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. 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.
Directed 71
2000s
- 2002
Laurel & Hardy - Highlights
Director
1930s
- 1935
The Misses Stooge
Director
The Tin Man
Director
Sing Sister Sing
Director
Treasure Blues
Director
- 1934
Washee Ironee
Director
Mixed Nuts
Director
- 1933
Twice Two
Director
- 1932
Mr. Bride
Director
Now We'll Tell One
Director
Girl Grief
Director
Young Ironsides
Director
County Hospital
Director
The Chimp
Director
Hinter Schloss und Riegel
Director
The Music Box
Director
Helpmates
Director
- 1931
What a Bozo!
Director
Skip the Maloo!
Director
Pardon Us
Director
The Panic Is On
Director
One of the Smiths
Director
Haunted at Midnight
Director
Rough Seas
Director
The lady from Chicago
Director
The Pip from Pittsburg
Director
- 1930
Another Fine Mess
Director
Night of Goblins
Director
The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case
Director
Radiomanía
Director
Hog Wild
Director
Shivering and Shaking
Director
The Night Life
Director
Brats
Director
Blotto
Director
Thieves
Director
Night Owls
Director
1920s
- 1929
The Hoose-Gow
Director
They Go Boom!
Director
Perfect Day
Director
Ruby Lips
Director
- 1928
Chasing Husbands
Director
Habeas Corpus
Director
Two Tars
Director
Should Married Men Go Home?
Director
Their Purple Moment
Director
Galloping Ghosts
Director
All for Nothing
Director
- 1927
Never the Dames Shall Meet
Director
Assistant Wives
Director
Now I'll Tell One
Director
The Lighter That Failed
Director
The Sting of Stings
Director
What Women Did for Me
Director
Us
Director
Fluttering Hearts
Director
Bigger and Better Blondes
Director
Forgotten Sweeties
Director
A One Mama Man
Director
Are Brunettes Safe?
Director
Many Scrappy Returns
Director
- 1926
There Ain't No Santa Claus
Director
On the Front Page
Director
- 1925
Should Sailors Marry?
Director
- 1924
The 'Fraidy Cat
Director
Just a Minute
Director
Powder and Smoke
Director
Hard Knocks
Director
Don't Forget
Director
- 1921
The Pickaninny
Director
Acted in 31
1930s
- 1930
The King
Minor Role (uncredited)
1920s
- 1926
Soft Pedal
Willing
- 1925
Are Parents Pickles?
Fire Salesman
The Caretaker's Daughter
The Caretaker (as Jimmie Parrott)
The House of Flickers
Movie
- 1924
Sittin' Pretty
Bearded Lunatic
- 1923
Join the Circus
Trainer
Dear Ol' Pal
Lucian Dillgiggle
Post No Bills
The Bill Poster
Shoot Straight
Movie
- 1922
Shine 'Em Up
Paul, the Hustler
1910s
- 1919
Don't Shove
Party Guest
Count Your Change
Movie
Don't Park Here
A Car Owner
A Sammy in Siberia
(uncredited)
Hustling for Health
Man missing his train
Do You Love Your Wife?
Movie
- 1918
Just Rambling Along
Waiter / Chef Assistant
Bride and Gloom
Movie
An Ozark Romance
Movie
Fireman Save My Child
Movie
Hey There
Movie
It's a Wild Life
Cab driver
Pipe the Whiskers
Movie
Here Come the Girls
Movie
Look Pleasant, Please
Drunken Swell (uncredited)
A Gasoline Wedding
Movie
Beat It
Movie
Hit Him Again
Movie
The Lamb
Movie
Wrote 27
1930s
- 1938
- 1937
- 1933
The Midnight Patrol
Writer
Twice Two
Writer
- 1932
Their First Mistake
Writer
The Chimp
Writer
The Music Box
Writer
Helpmates
Writer
- 1931
One Good Turn
Writer
Come Clean
Writer
- 1930
Hog Wild
Story
Brats
Writer
1920s
- 1928
Should Married Men Go Home?
Writer
- 1926
On the Front Page
Writer
Get 'Em Young
Writer
Wise Guys Prefer Brunettes
Writer
Along Came Auntie
Writer
Say It with Babies
Writer
Wandering Papas
Writer
- 1925
Unfriendly Enemies
Writer
Chasing the Chaser
Writer
Laughing Ladies
Scenario Writer
- 1924
Just a Minute
Writer
Hard Knocks
Writer
Powder and Smoke
Writer
Don't Forget
Writer
