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James Cagney
Actor

James Cagney

17 Jul 1899Born
30 Mar 1986Died
86Age at death
87Credits

Biography

James Francis Cagney, Jr. (July 17, 1899 – March 30, 1986) was an American film actor. Although he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of roles, he is best remembered for playing "tough guys". In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him eighth among the Greatest Male Stars of All Time.

In his first performing role, Cagney danced dressed as a woman in the chorus line of the 1919 revue Every Sailor. He spent several years in vaudeville as a hoofer and comedian until his first major acting role in 1925. He secured several other roles, receiving good reviews before landing the lead in the 1929 play Penny Arcade.

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After rave reviews for his acting, Warners signed him for an initial $500 a week, three-week contract to reprise his role; this was quickly extended to a seven year contract. Cagney's seventh film, The Public Enemy, became one of the most influential gangster movies of the period. Notable for its famous grapefruit scene, the film thrust Cagney into the spotlight, making him one of Warners' and Hollywood's biggest stars.

In 1938, he received his first Academy Award Best Actor nomination for Angels with Dirty Faces, before winning in 1942 for his portrayal of George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy. He was nominated a third time in 1955 for Love Me or Leave Me. Cagney retired for 20 years in 1961, spending time on his farm before returning for a part in Ragtime mainly to aid his recovery from a stroke.

Cagney walked out on Warners several times over his career, each time coming back on improved personal and artistic terms. In 1935, he sued Warners for breach of contract and won; this marked one of the first times an actor had beaten a studio over a contract issue. He worked for an independent film company for a year while the suit was settled, and also established his own production company, Cagney Productions, in 1942 before returning to Warners again four years later. Jack Warner called him "The Professional Againster", in reference to Cagney’s refusal to be pushed around. Cagney also made numerous morale-boosting troop tours before and during World War II, and was President of the Screen Actors Guild for two years.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 87 credits.

  1. 2022Becoming MarilynFilm: (archive footage)
  2. 2008Warner at WarFilm: (archive footage)
  3. 2006LegendsSeries: Martin Snyder (archive footage) (uncredited) (1 episode)
  4. 2004Remembering RagtimeFilm: NY Police Commissioner Rheinlander Waldo (archive footage)
  5. 1986Routine PleasuresFilm: Ed "Eddie" Bailey (archive footage)
  6. 1985That's Dancing!Film: From 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' (archive footage)
  7. 1984Terrible Joe MoranFilm: Joe Moran
  8. 1984Going Hollywood: The '30sFilm: (archive footage)
  9. 1982Showbiz Goes to WarFilm: (archive footage)
  10. 1982Dead Men Don't Wear PlaidFilm: (in "White Heat") (archive footage)
  11. 1981James Cagney: That Yankee Doodle DandyFilm
  12. 1981RagtimeFilm: New York Police Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo
  13. 1976Bob Hope's World of ComedyFilm: (archive footage)
  14. 1976That's Entertainment, Part IIFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  15. 1975Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on TelevisionFilm: (archive footage)
  16. 1968Arizona BushwhackersFilm: Narrator
  17. 1966Ballad of Smokey the BearFilm: Narrator (voice)
  18. 1965The Day of the OathFilm: Narrator
  19. 1962The Road to the WallFilm: Narrator
  20. 1961One, Two, ThreeFilm: C.R. MacNamara
  21. 1960The Gallant HoursFilm: Admiral William 'Bull' Halsey
  22. 1959Shake Hands with the DevilFilm: Sean Lenihan
  23. 1959Never Steal Anything SmallFilm: Jake MacIllaney
  24. 1957Short Cut to HellFilm: Director
  25. 1957Man of a Thousand FacesFilm: Lon Chaney
  26. 1956These Wilder YearsFilm: Steve Bradford
  27. 1956Tribute to a Bad ManFilm: Jeremy Rodack
  28. 1955The Seven Little FoysFilm: George M. Cohan
  29. 1955Mister RobertsFilm: Captain Morton
  30. 1955Love Me or Leave MeFilm: Martin Snyder
  31. 1955Run for CoverFilm: Matt Dow
  32. 1953A Lion Is in the StreetsFilm: Hank Martin
  33. 1952What Price GloryFilm: Captain Flagg
  34. 1951StarliftFilm: James Cagney
  35. 1951Come Fill the CupFilm: Lew Marsh
  36. 1950The West Point StoryFilm: Elwin Bixby
  37. 1950Kiss Tomorrow GoodbyeFilm: Ralph Cotter
  38. 1950Robert Montgomery PresentsSeries: George Bridgeman (1 episode)
  39. 1949White HeatFilm: Arthur 'Cody' Jarrett
  40. 1948The Time of Your LifeFilm: Joseph
  41. 194713 Rue MadeleineFilm: Robert Emmett 'Bob' Sharkey
  42. 1946Okay for SoundFilm: Tommy Powers (archive footage)
  43. 1945Blood on the SunFilm: Nick Condon
  44. 1943Johnny Come LatelyFilm: Tom Richards
  45. 1943You, John Jones!Film: John Jones
  46. 1942Yankee Doodle DandyFilm: George M. Cohan
  47. 1942Captains of the CloudsFilm: Brian MacLean
  48. 1941The Bride Came C.O.D.Film: Steve Collins
  49. 1941The Strawberry BlondeFilm: Biff Grimes
  50. 1940City for ConquestFilm: Danny Kenny
  51. 1940Torrid ZoneFilm: Nick Butler
  52. 1940The Fighting 69thFilm: Jerry Plunkett
  53. 1939The Roaring TwentiesFilm: Eddie Bartlett
  54. 1939Each Dawn I DieFilm: Frank Ross
  55. 1939The Oklahoma KidFilm: Jim Kincaid
  56. 1938Angels with Dirty FacesFilm: Rocky Sullivan
  57. 1938Boy Meets GirlFilm: Robert Law
  58. 1937Something to Sing AboutFilm: Terry Rooney
  59. 1936Great GuyFilm: Johnny 'Red' Cave
  60. 1936Ceiling ZeroFilm: Dizzy Davies
  61. 1935Frisco KidFilm: Bat Morgan
  62. 1935Mutiny on the BountyFilm: (uncredited)
  63. 1935A Midsummer Night's DreamFilm: Bottom
  64. 1935The Irish in UsFilm: Danny O'Hara
  65. 1935'G' MenFilm: ‘Brick' Davis
  66. 1935Screen Snapshots Series 14, No. 8Film
  67. 1935Devil Dogs of the AirFilm: Tommy O'Toole
  68. 1934The St. Louis KidFilm: Eddie Kennedy
  69. 1934Here Comes the NavyFilm: Chesty O'Conner
  70. 1934He Was Her ManFilm: Flicker Hayes, aka Jerry Allen
  71. 1934Jimmy the GentFilm: Jimmy Corrigan
  72. 1933Lady KillerFilm: Dan
  73. 1933Footlight ParadeFilm: Chester Kent
  74. 1933The Mayor of HellFilm: Richard 'Patsy' Gargan
  75. 1933Picture SnatcherFilm: Daniel Patrick "Danny" Kean
  76. 1933Hard to HandleFilm: Lefty Merrill
  77. 1932Winner Take AllFilm: Jim 'Jimmy' Kane
  78. 1932The Crowd RoarsFilm: Joe Greer
  79. 1932Taxi!Film: Matt Nolan
  80. 1931Blonde CrazyFilm: Albert 'Bert' Harris

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