James "Jim" Cooke (1943-1985) was an American mercenary and former Green Beret. Oliver Bennett hired Cooke to take part in his mission of assisting Alejandro Arius, the deposed dictator of the South American city-state of Val Verde, in reclaiming his role. Cooke assisted in the killing of retired Colonel John Matrix's former team members as well as faking Bennett's death in an explosion.
Cooke drove Matrix and Bennett, as well as Cooke's fellow mercenaries Martin Henriques and David Sully, to the Los Angeles airport where Cooke dropped Matrix and his escorts off. Later, Cooke attempted to rendezvous with Sully at the Sunspot Motel, but Cindy Brewer met Cooke at the door. Brewer masqueraded as Sully's one-night stand while Matrix hid behind the door. As Cooke entered, Matrix ambushed him from behind, beginning a lengthy brawl in Sully's room as well as next door, where a film crew was shooting an adult film.
Despite Cooke possessing a Model 67 revolver, Matrix disarmed him and threw him on top of a piece of splintered wood, which punctured his abdomen. When Matrix attempted to question him about his daughter's whereabouts, Cooke died as blood poured out of his mouth.