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James Dunn

James Dunn

Actor · 1901–1967 · New York City, New York, USA

IMDb

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. 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)

Acted in 74

1940s

  1. 1948

    Studio One

    Frank Gabriel · 3 episodes

    70

  2. Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

    Mike

  3. 1947

    Killer McCoy

    Brian McCoy

  4. 1946

    That Brennan Girl

    Denny Reagan

  5. 1945

    The Caribbean Mystery

    Mr. Smith

  6. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

    Johnny Nolan

    83
  7. 1944

    Leave It to the Irish

    Terry Moran

  8. Take It or Leave It

    (archive footage) (uncredited)

  9. 1943

    Government Girl

    Sergeant Joe Blake

  10. The Ghost and the Guest

    Webster Frye

  11. 1942

    The Living Ghost

    Nick Trayne

  12. 1940

    Hold That Woman!

    Jimmy Parker

  13. Son of the Navy

    Chief Gunners Mate Mike Malone

1930s

  1. 1938

    Shadows Over Shanghai

    Johnny McGinty

  2. 1937

    Living on Love

    Gary Martin

  3. We Have Our Moments

    John Wade

  4. 1936

    Mysterious Crossing

    Addison Francis Murphy

  5. Come Closer, Folks

    Jim Keene

  6. Two-Fisted Gentleman

    Mickey

  7. Hearts in Bondage

    Lt. Kenneth Reynolds

  8. 1935

    Bad Boy

    Eddie Nolan

  9. Welcome Home

    Richard Foster

  10. The Daring Young Man

    Don McLane

  11. George White's 1935 Scandals

    Eddie

  12. The Payoff

    Joe McCoy

  13. 1934

    Bright Eyes

    Loop Merritt

    74

  14. 365 Nights in Hollywood

    James 'Jimmy' Dale

  15. Have a Heart

    James 'Jimmie' Flaherty

  16. Baby Take a Bow

    Eddie Ellison

    62

  17. Change of Heart

    Mark McGowan

  18. Stand Up and Cheer!

    Jimmy Dugan

  19. Hold That Girl

    Barney Sullivan

  20. 1933

    Jimmy and Sally

    Jimmy O'Connor

  21. Arizona to Broadway

    Smiley Wells

  22. The Girl in 419

    Dr. Daniel French

  23. Hold Me Tight

    Chuck Evans

  24. Hello, Sister!

    Jimmy

  25. Sailor's Luck

    Jimmy Fenimore Harrigan

  26. 1932

    Handle with Care

    Bill Gordon

  27. Society Girl

    Johnny Malone

  28. Dance Team

    Jimmy Mulligan

  29. 1931

    Over the Hill

    Johnny Shelby as an Adult

  30. Sob Sister

    Garry Webster

  31. Bad Girl

    Eddie Collins

  32. 1930

    The Song Plugger

    Man in Record Shop

1910s

  1. 1919

    Deliverance

    Life Saver

Appearances2

1980s

  1. 1982

    Hollywood’s Children

    Self (archive footage)

1970s

  1. 1975

    Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

    Self (archive footage)