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James Parrott
Director

James Parrott

1 Aug 1897Born
10 May 1939Died
41Age at death
155Credits

Biography

From Wikipedia

James Parrott (August 2, 1897 – May 10, 1939) was an American actor and film director; and the younger brother of film comedian Charley Chase.

James Gibbons Parrott was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Charles and Blanche Thompson Parrott. In 1903, his father died from a heart attack, leaving the family in bad financial shape, which forced them to move in with a relative. Charley Jr. quit school, so he could go to work, in order to support his mother and brother. Eventually the call of the stage beckoned him, and Charley Jr. left home at age 16 to travel the vaudeville circuit as a singer and comedic performer.

Read the full biography

By the time James had reached his teens, he too, had quit school, and became involved with the street gangs of Baltimore.

Later, Charley's connections in the film industry helped get his younger brother established in movies, and he would appear during the 1920s in a series of relatively successful comedies for producer Hal Roach. He was billed first as "Paul Parrott," then "Jimmie Parrott." Approximately 75 comedies were produced from 1921 to 1923, with titles continuing to be released through Pathé until 1926. Frequent co-stars included Marie Mosquini, Jobyna Ralston, Eddie Baker, and Sunshine Sammy.

Parrott is probably best known as a comedy director. As "James Parrott," he specialized in the two-reel misadventures of Laurel and Hardy, including the Oscar-winning classic The Music Box, and Helpmates.

During the 1930s Parrott had acquired serious drinking and drug problems (his diet medications were really addictive amphetamines) and although still able to direct quality shorts, he had developed a reputation as unreliable. By the mid-1930s his work was spotty: Stan Laurel used him sporadically to contribute gags to the Laurel and Hardy features, and he would direct an Our Gang short in 1934, plus several acceptable entries in Thelma Todd-Patsy Kelly series.

By 1937, Parrott was accepting any jobs that came his way. He could no longer be counted on to direct or write, and relied on his brother to support him financially. There was a brief marriage to Ruby Ellen McCoy in 1937, but as his various addictions worsened, so did his state of mind.

Parrott died at the age of 41 of heart failure. His brother Charley was devastated, and died 13 months later.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 155 credits.

  1. 2009The Parrott ChaseFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  2. 2002Laurel & Hardy - HighlightsFilm: Director
  3. 1938Block-HeadsFilm: Writer
  4. 1938Swiss MissFilm: Screenplay
  5. 1937Way Out WestFilm: Screenplay
  6. 1935Do Your StuffFilm: Director
  7. 1935The Misses StoogeFilm: Director
  8. 1935The Tin ManFilm: Director
  9. 1935Sing Sister SingFilm: Director
  10. 1935Treasure BluesFilm: Director
  11. 1934Washee IroneeFilm: Director
  12. 1934Opened by MistakeFilm: Director
  13. 1934Benny, from PanamaFilm: Director
  14. 1934A Duke for a DayFilm: Director
  15. 1934Mixed NutsFilm: Director
  16. 1933The Midnight PatrolFilm: Writer
  17. 1933Twice TwoFilm: Director, Writer
  18. 1932Mr. BrideFilm: Director
  19. 1932Now We'll Tell OneFilm: Director
  20. 1932Their First MistakeFilm: Writer
  21. 1932Girl GriefFilm: Director
  22. 1932Young IronsidesFilm: Director
  23. 1932County HospitalFilm: Director
  24. 1932The ChimpFilm: Director, Writer
  25. 1932Hinter Schloss und RiegelFilm: Director
  26. 1932The Music BoxFilm: Director, Writer
  27. 1932HelpmatesFilm: Director, Writer
  28. 1931What a Bozo!Film: Director
  29. 1931One Good TurnFilm: Writer
  30. 1931Skip the Maloo!Film: Director
  31. 1931Come CleanFilm: Writer
  32. 1931Pardon UsFilm: Director
  33. 1931The Panic Is OnFilm: Director
  34. 1931One of the SmithsFilm: Director
  35. 1931Haunted at MidnightFilm: Director
  36. 1931Rough SeasFilm: Director
  37. 1931Messing AroundFilm: Director
  38. 1931The lady from ChicagoFilm: Director
  39. 1931The Pip from PittsburgFilm: Director
  40. 1931Pardon UsFilm: Director
  41. 1930Another Fine MessFilm: Director
  42. 1930Night of GoblinsFilm: Director
  43. 1930The Laurel-Hardy Murder CaseFilm: Director
  44. 1930RadiomaníaFilm: Director
  45. 1930The KingFilm: Minor Role (uncredited)
  46. 1930Hog WildFilm: Director
  47. 1930Shivering and ShakingFilm: Director
  48. 1930Below ZeroFilm: Director
  49. 1930The Night LifeFilm: Director
  50. 1930BratsFilm: Director, Writer
  51. 1930BlottoFilm: Director
  52. 1930ThievesFilm: Director
  53. 1930Night OwlsFilm: Director
  54. 1929The Hoose-GowFilm: Director
  55. 1929They Go Boom!Film: Director
  56. 1929Perfect DayFilm: Director
  57. 1929Stewed, Fried and BoiledFilm: Director
  58. 1929Lesson No. 1Film: Director
  59. 1929Furnace TroubleFilm: Director
  60. 1929Ruby LipsFilm: Director
  61. 1928Chasing HusbandsFilm: Director
  62. 1928Habeas CorpusFilm: Director
  63. 1928Two TarsFilm: Director
  64. 1928Should Married Men Go Home?Film: Writer, Director
  65. 1928Their Purple MomentFilm: Director
  66. 1928Galloping GhostsFilm: Director
  67. 1928All for NothingFilm: Director
  68. 1927Never the Dames Shall MeetFilm: Director
  69. 1927Assistant WivesFilm: Director
  70. 1927Now I'll Tell OneFilm: Director
  71. 1927The Lighter That FailedFilm: Director
  72. 1927The Sting of StingsFilm: Director
  73. 1927What Women Did for MeFilm: Director
  74. 1927UsFilm: Director
  75. 1927Fluttering HeartsFilm: Director
  76. 1927Bigger and Better BlondesFilm: Director
  77. 1927Forgotten SweetiesFilm: Director
  78. 1927A One Mama ManFilm: Director
  79. 1927Are Brunettes Safe?Film: Director
  80. 1927Many Scrappy ReturnsFilm: Director

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