He was known for his big laugh and even bigger talent Even when he was young] he loved to tell stories and play jokes, he loved singing and playing his guitar. But only with a very close circle of friends Before he went on to perform, he would march around in circles in his dressing room or in the wings, he would smoke, and he would just walk round and round in circles. You couldn't go near him. But he walks on stage and it's gone. It was two totally different people."But Joe says James wanted to make people laugh, even when he was going through some of his own tiring times.In 1989, James underwent a heart transplant after suffering a heart attack the year before. While he was waiting for a heart, Joe says James wanted to make the process as bearable as possible, for himself and for those around him."When he went into Hearty Towers at Auckland public [hospital], there were about 14 people in their waiting for hearts. Some of them couldn't wait long enough, they didn't make it, and so everyone knew why they were there and what the story was. " What he did was he decided to make Hearty Towers a fabulous place to be, and that's what he did. And all those who survived, talk about him like this is the man who came in and made the most terrible life a most wonderful life. The friends, family, co-stars and admirers found by the documentaries team all say the same thing. Joe says people only had to hear the name Billy T James and the stories came flooding out."People had stories coming out their ears. And everybody who spoke about Billy was very keen to do so, because they wanted to give witness to a man who was very special in their lives."The films researchers uncovered a man who had more of a connection to James than almost anyone else - the blood brother he didn't know existed until a chance encounter in a South Island nightclub. He told his story, on camera, and he said it was a marvelous moment.

•Billy T James was unwell with his heart after a birthday heart attack. Sadly he died at the age of 43 from heart failure he is still remembered

BORN: 17th January 1948 Cambridge Waikato

DIED: 7th August 1991 (aged 43)

CAUSE OF DEATH: Heart failure

RESTING PLACE: Mount Taupiri

CULTURE: Maori

TALENTS: Comedian / actor / writer / musician

NAME: Billy James William Te Wehi

IN MEMORY OF BILLY T JAMES

THE END