According to Laura Wagner's article on James in the Winter 2011-2012 issue of Films of the Golden Age magazine, the actor's break in films occurred when he was given the chance to repeat his stage role of George Bigelow in What a Life (1939), but only after William Holden dropped out to appear in Golden Boy (1939).
Buried in a military cemetery in the Netherlands, Plot E, Roy 7, Grave 15.
Had a brother who also served during WWII, Lt. Douglas C. Corner, Jr.