James Cagney

American actor and dancer (1899–1986)

James Francis Cagney, Jr. (/ˈkæɡni/;[1] July 17, 1899 – March 30, 1986)[2] was an American actor, dancer and movie director. He had many roles in his long career. In 1942, he won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in Yankee Doodle Dandy.

James Cagney
Cagney, c. 1930
Born
James Francis Cagney

(1899-07-17)July 17, 1899
DiedMarch 30, 1986(1986-03-30) (aged 86)
Resting placeGate of Heaven Cemetery
Occupations
  • Actor
  • dancer
Years active1919–1961; 1981, 1984
Political partyDemocratic (1934–1948)
Republican (1948–1986)
Spouse
Frances Willard Vernon
(m. 1922)
Children2
RelativesHarry Cagney (brother)
Edward Cagney (brother)
William Cagney (brother)
Jeanne Cagney (sister)
6th President of the Screen Actors Guild
In office
1942–1944
Preceded byEdward Arnold
Succeeded byGeorge Murphy

Like James Stewart, Cagney became so familiar to the public that they usually referred to him as "Jimmy" Cagney. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Cagney eighth in the Greatest Male Stars of All Time. Orson Welles said he might have been the best actor ever.[3]


Movies

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Year Film Role Notes
1930 Sinners' Holiday Harry Delano Film debut
The Doorway to Hell Steve Mileaway
1931 Blonde Crazy Bert Harris
Smart Money Jack The only film starring both Edward G. Robinson and Cagney
The Millionaire Schofield, Insurance Salesman
The Public Enemy Tom Powers The movie along with his character and voice was used in The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Other Men's Women Ed "Eddie" Bailey Originally Titled: "The Steel Highway"
1932 Winner Take All Jim "Jimmy" Kane Boxing film
The Crowd Roars Joe Greer Automobile racing film
Taxi! Matt Nolan
1933 Lady Killer Dan Quigley
Footlight Parade Chester Kent Musical film with dancing; like The Public Enemy, this film was also featured in The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios
The Mayor of Hell Richard "Patsy" Gargan
Picture Snatcher Danny Kean Newspaper photographer
Hard to Handle Myron C. "Lefty" Merrill
1934 The St. Louis Kid Eddie Kennedy
Here Comes the Navy Chester "Chesty" J. O'Conner
He Was Her Man Flicker Hayes, a.k.a. Jerry Allen
Jimmy the Gent "Jimmy" Corrigan The first of two films with Bette Davis
1935 A Midsummer Night's Dream Nick Bottom
The Irish in Us Danny O'Hara
G Men "Brick" Davis
Devil Dogs of the Air Thomas Jefferson "Tommy" O'Toole
Frisco Kid Bat Morgan
1936 Great Guy Johnny "Red" Cave
Ceiling Zero Dizzy Davis
1937 Something to Sing About Terrence "Terry" Rooney stage name of Thadeus McGillicuddy
1938 Angels with Dirty Faces Rocky Sullivan New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actor
Boy Meets Girl Robert Law
1939 The Roaring Twenties Eddie Bartlett
Each Dawn I Die Frank Ross
The Oklahoma Kid Jim Kincaid
1940 City for Conquest Danny Kenny (Young Samson)
Torrid Zone Nick "Nicky" Butler
The Fighting 69th Jerry Plunkett
1941 The Strawberry Blonde T.L "Biff" Grimes
The Bride Came C.O.D. Steve Collins
1942 Captains of the Clouds Brian Maclean
Yankee Doodle Dandy George M. Cohan Academy Award for Best Actor
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
1943 Johnny Come Lately Tom Richards
1945 Blood on the Sun Nick Condon
1947 13 Rue Madeleine Robert Emmett "Bob" Sharkey a.k.a. Gabriel Chavat
1948 The Time of Your Life Joseph T. (who observes people)
1949 White Heat Arthur "Cody" Jarrett
1950 The West Point Story Elwin "Bix" Bixby
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye Ralph Cotter
1951 Come Fill the Cup Lew Marsh
1952 What Price Glory? Capt. Flagg
1953 A Lion Is in the Streets Hank Martin
1955 Mister Roberts Capt. Morton
The Seven Little Foys George M. Cohan
Love Me or Leave Me Martin Snyder Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actor
Run for Cover Matt Dow
1956 These Wilder Years Steve Bradford
Tribute to a Bad Man Jeremy Rodock
1957 Man of a Thousand Faces Lon Chaney
Short Cut to Hell Himself in the Pre-Credit Scene (Uncredited) Director only
1959 Never Steal Anything Small Jake MacIllaney
Shake Hands with the Devil Sean Lenihan
1960 The Gallant Hours Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey
1961 One, Two, Three C.R. MacNamara Nominated — Laurel Award for Top Male Comedy Performance
Nominated — New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
1968 Arizona Bushwhackers Narrator
1981 Ragtime Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo

Television

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Year Show Role Notes
1956 Soldier from the Wars Returning George Bridgeman Aired on NBC on September 10, 1956, in the first episode of Season 6 of Robert Montgomery Presents
1960 What's My Line? Mystery Guest Aired on CBS on May 15, 1960[4]
1966 The Ballad of Smokey the Bear Big Bear/Narrator Aired on NBC on November 24, 1966[5]
1974 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to James Cagney Honoree/Keynote Speaker
1984 Terrible Joe Moran Joe Moran (Final role)
Year Program Episode/source
1942 Screen Guild Players Yankee Doodle Dandy[6]
1948 Suspense Love's Lovely Counterfeit[7]
1948 Suspense No Escape[8]
1952 Family Theater The Red Head[9]

References

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  1. Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6.
  2. McGilligan, page 14
  3. "Orson Welles - Interview (1974)". youtube.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  4. "What's My Line? - Episodes - IMDb". IMDb. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  5. "The Ballad of Smokey the Bear". IMDb. November 24, 1966. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  6. "Players to Open Season With 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'". Harrisburg Telegraph. Harrisburg Telegraph. October 17, 1942. p. 19. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. "Suspense: Love's Lovely Counterfeit (Radio)". The Paley Center For Media. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.  
  8. "Suspense - No Escape". Escape and Suspense. December 19, 2010. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.  
  9. Kirby, Walter (February 24, 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. The Decatur Daily Review. p. 38. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  

Sources

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Other websites

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