James Dunn
Known for Acting · 87 credits
- Born
- 1901-11-02
- Died
- 1967-09-03
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Also known as
- James Howard Dunn · Jimmy 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)
Known For
TV Shows (23)
The Fugitive
1963
as Lou Bragan
The Virginian
1962
as Congressman Matthew J. Cosgrove
Climax!
1954
as Eldon Abernathy / Warren
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
Robert Montgomery Presents
1950
Ben Casey
1961
Naked City
1958
as Peter Wilkin
Studio One
1948
as Frank Gabriel
Matinee Theater
1955
Rawhide
1959
as Dr. Soloman Flood
Route 66
1960
Wanted: Dead or Alive
1958
as Gabe Henshaw
Branded
1965
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Joey
Screen Director's Playhouse
1955
as Sheriff Garrett
The Great Adventure
1963
as Indian Agent McLean
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as J. Henry Newman
Vacation Playhouse
1963
as P.J. Cunningham
Going My Way
1962
The Investigators
1961
as Chief Reynolds
General Electric Theater
1953
It's a Great Life
1954
as Earl Morgan
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Dan McLain
Movies (64)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
1945
as Johnny Nolan
Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man
1962
as Telegrapher
The Oscar
1966
as TV executive
Arizona to Broadway
1933
as Smiley Wells
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
1948
as Mike
Bright Eyes
1934
as Loop Merritt
Hollywood’s Children
1982
as Self (archive footage)
George White's 1935 Scandals
1935
as Eddie
Killer McCoy
1947
as Brian McCoy
Government Girl
1943
as Sergeant Joe Blake
The Girl in 419
1933
as Dr. Daniel French
The Daring Young Man
1935
as Don McLane
Shadow Over Elveron
1968
as Luke Travers
Mr. Broadway
1957
Stand Up and Cheer!
1934
as Jimmy Dugan
Sailor's Luck
1933
as Jimmy Fenimore Harrigan
Baby Take a Bow
1934
as Eddie Ellison
That Brennan Girl
1946
as Denny Reagan
The Living Ghost
1942
as Nick Trayne
Bad Boy
1935
as Eddie Nolan
Hold Me Tight
1933
as Chuck Evans
Society Girl
1932
as Johnny Malone
Bad Girl
1931
as Eddie Collins
Mysterious Crossing
1936
as Addison Francis Murphy
Living on Love
1937
as Gary Martin
Over the Hill
1931
as Johnny Shelby as an Adult
Sob Sister
1931
as Garry Webster
Son of the Navy
1940
as Chief Gunners Mate Mike Malone
Welcome Home
1935
as Richard Foster
Hold That Woman!
1940
as Jimmy Parker
Hello, Sister!
1933
as Jimmy
Handle with Care
1932
as Bill Gordon
The Golden Gloves Story
1950
as Joe Riley
Hearts in Bondage
1936
as Lt. Kenneth Reynolds
Change of Heart
1934
as Mark McGowan
365 Nights in Hollywood
1934
as James 'Jimmy' Dale
Take It or Leave It
1944
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Shadows Over Shanghai
1938
as Johnny McGinty
Two-Fisted Gentleman
1936
as Mickey
Take a Chance
1933
as Duke Stanley
The Payoff
1935
as Joe McCoy
The Caribbean Mystery
1945
as Mr. Smith
Venus Makes Trouble
1937
as Buzz Martin
Dance Team
1932
as Jimmy Mulligan
The Ninth Day
1957
A Wonderful Life
1950
as Henry Wood
Pride of the Navy
1939
as Speed Brennan
Leave It to the Irish
1944
as Terry Moran
Have a Heart
1934
as James 'Jimmie' Flaherty
Jimmy and Sally
1933
as Jimmy O'Connor
Don’t Get Personal
1936
as Bob McDonald
Hold That Girl
1934
as Barney Sullivan
The Bramble Bush
1960
as Stew Schaffer
The Ghost and the Guest
1943
as Webster Frye
We Have Our Moments
1937
as John Wade
Come Closer, Folks
1936
as Jim Keene
In the Nick of Time
1929
Journey to the Day
1960
as Melville Cooper
Mercy Plane
1939
as 'Speed' Leslie
Deliverance
1919
as Life Saver
The Last Stop
1956
as Yigal
The Song Plugger
1930
as Man in Record Shop
The Biggest Little Star of the 30's
1976
as Self(archive footage)
About 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 th… With 87 credits spanning from 1919 to 1982, James Dunn has appeared in 64 films and 23 TV shows.
Fans searching for James Dunn movies, James Dunn filmography, or the latest projects starring James Dunn can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular James Dunn Movies
- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) — as Self (archive footage)
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945) — as Johnny Nolan
- Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man (1962) — as Telegrapher
- The Oscar (1966) — as TV executive
- Arizona to Broadway (1933) — as Smiley Wells
Where to Watch James Dunn Films
Most James Dunn movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring James Dunn, check our movies catalogue and browse page.