Who is James in You?

James Kennedy is Love Quinn’s first husband in Netflix’s psychological thriller series “You (2018).” He is introduced in Season 2 of the show and primarily appears through flashbacks. The series follows Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) as he obsessively fixates over the individuals he falls in love with. The show is set across several major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and London.

It explores themes of obsession, identity, and morality as Joe attempts to continuously reinvent himself with new identities while outrunning the consequences of his haunting past. In Season 2, after Joe relocates to Los Angeles, he meets Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti). Love is an aspiring chef who works at Anavrin, a high-end grocery store and café owned by her family. James, her late husband, is introduced through flashbacks that offer a glimpse into Love’s complicated past and hidden secrets.

Who is James in You?

In Season 2, Episode 6 of “You,” titled “Farewell, My Bunny,” viewers catch a glimpse of Love’s lingering grief when she opens a locker filled with photos and mementos of her late husband, James. As she wishes him a “Happy anniversary, Mr. Kennedy,” a flashback introduces James as a kind and supportive figure in her life. He is portrayed as a gentle and caring presence, and their marriage appears to be loving and stable, with the pair planning for a child. At this point in the series, James’s death is believed to have been caused by cancer. In Season 3, Love’s mother Dottie (Saffron Burrows) suggests that James’s death may not have been natural, and the truth is revealed shortly after.

In Season 3, Episode 10, titled “What is Love?” Love confesses to Joe, “My mom was right. I did. I did kill him. But I didn’t mean to.” She explains that she used aconite, also known as wolfsbane. Aconite is a paralyzing agent, and she only intended to stop James from leaving so they could talk and save their marriage from failing. Love continues, “That was my first time using it, and the dosage was too high when ingested.” Her actions were not meant to be fatal, but they ultimately led to James's death. However, James's end parallels the following scene. Joe ends up poisoned by aconite, as he picks up a knife Love had previously laced with the substance.

Who plays James in You?

Daniel Durant plays James Kennedy in “You.” Born on December 24, 1989, Durant is an acclaimed deaf actor known for his performances on stage as well as on screen. He graduated from the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in 2008 and went on to study at RIT and Gallaudet University. Durant gained early recognition through his work with Deaf West Theatre’s rendition of “Cyrano.” In 2013, he also played Charlie in “Flowers for Algernon” and in 2013, he performed as Moritz in “Spring Awakening.”

He is also known for his on-screen roles such as Matthew in the family drama “Switched at Birth,” Max in the mystery drama “Florida Man”, and Aiden Rogers in the medical drama “Chicago Med.” His filmography includes characters like Leo Rossi in the 2021 comedy drama “CODA,” and Bruce in the 2024 drama film “Silent Notes.” Durant will also appear in Jevon Whetter’s upcoming sports drama film “Flash Before the Bang” as Rocco De Luca.