Dad

James is the Lone Wanderer's father and is also Vault 101's resident doctor in 2277.

Early life and Project Purity
James was born in 2226. Later in his life he formed or met a group of scientists. One of them was Dr. Madison Li and another was Catherine, the love of his life. The group had one goal, to provide clean, free water for the Capital Wasteland, and was soon dubbed Project Purity. James was the chief scientist and leader of the project. It intended to purify all the water in the Tidal Basin at once. However, when his wife died after giving birth to the Lone Wanderer, he left the project to its fate and traveled to Megaton with the help of Star Paladin Cross. He then asked for entry for himself and his child into the Vault 101 in return for becoming the Vault's new physician, and the overseer granted his request.

Life underground
James then became the Vault's new physician. He didn't like the vault, but stayed there to raise his child in a safe, although confined environment. James never forgot his deceased wife. He had her favorite biblical quote framed and hung on the wall in his office and in his apartment. He tried his best for his child, holding birthday parties for them and even giving them the BB gun that Jonas Palmer found in the reactor level and they repaired using Butch's switchblade that he "misplaced".

Return to the world above
In 2277, James planned to return to the surface, leaving his child in the Vault to be safe. His assistant and friend Jonas distracted the guards so he could escape and therefore the Overseer had him killed. Despite James' plans, the Lone Wanderer escaped the Vault and followed his trail. James first went to the small town of Megaton to visit Colin Moriarty who he met nineteen years ago on his way to the Vault. He asked Colin what's been happening in the wasteland since then and Colin told him about Galaxy News Radio. James left in a hurry and managed to make his way through the ruins of Washington, D.C., and reached the GNR Building Plaza, where he talked to Three Dog. He told James what had been happening recently in the wasteland, and then James left to find Dr. Li. Arriving at Rivet City, he asked for Madison's help to restore the project but she declined. Then he headed of to the old lab at the Jefferson Memorial. James soon found out he needed a Garden of Eden Creation Kit. He marked his way to Vault 112 to find Stanislaus Braun, the creator of the G.E.C.K and to learn more about it. James arrived at Vault 112 and entered the Tranquility Lane simulation. He talked with Braun but didn't want to play any of his games, so Braun trapped him in the body of a dog named "Doc". The Lone Wanderer arrived in Tranquility Lane and soon frees their father. After a talk the two return to Rivet City. At Rivet City, James successfully recruits Madison Li and her team and they head to the Jefferson Memorial. After arriving at the memorial, the scientists soon get things back on track, but then the Enclave arrive.

The Ultimate Sacrifice
Augustus Autumn entered the facility under guard of Enclave soldiers. The activation room has been locked and Autumn begins to threaten James, demanding he hand over the activated Project Purity. James explains that the project isn't yet functional, but then, after being brow beaten, James submitted and caused a disruption within the activation room. This caused a massive radiation leak that killed everyone in the control room with the exception of Autumn. James then collapses and dies of radiation poisoning.

Quests

 * Baby Steps: James puts the one-year old Lone Wanderer in a playpen in their room which contains the You're S.P.E.C.I.A.L.! book. After a brief absence, James returns and shows the child their mother's favorite Bible quotation, and takes his child to see Amata.
 * Growing Up Fast: James has a small conversation with the Lone Wanderer at the beginning of their tenth birthday party, and later in the party gives them a BB gun as a birthday gift, and tasks them with killing a radroach.
 * Future Imperfect: James has a brief conversation with his now 16 year-old son/daughter before their G.O.A.T.
 * Escape!: James' unexpected absence from Vault 101 prompts a security crisis and propels the Lone Wanderer out into the wastes.
 * Following in His Footsteps: The Lone Wanderer searches for his/her dad. He/she can either go straight to Vault 112 (where he is being held); or he/she can follow the quest line, by going to Megaton, which directs him/her to Galaxy News Radio, which directs him/her to Rivet City, which directs him/her to the Jefferson Memorial which then leads him/her to Vault 112.
 * Tranquility Lane: James finds himself in Vault 112, held prisoner in the form of a dog in a virtual neighborhood created and controlled by Dr. Braun.
 * The Waters of Life: Father and child make their way first to Rivet City, then to the Jefferson Memorial, the site of Project Purity. As the Enclave storms the Memorial, James refuses to cooperate with Colonel Augustus Autumn. In the end, James floods the room with radiation, attempting to kill Autumn but killing himself in the process and with no success in his objectives.

Effects of player's actions

 * When the player is doing tasks to make Project Purity work, James will say that he heard of the player's actions. His reaction will change depending on how you resolved the quest The Power of the Atom. If you disarmed the bomb, he will ask you if you truly did it, and will be proud of you if you say that you did. If you caused Megaton's destruction and admit it to James he will be disappointed (you can lie to him, but he won't really believe you unless you have very high Karma).
 * If you did not resolve the Power of the Atom quest at all, or if you talk to him again after he comments on the aforementioned quest, he will instead comment on your current Karma level. If you have good Karma, he will say "You're a good person, and it shows". If you have bad Karma, he will instead comment on how you "seem troubled, like there is a cloud hanging over you." If you have neutral Karma he will simply greet you in the default manner.

Other interactions

 * Birth scene: James delights over the birth of his child, presenting the child to his wife, who expresses pride and happiness before going into cardiac arrest. James then tries, to no avail, to save her.

Inventory
* Only while in Vault 101.

** On his way back to Rivet City.

Notable quotes

 * "I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." Alpha and Omega.ogg
 * "As far as I can tell, you're a perfectly healthy 16 year old boy/girl, so yes you have to go to class to take your G.O.A.T. exam." Take GOAT exam.ogg
 * "Son/Honey, I brought you into this world, I think you know the rest..." Son,brought,world..ogg
 * "Agghh! What in God's name is wrong with you?" God name,wrong..ogg
 * "Stop screwing around!" Screwing,rnd..ogg

Appearances

 * James appears only in Fallout 3. A photograph of him appears in Fallout: New Vegas.

Behind the scenes

 * James is voiced by actor Liam Neeson, after whom the character is also physically modeled. "This role was written with Liam in mind, and provides the dramatic tone for the entire game. "Liam is absolutely amazing to work with," said Todd Howard, Executive Producer of Fallout 3. "It’s been a pleasure bringing the father to life and working with the wonderfully talented people at Bethesda on Fallout 3," said Neeson. "I hope the fans of the franchise and the game will be excited by the results."

Bugs

 * - On the way back to Rivet City from Vault 112, he will sometimes get stuck while traveling with him. If this occurs, fast travel to Rivet City and wait 24 hours in the Science Lab. He will appear and start talking to Doctor Li.
 * - James might disappear if you fast travel to the Jefferson Memorial from Vault 112.