Acting
James Cagney
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
Becoming Marilyn
Film · 2022
Parkinson at 50
Film · 2021
This Is Bob Hope...
Film · 2017
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Film · 2009
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
Film · 2009
Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film
Film · 2008
You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story
Film · 2008
Warner at War
Film · 2008
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
Film · 2006
Legends
Series · 2006
Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public
Film · 2005
White Heat: Top of the World
Film · 2005
Angels with Dirty Faces: Whaddya Hear? Whaddya Say?
Film · 2005
Remembering Ragtime
Film · 2004
Parkinson
Series · 2004
Complicated Women
Film · 2003
Tupac: Resurrection
Film · 2003
Doris Day: It's Magic
Film · 1998
Bogart: The Untold Story
Film · 1997
Vaudeville
Film · 1997
James Cagney: Top of the World
Film · 1992
Movie Tough Guys
Film · 1991
I Don't Even Like Apple Pie...
Film · 1989
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Film · 1988
Routine Pleasures
Film · 1986
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Film · 1985
That's Dancing!
Film · 1985
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Film · 1984
Terrible Joe Moran
Film · 1984
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Film · 1983
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
Film · 1982
Showbiz Goes to War
Film · 1982
Night of 100 Stars
Film · 1982
Showbiz Ballyhoo
Film · 1982
Ragtime
Film · 1981
James Cagney: That Yankee Doodle Dandy
Film · 1981
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
Film · 1979
The Kennedy Center Honors
Series · 1978
That's Entertainment, Part II
Film · 1976
It's Showtime
Film · 1976
Hooray for Hollywood
Film · 1976
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Film · 1976
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Film · 1975
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
Film · 1975
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Series · 1973
Dynamite Chicken
Film · 1971
Arizona Bushwhackers
Film · 1968
Ballad of Smokey the Bear
Film · 1966
The Day of the Oath
Film · 1965
The Road to the Wall
Film · 1962
One, Two, Three
Film · 1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Series · 1961
The Gallant Hours
Film · 1960
Never Steal Anything Small
Film · 1959
Shake Hands with the Devil
Film · 1959
Man of a Thousand Faces
Film · 1957
Short Cut to Hell
Film · 1957
These Wilder Years
Film · 1956
Tribute to a Bad Man
Film · 1956
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
Film · 1956
The Seven Little Foys
Film · 1955
Love Me or Leave Me
Film · 1955
Mister Roberts
Film · 1955
Run for Cover
Film · 1955
MGM Parade
Series · 1955
A Lion Is in the Streets
Film · 1953
The Oscars
Series · 1953
What Price Glory
Film · 1952
Come Fill the Cup
Film · 1951
Starlift
Film · 1951
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Film · 1950
The West Point Story
Film · 1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Series · 1950
What's My Line?
Series · 1950
White Heat
Film · 1949
The Time of Your Life
Film · 1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Series · 1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Series · 1948
13 Rue Madeleine
Film · 1947
Blow-Ups of 1947
Film · 1947
Okay for Sound
Film · 1946
Blood on the Sun
Film · 1945
Johnny Come Lately
Film · 1943
You, John Jones!
Film · 1943
Show-Business at War
Film · 1943
The Voice That Thrilled the World
Film · 1943
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Film · 1942
Captains of the Clouds
Film · 1942
Calling All Girls
Film · 1942
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Film · 1941
Breakdowns of 1941
Film · 1941
The Strawberry Blonde
Film · 1941
City for Conquest
Film · 1940
The Fighting 69th
Film · 1940
Torrid Zone
Film · 1940
Breakdowns of 1940
Film · 1940
Each Dawn I Die
Film · 1939
The Roaring Twenties
Film · 1939
The Oklahoma Kid
Film · 1939
Hollywood Hobbies
Film · 1939
Breakdowns of 1939
Film · 1939
Angels with Dirty Faces
Film · 1938
Boy Meets Girl
Film · 1938
Something to Sing About
Film · 1937
Great Guy
Film · 1936
Ceiling Zero
Film · 1936
Breakdowns of 1936
Film · 1936
'G' Men
Film · 1935
Mutiny on the Bounty
Film · 1935
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Film · 1935
Frisco Kid
Film · 1935
The Irish in Us
Film · 1935
Devil Dogs of the Air
Film · 1935
A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio
Film · 1935
Things You Never See on the Screen
Film · 1935
A Dream Comes True
Film · 1935
Screen Snapshots Series 14, No. 8
Film · 1935
Jimmy the Gent
Film · 1934
Here Comes the Navy
Film · 1934
He Was Her Man
Film · 1934
The St. Louis Kid
Film · 1934
The Hollywood Gad-About
Film · 1934
Screen Snapshots No. 11
Film · 1934
Footlight Parade
Film · 1933
Lady Killer
Film · 1933
Picture Snatcher
Film · 1933
The Mayor of Hell
Film · 1933
Hard to Handle
Film · 1933
Winner Take All
Film · 1932
Taxi!
Film · 1932
The Crowd Roars
Film · 1932
Other Men's Women
Film · 1931
Blonde Crazy
Film · 1931
Smart Money
Film · 1931
The Public Enemy
Film · 1931
The Millionaire
Film · 1931
How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 11: 'Practice Shots'
Film · 1931
Intimate Interviews: James Cagney
Film · 1931
The Doorway to Hell
Film · 1930
Sinners' Holiday
Film · 1930
The Singing Fool
Film · 1928