James Cagney
Born July 17, 1899 (Age: 126)
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New York City, New York, USA
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. 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.
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. 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.
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Filmography
Parkinson at 50
2021
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 122
Remembering Ragtime
2004
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as NY Police Commissioner Rheinlander Waldo (archive footage)
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Age: 105
Tupac: Resurrection
2003
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as Self (archival)
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Age: 104
Doris Day: It's Magic
1998
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as Self
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Age: 99
Bogart: The Untold Story
1997
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 97
James Cagney: Top of the World
1992
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as Self (Archive footage)
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Age: 92
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 88
That's Dancing!
1985
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as From 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' (archive footage)
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Age: 85
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 85
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
1982
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as (in "White Heat") (archive footage)
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Age: 82
Showbiz Ballyhoo
1982
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 82
No Image
James Cagney: That Yankee Doodle Dandy
1981
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as
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Age: 82
Ragtime
1981
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as New York Police Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo
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Age: 82
That's Entertainment, Part II
1976
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as (archive footage)
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Age: 76
Hooray for Hollywood
1976
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 76
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
1975
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as (archive footage)
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Age: 76
The Day of the Oath
1965
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as Narrator
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Age: 65
The Road to the Wall
1962
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as Narrator
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Age: 62
One, Two, Three
1961
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as C.R. MacNamara
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Age: 62
The Gallant Hours
1960
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as Admiral William 'Bull' Halsey
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Age: 60
Shake Hands with the Devil
1959
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as Sean Lenihan
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Age: 59
Never Steal Anything Small
1959
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as Jake MacIllaney
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Age: 59
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
1956
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as Himself
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Age: 57
These Wilder Years
1956
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as Steve Bradford
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Age: 57
Tribute to a Bad Man
1956
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as Jeremy Rodack
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Age: 56
The Seven Little Foys
1955
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as George M. Cohan
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Age: 56
Mister Roberts
1955
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as Captain Morton
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Age: 55
Love Me or Leave Me
1955
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as Martin Snyder
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Age: 55
Run for Cover
1955
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as Matt Dow
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Age: 55
A Lion Is in the Streets
1953
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as Hank Martin
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Age: 54
The West Point Story
1950
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as Elwin Bixby
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Age: 51
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
1950
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as Ralph Cotter
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Age: 51
Blood on the Sun
1945
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as Nick Condon
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Age: 45
Yankee Doodle Dandy
1942
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as George M. Cohan
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Age: 42
Captains of the Clouds
1942
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as Brian MacLean
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Age: 42
No Image
Calling All Girls
1942
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as Himself (archive footage)
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Age: 42
Breakdowns of 1941
1941
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as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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Age: 42
The Bride Came C.O.D.
1941
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as Steve Collins
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Age: 41
The Strawberry Blonde
1941
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as Biff Grimes
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Age: 41
Winner Take All
1932
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as Jim 'Jimmy' Kane
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Age: 32
The Crowd Roars
1932
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as Joe Greer
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Age: 32
Taxi!
1932
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as Matt Nolan
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Age: 32
No Image
Intimate Interviews: James Cagney
1931
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as Himself
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Age: 32
Blonde Crazy
1931
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as Albert 'Bert' Harris
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Age: 32
Smart Money
1931
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as Jack
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Age: 31
The Millionaire
1931
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as Schofield
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Age: 31
The Public Enemy
1931
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as Tom Powers
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Age: 31
How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 11: 'Practice Shots'
1931
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as Himself
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Age: 31
Other Men's Women
1931
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as Ed 'Eddie' Bailey
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Age: 31
The Doorway to Hell
1930
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as Steve Mileaway
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Age: 31
Sinners' Holiday
1930
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as Harry Delano
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Age: 31