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James Cagney

James Cagney

Acting

Born July 17, 1899, New York City, New York, USA

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.

Filmography

Appearances as themselves (53)
  • 2021Parkinson at 50 — Self (archive footage)
  • 2017This Is Bob Hope... — Self (archive footage)
  • 20091939: Hollywood's Greatest Year — Self (archive footage)
  • 2009Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression — Self (archive footage)
  • 2008Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film — Self (archive footage)
  • 2008You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story — Self (archive footage)
  • 2006Stardust: The Bette Davis Story — Self (archive footage) (voice)
  • 2005Angels with Dirty Faces: Whaddya Hear? Whaddya Say? — Self (archive footage)
  • 2005Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public — Self (archive footage)
  • 2005White Heat: Top of the World — Self (archive footage)
  • Parkinson — Self - Guest (archive footage)
  • 2003Complicated Women — Self (archive footage)
  • 2003Tupac: Resurrection — Self (archival)
  • 1998Doris Day: It's Magic — Self
  • 1997Bogart: The Untold Story — Self (archive footage)
  • 1997Vaudeville — Self (archive footage)
  • 1992James Cagney: Top of the World — Self (Archive footage)
  • 1991Movie Tough Guys — Self (archive footage)
  • 1989I Don't Even Like Apple Pie... — Self (archive footage)
  • 1988Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • 1985Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers — Self (archive footage)
  • 1983Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • 1982Night of 100 Stars — Self
  • 1982Showbiz Ballyhoo — Self (archive footage)
  • 1979Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years — Self
  • The Kennedy Center Honors — Self
  • 1976Hooray for Hollywood — Self (archive footage)
  • 1976It's Showtime — Self (archive footage)
  • 1975Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? — Self (archive footage)
  • The American Film Institute Salute to ... — Self
  • 1971Dynamite Chicken — Self (archive footage)
  • The Mike Douglas Show — Self
  • 1956The Bob Hope Chevy Show — Himself
  • MGM Parade — self
  • The Oscars — Self
  • What's My Line? — Self
  • The Ed Sullivan Show — Self, Self (uncredited)
  • 1947Blow-Ups of 1947 — Self
  • 1943Show-Business at War — Self
  • 1943The Voice That Thrilled the World — Self (segment 'Yankee Doodle Dandy') (archive footage)
  • 1942Calling All Girls — Himself (archive footage)
  • 1941Breakdowns of 1941 — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • 1940Breakdowns of 1940 — Self
  • 1939Breakdowns of 1939 — Self
  • 1939Hollywood Hobbies — Self (uncredited)
  • 1936Breakdowns of 1936 — Self
  • 1935A Dream Comes True — Himself (uncredited)
  • 1935A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio — Himself (uncredited)
  • 1935Things You Never See on the Screen — Self
  • 1934Screen Snapshots No. 11 — Himself
  • 1934The Hollywood Gad-About — Self (uncredited)
  • 1931How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 11: 'Practice Shots' — Himself
  • 1931Intimate Interviews: James Cagney — Himself
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