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, he 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 for 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 also made numerous morale-boosting troop tours before and during World War II, and was President of the Screen Actors Guild for two years.
This book is your ultimate resource for James Cagney. Here you will find the most up-to-date information, photos, and much more.
In easy to read chapters, with extensive references and links to get you to know all there is to know about his Early life, Career and Personal life right away: Sinners' Holiday, The Doorway to Hell, Blonde Crazy, Smart Money (film), The Millionaire (1931 film), The Public Enemy, Other Men's Women, Winner Take All (1932 film), The Crowd Roars (1932 film), Taxi , Lady Killer (1933 film), Footlight Parade, The Mayor of Hell, Picture Snatcher, Hard to Handle, Here Comes the Navy, Jimmy the Gent (film), Mutiny on the Bounty (1935 film), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935 film), G Men, Devil Dogs of the Air, Frisco Kid, Great Guy, Ceiling Zero, Something to Sing About (1937 film), Angels with Dirty Faces, The Roaring Twenties, Each Dawn I Die, The Oklahoma Kid, City for Conquest, Torrid Zone, The Fighting 69th, The Bride Came C.O.D., The Strawberry Blonde, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Captains of the Clouds, Johnny Come Lately, You, John Jones , Blood on the Sun, 13 Rue Madeleine, The Time of Your Life (film), White Heat, The West Point Story (film), Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, Starlift, Come Fill the Cup, What Price Glory? (1952 film), A Lion Is in the Streets, Mister Roberts (1955 film), The Seven Little Foys, Love Me or Leave Me (film), Run for Cover (film), Tribute to a Bad Man, Man of a Thousand Faces, Shake Hands with the Devil (1959 film), Never Steal Anything Small, The Gallant Hours, One, Two, Three, Ragtime (film)
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