person

James Dunn

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Gender

Male

Birthday

1901-11-02

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)

Also Known For

poster

75

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Feb 28, 1945

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55

Baby Take a Bow

Jun 30, 1934

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NA

Welcome Home

Aug 09, 1935

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43

The Living Ghost

Aug 11, 1942

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66

Bright Eyes

Dec 28, 1934

poster

48

Stand Up and Cheer!

May 04, 1934

poster

52

The Ghost and the Guest

Apr 19, 1943

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52

Government Girl

Nov 05, 1943

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59

Bad Girl

Aug 13, 1931

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51

The Oscar

Mar 04, 1966

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60

Killer McCoy

Dec 01, 1947

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43

Hearts in Bondage

May 26, 1936

poster

48

Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man

Jul 25, 1962

poster

50

The Caribbean Mystery

Jun 01, 1945

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NA

Two-Fisted Gentleman

Aug 15, 1936

poster

43

The Girl in 419

May 26, 1933

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70

Arizona to Broadway

Jul 22, 1933

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NA

Mr. Broadway

May 11, 1957

poster

40

George White's 1935 Scandals

Mar 29, 1935

poster

49

The Payoff

Jan 09, 1935

poster

50

Hold That Woman!

Jun 28, 1940

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70

Have a Heart

Sep 07, 1934

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53

That Brennan Girl

Dec 23, 1946

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35

Leave It to the Irish

Aug 26, 1944

poster

58

We Have Our Moments

Mar 28, 1937

poster

53

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

Jul 16, 1948

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62

Change of Heart

May 18, 1934

poster

61

Hello, Sister!

Apr 14, 1933

poster

60

Society Girl

May 29, 1932

poster

82

Over the Hill

Nov 29, 1931

poster

50

Sailor's Luck

Mar 17, 1933

poster

48

Shadows Over Shanghai

Oct 14, 1938

poster

NA

365 Nights in Hollywood

Dec 11, 1934

poster

50

Bad Boy

Oct 25, 1935

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NA

Mysterious Crossing

Dec 27, 1936

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NA

The Biggest Little Star of the 30's

Jan 01, 1976

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NA

A Wonderful Life

Aug 10, 1950

poster

60

Living on Love

Nov 12, 1937

poster

65

Shadow Over Elveron

Mar 05, 1968

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NA

The Daring Young Man

Jul 17, 1935

poster

NA

Pride of the Navy

Jan 23, 1939

poster

NA

Hold That Girl

Mar 23, 1934

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NA

Mercy Plane

Dec 04, 1939

poster

60

The Golden Gloves Story

Mar 22, 1950

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55

The Bramble Bush

Feb 24, 1960

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NA

The Ninth Day

Jan 10, 1957

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NA

Dance Team

Jan 17, 1932

poster

55

Son of the Navy

Mar 30, 1940

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40

Take a Chance

Nov 25, 1933

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40

The Song Plugger

Jun 08, 1930

poster

NA

Come Closer, Folks

Nov 07, 1936

poster

57

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Aug 06, 1975

poster

40

Jimmy and Sally

Nov 04, 1933

poster

35

Venus Makes Trouble

May 14, 1937

poster

40

Take It or Leave It

Jul 17, 1944

poster

NA

Handle with Care

Dec 25, 1932

poster

NA

Hollywood’s Children

Feb 24, 1982

poster

NA

Hold Me Tight

May 20, 1933

poster

NA

Sob Sister

Oct 25, 1931

poster

NA

In the Nick of Time

Oct 01, 1929

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NA

The Great Adventure

Sep 27, 1963

poster

63

Route 66

Oct 07, 1960

poster

55

Naked City

Sep 30, 1958

poster

50

Studio One

Nov 07, 1948

poster

62

General Electric Theater

Feb 01, 1953

poster

56

Going My Way

Oct 03, 1962

poster

71

Rawhide

Jan 09, 1959

poster

72

The Fugitive

Sep 17, 1963

poster

63

The Virginian

Sep 19, 1962

poster

63

Lux Video Theatre

Oct 02, 1950

poster

72

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Oct 05, 1951

poster

32

Climax!

Oct 07, 1954

poster

57

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

Oct 04, 1963

poster

50

Matinee Theater

Oct 31, 1955

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64

Branded

Jan 24, 1965

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68

Wanted: Dead or Alive

Sep 06, 1958

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56

Ben Casey

Oct 02, 1961

poster

56

Robert Montgomery Presents

Jan 30, 1950

poster

70

Vacation Playhouse

Jul 22, 1963

poster

NA

It's a Great Life

Sep 07, 1954

poster

72

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Oct 05, 1951

poster

50

Studio One

Nov 07, 1948

poster

32

Climax!

Oct 07, 1954

poster

65

Screen Director's Playhouse

Oct 05, 1955

poster

78

The Wonderful World of Disney

Oct 27, 1954

poster

50

The Investigators

Oct 05, 1961

poster

75

Bonanza

Sep 12, 1959

poster

71

Rawhide

Jan 09, 1959