Acting
James Ware
James Ware, better known by his ring name "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler who made his professional wrestling debut in 1978. He gained most of his popularity in the World Wrestling Federation when he was known as the Birdman. Ware came to the ring with a blue-and-yellow macaw parrot named Frankie, and would flap his arms like a bird while dancing before and after his matches. Before joining the WWF, Ware worked as a part of several tag teams, first with Bobby Eaton in Memphis and then later on with Norvell Austin as one half of the The P.Y.T. Express in several promotions. It was not until late in 1980 that Koko’s fortune changed when he participated in a battle royal to crown the first ever Mid-American Television Champion. The crowd favorite was Jimmy Valiant, who Koko accidentally knocked into Danny Davis and eliminated Valiant. Moments later, Koko dumped Davis to the floor and won his first title. After the match, Jimmy Valiant returned to the ring and beat Koko down. Koko’s feud with Jimmy Valiant was quickly expanded to include the heel Tojo Yamamoto and Koko ally Tommy Rich. When Dutch Mantel returned to the CWA in early 1981 he quickly defeated Koko for the TV title making Koko’s first run with the gold a short one. Koko floundered until September 1981 when he was chosen to referee a Southern Heavyweight Championship title match between Jerry Lawler and “The Dream Machine". Ware unfairly counted Lawler out to give the Dream Machine the victory, a decision that did not sit well with Lawler nor the fans in Memphis. Koko quickly aligned himself with manager Jimmy Hart and his First Family and changed his name to Sweet Brown Sugar. Sugar never got the best of Lawler but did taste tag-team success alongside Steve Keirn and then with Bobby Eaton. Eaton & Sugar won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship. On June 8, 2008, Koko made a special appearance at TNA's Slammiversary as a groomsman in the wedding for "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal and So Cal Val, along with George "The Animal" Steele, Kamala the Ugandan Giant, and Jake "The Snake" Roberts. On April 4, 2009, Koko was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by The Honky Tonk Man. On September 5, 2009 Ware's wife died after a battle with cancer. On February 15, 2011 Koko made an appearance on Tosh.0. He is one of only three wrestlers to sport 'WWF' on his trunks.
Filmography
Biography: WWE Legends
Series · 2021
The Sheik
Film · 2014
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment
Film · 2013
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
Film · 2013
JCW Legends and Icons
Film · 2011
WWE Hall Of Fame 2009
Film · 2009
World Wrestling Legends: 6:05 - The Reunion
Film · 2005
WWE Hall of Fame
Series · 2005
Beyond the Mat
Film · 1999
AWF Warriors of Wrestling
Series · 1995
WWE Wrestling Grudge Matches
Film · 1993
WWE Bashed in the USA
Film · 1993
WWE WrestleFest '93
Film · 1993
WWE Royal Rumble 1993
Film · 1993
WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers
Film · 1993
Raw
Series · 1993
WWE Survivor Series 1992
Film · 1992
WWE World Tour 1992
Film · 1992
WWE WrestleFest '91
Film · 1991
WWE SuperTape: Volume 4
Film · 1991
WWE Royal Rumble 1991
Film · 1991
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
Film · 1991
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
Film · 1990
WWE WrestleMania VI
Film · 1990
WWE Survivor Series 1990
Film · 1990
WWE SummerSlam 1989
Film · 1989
Fan Favorites
Film · 1989
WWE U.K. PPV
Film · 1989
WWE Royal Rumble 1989
Film · 1989
The Brains Behind the Brawn
Film · 1989
The Best of the WWF: volume 20
Film · 1989
WWE Survivor Series 1988
Film · 1988
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '88
Film · 1988
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: December '88
Film · 1988
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
Film · 1988
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88
Film · 1988
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '88
Film · 1988
WWE SummerSlam 1988
Film · 1988
The Wrestling Album II: Piledriver
Film · 1987
WWE WrestleMania III
Film · 1987
The Best of the WWF: volume 13
Film · 1987
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
Film · 1987
WWE Houston Wrestling: November '87
Film · 1987
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87
Film · 1987
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87
Film · 1987
The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
Film · 1986
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Series · 1986
Power Pro Wrestling
Series · 1986
WWF Superstars
Series · 1986
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Series · 1986
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
Series · 1985
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
Series · 1985
WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars '84
Film · 1984
WCCW Cotton Bowl Extravaganza '84
Film · 1984
World Class Championship Wrestling
Series · 1982
World Class Championship Wrestling
Series · 1982
Mid-South Wrestling
Series · 1981
Mid-South Wrestling
Series · 1981
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Series · 1981
USWA Championship Wrestling
Series · 1977
USWA Championship Wrestling
Series · 1977
USWA Championship Wrestling
Series · 1977
WWE Old School
Series · 1973