Acting
James Dunn
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)
Filmography
Hollywood’s Children
Film · 1982
The Biggest Little Star of the 30's
Film · 1976
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Film · 1975
Shadow Over Elveron
Film · 1968
The Oscar
Film · 1966
Branded
Series · 1965
Branded
Series · 1965
The Great Adventure
Series · 1963
The Fugitive
Series · 1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Series · 1963
Vacation Playhouse
Series · 1963
Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man
Film · 1962
Going My Way
Series · 1962
The Virginian
Series · 1962
Ben Casey
Series · 1961
The Investigators
Series · 1961
The Bramble Bush
Film · 1960
Journey to the Day
Film · 1960
Route 66
Series · 1960
Rawhide
Series · 1959
Rawhide
Series · 1959
Bonanza
Series · 1959
Naked City
Series · 1958
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Series · 1958
Mr. Broadway
Film · 1957
The Ninth Day
Film · 1957
The Last Stop
Film · 1956
Matinee Theater
Series · 1955
Screen Director's Playhouse
Series · 1955
Climax!
Series · 1954
It's a Great Life
Series · 1954
Climax!
Series · 1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
Series · 1954
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Series · 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Series · 1951
A Wonderful Life
Film · 1950
The Golden Gloves Story
Film · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Series · 1950
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
Film · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Killer McCoy
Film · 1947
That Brennan Girl
Film · 1946
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Film · 1945
The Caribbean Mystery
Film · 1945
Leave It to the Irish
Film · 1944
Take It or Leave It
Film · 1944
The Ghost and the Guest
Film · 1943
Government Girl
Film · 1943
The Living Ghost
Film · 1942
Hold That Woman!
Film · 1940
Son of the Navy
Film · 1940
Pride of the Navy
Film · 1939
Mercy Plane
Film · 1939
Shadows Over Shanghai
Film · 1938
We Have Our Moments
Film · 1937
Living on Love
Film · 1937
Venus Makes Trouble
Film · 1937
Hearts in Bondage
Film · 1936
Two-Fisted Gentleman
Film · 1936
Mysterious Crossing
Film · 1936
Come Closer, Folks
Film · 1936
Don’t Get Personal
Film · 1936
Welcome Home
Film · 1935
George White's 1935 Scandals
Film · 1935
The Payoff
Film · 1935
Bad Boy
Film · 1935
The Daring Young Man
Film · 1935
Baby Take a Bow
Film · 1934
Bright Eyes
Film · 1934
Stand Up and Cheer!
Film · 1934
Have a Heart
Film · 1934
Change of Heart
Film · 1934
365 Nights in Hollywood
Film · 1934
Hold That Girl
Film · 1934
The Girl in 419
Film · 1933
Arizona to Broadway
Film · 1933
Hello, Sister!
Film · 1933
Sailor's Luck
Film · 1933
Take a Chance
Film · 1933
Jimmy and Sally
Film · 1933
Hold Me Tight
Film · 1933
Society Girl
Film · 1932
Dance Team
Film · 1932
Handle with Care
Film · 1932
Bad Girl
Film · 1931
Over the Hill
Film · 1931
Sob Sister
Film · 1931
The Song Plugger
Film · 1930
In the Nick of Time
Film · 1929
Deliverance
Film · 1919