William James Te Wehi Taitoko, known professionally as Billy T. James, and born on January 17, 1948, in New Zealand, was an entertainer, comedian, musician, and actor. He started his career as a singer and guitarist in a high school band before joining the Māori Volcanics showband in the 1970s. In the early 1980s, James began a solo career under the stage name Billy T. James. His breakthrough came with appearances on variety shows like Radio Times and his own comedy sketch show, The Billy T. James Show. He was named New Zealand Entertainer of the Year in 1981 and New Zealand Entertainer of the Decade in 1985. Despite health issues, including a heart transplant in 1989, James continued to perform until his death on August 7, 1991.
