he began his acting career in the annual plays.
Emrys played a number of roles here, including Dici Bach Dwl in The Poacher and Malvolio in Twelfth Night - his first Shakespearian role.
Perhaps inspired by the English master W. B. Jones' trips to the theatre at Sratford-Upon-Avon Emrys went on to act in many more Shakespearian plays, including Measure for Measure as Claudio, and in Hamlet as Guildenstern.
After passing his Higher School Certificate Emrys did his National Service with the Royal Air Force.
After National Service and University Emrys and his future wife left for London, he for RADA and she to become a teacher.
After RADA Emrys worked for Liverpool Repertory Company and then joined Stratford Memorial Theatre in 1956 and he and Sian married in 1958.
A year later and the couple moved to London where they had two sons, William and Owen and Emrys worked for the Old Vic Theatre playing Malcom in Macbeth and Feste, a Twelfth Night role he became famous for playing.
Emrys and Sian had a third son, Jo, and a daughter, Anna, was born while Emrys was playing Shylock in The Merchant of Venice with the Royal Skakespeare Company.
Although he preferred stage to screen Emrys also appeared in television productions like The Man in the Iron Mask and Dr Who. In film Emrys worked with Gene Hackman in Eureka and with Glenda Jackson in Giro City.
In 1988 Emrys was the narrator in Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood with Anthony Hopkins but he kept in touch with his roots telling the doorman at Stratford to allow anyone from his home town in to see him.
Emrys was made an Honorary Associate Artiste of the RSC, having played King John in King John, Chorus in Henry the Fifth, and Mephostophilis in Dr Faustus with Ian McKellan as well as Iago in Brewster Mason's Othello in 1971.
Emrys stayed with the RSC until 1984 and spent his later life in the Cotswolds but became ill in 1988 with a brain tumour and he died in 1989.
The memorial service for Emrys was held in the church where Shakespeare was buried and the famous actors were joined by old friends from Machynlleth, including his old English teacher W. B. Jones.
David Wyn Davies of Machynlleth has published a book about Emrys James called "A Mach Lad - A life story of a leading Shakespearian actor Emrys James."
Emrys James spent three decades playing leading roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford-upon-Avon, London, and beyond.
