About Me
Welcome to the MySpace tribute to actor James Dunn (1901-1967.) I am an author writing a book on this talented performer, and would love to speak to anyone who knew Jimmy or can help me with any information or leads! Thanks!James Dunn, Jimmy to his friends, was born near 146th Street and Broadway in New York City on 2nd November 1901. His father, Ralph Dunn was was a stockbroker, and his mother, the former Jessie Archer, was a homemaker. After brief stints selling cars and lunch wagons, Jimmy moved onto the stage. Vaudeville was a perfect outlet for the Irish kid with the sparkling blue eyes, mischievious smile and boundless energy, and it wasn't long before he made his Broadway debut in "The Nightstick." Walk-ons in silent films followed, before he was tapped by Fox Studios and put under contract. Soon after, Jimmy and his mother headed West, fame and fortune beckoning.Jimmy made a huge splash in the classic (and controversial) "Bad Girl," alongside rising star Sally Eilers. With one divorce behind him already, Dunn shrugged off speculation about the many starlets seen in his company, and enjoyed the good life with aplomb. Jimmy soon became a fixture of early Fox musicals, including the fondly-remembered "365 Nights in Hollywood" and "George White's 1935 Scandals," both alongside a Harlow-esque Alice Faye. Although initially reluctant, he soon was teamed with young Shirley Temple in "Stand Up and Cheer," "Baby, Take a Bow," and "Bright Eyes." The films were huge successes, and Dunn was immediately taken by his toddler co-star. His star was on the rise, but soon came crashing down as his partying ways began to affect his work at the studio.In director Elia Kazan's words, Dunn was basically "run out" of Hollywood as his dependance on alcohol increased. Although no longer the big star he once was, Dunn continued to work almost continuously, albeit in poverty-row productions. It was during this period that he met his second wife, the charming brunette Frances Gifford. The pair married in 1938 and co-starred in two films, "Hold that Woman!" and "Mercy Plane." It seemed that Jimmy's career was going nowhere fast, until one new arrival in Hollywood decided to give Jimmy a chance.While the biggest names in Hollywood scrambled for the plumb role of Johnny Nolan in Elia Kazan's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," Kazan chose Jimmy to play the charming, dreamy, alcoholic father in the now-classic film. His performance, dripping of truth and authenticity, broke hearts and reminded the world of Jimmy's emense talent. Hollywood certainly took notice, and Jimmy was awarded the 1946 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.While the film failed to revive his career in films for long, Jimmy soon found work in the infant medium of television. He was a much sought-after guest star on all of the period's most popular anthology series. Jimmy also took center stage as the irritable layabout Earl on the uprorious sitcom "It's a Great Life" from 1954-1956. Although he lost a lot of money in a failed stage venture, Jimmy continued to work in television, making dozens of appearances over the next few years.After a career spanning three decades, James Howard Dunn died of peritonitus, following surgery, on 1st September 1967 at the age of 66. He was survived by his third wife, singer Edna Rush, and stepson William Tick. His ashes were scattered at sea.While many chronicles of Old Hollywood minimize or omit Jimmy's contribution to our filmic history, his talent cannot be denied. He was one of the first people to be honored with a star on the famed Hollywood Walk of Fame, and is one of the very, very few to have two stars, one for film and another for television. He was also honored with his own US postage stamp, in a series commemorating Academy Award winners.He is loved and he is missed by those who knew him and those who admire his talent, strength and perseverance.
