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James Dunn
Actor

James Dunn

2 Nov 1901Born
3 Sep 1967Died
65Age at death
84Credits

Biography

James Dunn worked on the stage, in vaudeville and as an extra in silent movies before he was signed by Fox in 1931. His first movie with Fox was 1931's Sob Sister (1931). While at Fox, he appeared with Shirley Temple in her first three features: Baby Take a Bow (1934), Stand Up and Cheer! (1934) and Bright Eyes (1934). Dunn's screen character was usually the boy next door or the nice guy. In 1935 musicals at the new 20th Century-Fox were out and Dunn would move to the "B" list, from which he would never return. In The Payoff (1935) he plays the nice guy newspaper columnist whose wife ruins his career. By the late 1930s he was drinking heavily and become unemployable.

Read the full biography

He would appear in small roles in films during the early 1940s, but those parts were few. In 1945 he was able to make a comeback and win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), but his rejuvenated career would not continue. By 1951 he would again be unemployed and bankrupt. Television would later supply some work and he would be a regular on the series It's a Great Life (1954).

Dunn was born 2 November 1901, New York City, New York, USA, and he died 1 September 1967, Santa Monica, California, USA  (following abdominal surgery)

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 84 credits.

  1. 1968Shadow Over ElveronFilm: Luke Travers
  2. 1966The OscarFilm: TV executive
  3. 1965BrandedSeries: Sam Manning
  4. 1963The Great AdventureSeries: Indian Agent McLean (2 episodes)
  5. 1963The FugitiveSeries: Lou Bragan (1 episode)
  6. 1963Vacation PlayhouseSeries: P.J. Cunningham (1 episode)
  7. 1962Going My WaySeries (1 episode)
  8. 1962The VirginianSeries: Congressman Matthew J. Cosgrove (1 episode)
  9. 1962Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young ManFilm: Telegrapher
  10. 1961The InvestigatorsSeries: Chief Reynolds (1 episode)
  11. 1961Ben CaseySeries (2 episodes)
  12. 1960Route 66Series (2 episodes)
  13. 1960Journey to the DayFilm: Melville Cooper
  14. 1960The Bramble BushFilm: Stew Schaffer
  15. 1959BonanzaSeries: Danny Lynch (1 episode)
  16. 1959RawhideSeries: Dr. Soloman Flood
  17. 1958Naked CitySeries: Peter Wilkin (1 episode)
  18. 1958Wanted: Dead or AliveSeries: Gabe Henshaw (1 episode)
  19. 1957Mr. BroadwayFilm: Jerry Cohan
  20. 1957The Ninth DayFilm
  21. 1956The Last StopFilm: Yigal
  22. 1955Matinee TheaterSeries (2 episodes)
  23. 1955Screen Director's PlayhouseSeries: Sheriff Garrett (1 episode)
  24. 1954The Wonderful World of DisneySeries: J. Henry Newman (3 episodes)
  25. 1954Climax!Series: Eldon Abernathy, Warren (1 episode)
  26. 1954It's a Great LifeSeries: Earl Morgan (78 episodes)
  27. 1953General Electric TheaterSeries (1 episode)
  28. 1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsSeries: Dan McLain (2 episodes)
  29. 1950Lux Video TheatreSeries: Joey (1 episode)
  30. 1950A Wonderful LifeFilm: Henry Wood
  31. 1950The Golden Gloves StoryFilm: Joe Riley
  32. 1950Robert Montgomery PresentsSeries (3 episodes)
  33. 1948Studio OneSeries: Frank Gabriel (3 episodes)
  34. 1948Texas, Brooklyn & HeavenFilm: Mike
  35. 1947Killer McCoyFilm: Brian McCoy
  36. 1946That Brennan GirlFilm: Denny Reagan
  37. 1945The Caribbean MysteryFilm: Mr. Smith
  38. 1945A Tree Grows in BrooklynFilm: Johnny Nolan
  39. 1944Leave It to the IrishFilm: Terry Moran
  40. 1944Take It or Leave ItFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  41. 1943Government GirlFilm: Sergeant Joe Blake
  42. 1943The Ghost and the GuestFilm: Webster Frye
  43. 1942The Living GhostFilm: Nick Trayne
  44. 1940Hold That Woman!Film: Jimmy Parker
  45. 1940Son of the NavyFilm: Chief Gunners Mate Mike Malone
  46. 1939Mercy PlaneFilm: 'Speed' Leslie
  47. 1939Pride of the NavyFilm: Speed Brennan
  48. 1938Shadows Over ShanghaiFilm: Johnny McGinty
  49. 1937Living on LoveFilm: Gary Martin
  50. 1937Venus Makes TroubleFilm: Buzz Martin
  51. 1937We Have Our MomentsFilm: John Wade
  52. 1936Mysterious CrossingFilm: Addison Francis Murphy
  53. 1936Come Closer, FolksFilm: Jim Keene
  54. 1936Two-Fisted GentlemanFilm: Mickey
  55. 1936Hearts in BondageFilm: Lt. Kenneth Reynolds
  56. 1936Don’t Get PersonalFilm: Bob McDonald
  57. 1935Bad BoyFilm: Eddie Nolan
  58. 1935Welcome HomeFilm: Richard Foster
  59. 1935The Daring Young ManFilm: Don McLane
  60. 1935George White's 1935 ScandalsFilm: Eddie
  61. 1935The PayoffFilm: Joe McCoy
  62. 1934Bright EyesFilm: Loop Merritt
  63. 1934365 Nights in HollywoodFilm: James 'Jimmy' Dale
  64. 1934Have a HeartFilm: James 'Jimmie' Flaherty
  65. 1934Baby Take a BowFilm: Eddie Ellison
  66. 1934Change of HeartFilm: Mark McGowan
  67. 1934Stand Up and Cheer!Film: Jimmy Dugan
  68. 1934Hold That GirlFilm: Barney Sullivan
  69. 1933Take a ChanceFilm: Duke Stanley
  70. 1933Jimmy and SallyFilm: Jimmy O'Connor
  71. 1933Arizona to BroadwayFilm: Smiley Wells
  72. 1933The Girl in 419Film: Dr. Daniel French
  73. 1933Hold Me TightFilm: Chuck Evans
  74. 1933Hello, Sister!Film: Jimmy
  75. 1933Sailor's LuckFilm: Jimmy Fenimore Harrigan
  76. 1932Handle with CareFilm: Bill Gordon
  77. 1932Society GirlFilm: Johnny Malone
  78. 1932Dance TeamFilm: Jimmy Mulligan
  79. 1931Over the HillFilm: Johnny Shelby as an Adult
  80. 1931Sob SisterFilm: Garry Webster

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.