James Murray (American actor)
James Murray | |
---|---|
Calvary Cemetery | |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1924–1936 |
Spouse(s) | Lucille McNames (m. 1928; div.1930) Marion Sayers (m. 1933) |
James T. Murray (February 9, 1901 – July 11, 1936) was an American film actor best known for starring in the 1928 film The Crowd.
Early life
Born in
Career
In 1923, Murray made his film debut as Captain
Following The Crowd, Murray appeared in the
By 1930, Murray's once promising career had begun to falter due to his increasing alcoholism and alcohol related arrests. In August 1930, Murray was sentenced to six months in jail for appearing in court drunk on a previous drunk-driving charge.
By 1934, Murray was unable to secure acting work due to his alcoholism and began panhandling. By that time, director King Vidor (who had cast Murray in The Crowd seven years earlier) was casting for his film Our Daily Bread (1934) and had Murray in mind for the lead role. Vidor had heard of Murray’s plight and immediately set about finding him. He soon found a much heavier and unkempt Murray panhandling on the street and offered to buy him a drink. Vidor then offered Murray the lead role, provided Murray pull himself together. Murray rejected the offer and reportedly told Vidor, "Just because I stop you on the street and try to borrow a buck you think you can tell me what to do. As far as I am concerned, you know what you can do with your lousy part."[9]
Murray appeared in a total of thirty-six films over the course of his twelve-year film career. In the majority of his films in the sound era, particularly those made during the last few years of his career, he was cast in bit parts or as an uncredited extra. Murray's final onscreen appearance was as an uncredited “earthquake survivor” in the 1936 disaster drama San Francisco.
Death
On July 11, 1936, Murray drowned after falling or jumping from the
Decades later Vidor, haunted by Murray's decline and early death, wrote a screenplay titled The Actor, although his work never was produced.[13]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1924 | The Pilgrims | John Alden | Short film |
1927 | Tillie the Toiler | JiOne of Tillie's Admirers in Restaurant | Uncredited |
In Old Kentucky | Jimmy Brierly | ||
The Lovelorn | Charlie | Lost film | |
1928 | Rose-Marie | Jim Kenyon | Lost film |
The Big City | Curly | Lost film | |
The Crowd | John "Johnny" Sims | ||
The Little Wildcat | Conrad Burton | Lost film | |
1929 | Thunder | Tommy | Lost film |
The Shakedown | Dave Roberts | ||
Shanghai Lady | 'Badlands' McKinney | ||
1930 | Hide-Out | Jimmy Dorgan | |
The Rampant Age | Sandy Benton | ||
Bright Lights | Connie Lamont | ||
1931 | Kick In | Benny LaMarr | |
Hold 'er Sheriff | Jimmy Dalton | Short film | |
Trapped | Jimmy Dare | Short film | |
In Line of Duty | Cpl. Sherwood | ||
1932 | The Reckoning | Terry | |
Alaska Love | Freddie Watson | Short film | |
The Hollywood Handicap | Character | Short film | |
Bachelor Mother | Joe Bigelow | ||
Frisco Jenny | Dan McAllister | ||
1933 | Baby Face | Brakeman | Uncredited |
High Gear | Mark "High Gear" Sherrod | a.k.a. The Big Thrill | |
Air Hostess | Ted Hunter | ||
Central Airport | Eddie Hughes | ||
Heroes for Sale | Blind Soldier | ||
Havana Widows | Bank Teller | Uncredited | |
1934 | Now I'll Tell | Henchman with Curtis | Uncredited |
1935 | $20 a Week | Peter Douglas | |
The Drunkard | Edward Middleton | ||
The Informer | Bit role | Uncredited | |
Ship Cafe | Gerald | Uncredited | |
Skull and Crown | Matt - Henchman | ||
1936 | Rose-Marie |
Bit Part | Uncredited |
San Francisco | Earthquake Survivor | Uncredited |
References
- ^ "New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", New York Municipal Archives, New York. FamilySearch; retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ a b "Thirteenth Census of the United States: 1910", original enumeration page, April 21, 1910, Borough of the Bronx, New York City, New York. FamilySearch; retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ "Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930", original enumeration page, April 11, 1930, Borough of the Bronx, New York City, New York. FamilySearch; retrieved October 23, 2017.
- Time Warner, New York, N.Y; retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ "Destined As Fine Actor, Couldn't Take His Success". The Milwaukee Journal. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. August 2, 1936. p. 7. Archived from the original on March 8, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
- ^ "Actor Appears In Court Drunk". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. August 30, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ "Marion Sayers, Local Girl, Gets Credit For James Murray's Comeback in Films". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. February 4, 1933. p. 5. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ "Marion Murray Given Divorce". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. November 2, 1933. pp. 3–A. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-374-19189-4.
- ^ ISBN 0-786-47992-2.
- ^ "Former Film Star Drowning Victim". Motion Picture Herald. Quigley Publishing Company: 32. July 1936.
- ^ Roberts, Sam (May 15, 2005). "CITY LORE; A Pair of Dreamers". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
- ISBN 0-520-05798-8.
External links
- James Murray at IMDb
- James Murray at Find a Grave
- James Murray at Virtual History
- The Pilgrims (1924) on YouTube(Murray's first film)