James Dunn
Acting
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. 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
Acting87
movieHollywood’s Children
1982
Self (archive footage)
The Biggest Little Star of the 30's
1976
Self(archive footage)
movieBrother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
Self (archive footage)
movieShadow Over Elveron
1968
Luke Travers
movieThe Oscar
1966
TV executive
tvThe Great Adventure
1963
Indian Agent McLean
tvThe Fugitive
1963
Lou Bragan
Vacation Playhouse
1963
P.J. Cunningham
tvThe Virginian
1962
Congressman Matthew J. Cosgrove
tvThe Investigators
1961
Chief Reynolds
movieJourney to the Day
1960
Melville Cooper
movieThe Bramble Bush
1960
Stew Schaffer
tvRawhide
1959
Dr. Soloman Flood
tvNaked City
1958
Peter Wilkin
tvWanted: Dead or Alive
1958
Gabe Henshaw
tvScreen Director's Playhouse
1955
Sheriff Garrett
tvThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
J. Henry Newman
tvClimax!
1954
Eldon Abernathy / Warren
It's a Great Life
1954
Earl Morgan
tvSchlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Dan McLain
movieThe Golden Gloves Story
1950
Joe Riley
tvStudio One
1948
Frank Gabriel
movieKiller McCoy
1947
Brian McCoy
movieThat Brennan Girl
1946
Denny Reagan
movieThe Caribbean Mystery
1945
Mr. Smith
movieA Tree Grows in Brooklyn
1945
Johnny Nolan
movieLeave It to the Irish
1944
Terry Moran
movieTake It or Leave It
1944
(archive footage) (uncredited)
movieGovernment Girl
1943
Sergeant Joe Blake
movieThe Ghost and the Guest
1943
Webster Frye
movieThe Living Ghost
1942
Nick Trayne
movieHold That Woman!
1940
Jimmy Parker
movieSon of the Navy
1940
Chief Gunners Mate Mike Malone
Mercy Plane
1939
'Speed' Leslie
Pride of the Navy
1939
Speed Brennan
movieShadows Over Shanghai
1938
Johnny McGinty
movieLiving on Love
1937
Gary Martin
movieWe Have Our Moments
1937
John Wade
movieMysterious Crossing
1936
Addison Francis Murphy
movieCome Closer, Folks
1936
Jim Keene
movieHearts in Bondage
1936
Lt. Kenneth Reynolds
Don’t Get Personal
1936
Bob McDonald
movieBad Boy
1935
Eddie Nolan
movieWelcome Home
1935
Richard Foster
movieThe Daring Young Man
1935
Don McLane
movieThe Payoff
1935
Joe McCoy
movieBright Eyes
1934
Loop Merritt
movie365 Nights in Hollywood
1934
James 'Jimmy' Dale
movieHave a Heart
1934
James 'Jimmie' Flaherty
movieBaby Take a Bow
1934
Eddie Ellison
movieChange of Heart
1934
Mark McGowan
movieStand Up and Cheer!
1934
Jimmy Dugan
movieHold That Girl
1934
Barney Sullivan
Take a Chance
1933
Duke Stanley
movieJimmy and Sally
1933
Jimmy O'Connor
movieArizona to Broadway
1933
Smiley Wells
movieThe Girl in 419
1933
Dr. Daniel French
movieHold Me Tight
1933
Chuck Evans
movieSailor's Luck
1933
Jimmy Fenimore Harrigan
movieHandle with Care
1932
Bill Gordon
movieSociety Girl
1932
Johnny Malone
movieDance Team
1932
Jimmy Mulligan
movieOver the Hill
1931
Johnny Shelby as an Adult
movieSob Sister
1931
Garry Webster
movieBad Girl
1931
Eddie Collins
movieThe Song Plugger
1930
Man in Record Shop
movieDeliverance
1919
Life Saver