James Dunn

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

88

Gender

Male

Birthday

1901-11-02

Day of death

1967-09-03 (65 years old)

Place of Birth

New York City, New York, USA

James Dunn

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)

Known For

  • The Fugitive

    The Fugitive

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • Robert Montgomery Presents

    Robert Montgomery Presents

  • Matinee Theater

    Matinee Theater

  • Climax!

    Climax!

  • Climax!

    Climax!

  • Rawhide

    Rawhide

  • Rawhide

    Rawhide

  • Studio One

    Studio One

  • Studio One

    Studio One

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

    Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

  • Naked City

    Naked City

  • Route 66

    Route 66

  • Ben Casey

    Ben Casey

  • Wanted: Dead or Alive

    Wanted: Dead or Alive

  • Branded

    Branded

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • The Great Adventure

    The Great Adventure

  • Screen Director's Playhouse

    Screen Director's Playhouse

  • Vacation Playhouse

    Vacation Playhouse

  • George White's 1935 Scandals

    George White's 1935 Scandals

  • A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

    A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

  • Going My Way

    Going My Way

  • Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man

    Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man

  • The Daring Young Man

    The Daring Young Man

  • Hollywood’s Children

    Hollywood’s Children

  • The Golden Gloves Story

    The Golden Gloves Story

  • Pride of the Navy

    Pride of the Navy

  • Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

    Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

  • Bright Eyes

    Bright Eyes

  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

    Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

  • Living on Love

    Living on Love

  • Hold That Woman!

    Hold That Woman!

  • A Wonderful Life

    A Wonderful Life

  • The Living Ghost

    The Living Ghost

  • Shadow Over Elveron

    Shadow Over Elveron

  • Mr. Broadway

    Mr. Broadway

  • Mysterious Crossing

    Mysterious Crossing

  • Over the Hill

    Over the Hill

  • Killer McCoy

    Killer McCoy

  • Change of Heart

    Change of Heart

  • Leave It to the Irish

    Leave It to the Irish

  • Sailor's Luck

    Sailor's Luck

  • Welcome Home

    Welcome Home

  • Jimmy and Sally

    Jimmy and Sally

  • Take a Chance

    Take a Chance

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

    Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

    Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

  • The Caribbean Mystery

    The Caribbean Mystery

  • The Wonderful World of Disney

    The Wonderful World of Disney

  • It's a Great Life

    It's a Great Life

  • The Girl in 419

    The Girl in 419

  • The Investigators

    The Investigators

  • Shadows Over Shanghai

    Shadows Over Shanghai

  • Take It or Leave It

    Take It or Leave It

  • The Ghost and the Guest

    The Ghost and the Guest

  • Baby Take a Bow

    Baby Take a Bow

  • Have a Heart

    Have a Heart

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • Bad Boy

    Bad Boy

  • Dance Team

    Dance Team

  • Hearts in Bondage

    Hearts in Bondage

  • Hello, Sister!

    Hello, Sister!

  • Sob Sister

    Sob Sister

  • The Bramble Bush

    The Bramble Bush

  • Come Closer, Folks

    Come Closer, Folks

  • The Oscar

    The Oscar

  • Government Girl

    Government Girl

  • The Payoff

    The Payoff

  • Stand Up and Cheer!

    Stand Up and Cheer!

  • Handle with Care

    Handle with Care

  • Bad Girl

    Bad Girl

  • Two-Fisted Gentleman

    Two-Fisted Gentleman

  • Hold Me Tight

    Hold Me Tight

  • We Have Our Moments

    We Have Our Moments

  • The Song Plugger

    The Song Plugger

  • That Brennan Girl

    That Brennan Girl

  • Society Girl

    Society Girl

  • Mercy Plane

    Mercy Plane

  • The Ninth Day

    The Ninth Day

  • In the Nick of Time

    In the Nick of Time

  • Hold That Girl

    Hold That Girl

  • 365 Nights in Hollywood

    365 Nights in Hollywood

  • The Biggest Little Star of the 30's

    The Biggest Little Star of the 30's

  • Venus Makes Trouble

    Venus Makes Trouble

  • Son of the Navy

    Son of the Navy

  • Arizona to Broadway

    Arizona to Broadway

  • Journey to the Day

    Journey to the Day