Complex sentence: Despite being born in New York City, James has been cast as a Southerner in many of his roles, like his role in the James Bond films, and also powerful Houston lawyer Striker Bellman in the daytime soap opera "Texas" from 1981-82.
Split into simpler sentences: Despite being born in New York City, he has been cast as a Southerner in many of his roles. As an example, James played powerful Houston lawyer Striker Bellman in the daytime soap opera "Texas" from 1981-82.