James Parrott
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- August 1, 1897
- Died
- May 10, 1939 (aged 41)
- Birthplace
- Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Biography
From Wikipedia James Parrott (August 2, 1897 – May 10, 1939) was an American actor and film director; and the younger brother of film comedian Charley Chase. James Gibbons Parrott was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Charles and Blanche Thompson Parrott. In 1903, his father died from a heart attack, leaving the family in bad financial shape, which forced them to move in with a relative. Charley Jr. quit school, so he could go to work, in order to support his mother and brother. Eventually the call of the stage beckoned him, and Charley Jr. left home at age 16 to travel the vaudeville circuit as a singer and comedic performer. By the time James had reached his teens, he too, had quit school, and became involved with the street gangs of Baltimore. Later, Charley's connections in the film industry helped get his younger brother established in movies, and he would appear during the 1920s in a series of relatively successful comedies for producer Hal Roach. He was billed first as "Paul Parrott," then "Jimmie Parrott." Approximately 75 comedies were produced from 1921 to 1923, with titles continuing to be released through Pathé until 1926. Frequent co-stars included Marie Mosquini, Jobyna Ralston, Eddie Baker, and Sunshine Sammy. Parrott is probably best known as a comedy director. As "James Parrott," he specialized in the two-reel misadventures of Laurel and Hardy, including the Oscar-winning classic The Music Box, and Helpmates. During the 1930s Parrott had acquired serious drinking and drug problems (his diet medications were really addictive amphetamines) and although still able to direct quality shorts, he had developed a reputation as unreliable. By the mid-1930s his work was spotty: Stan Laurel used him sporadically to contribute gags to the Laurel and Hardy features, and he would direct an Our Gang short in 1934, plus several acceptable entries in Thelma Todd-Patsy Kelly series. By 1937, Parrott was accepting any jobs that came his way. He could no longer be counted on to direct or write, and relied on his brother to support him financially. There was a brief marriage to Ruby Ellen McCoy in 1937, but as his various addictions worsened, so did his state of mind. Parrott died at the age of 41 of heart failure. His brother Charley was devastated, and died 13 months later.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Laurel & Hardy - Highlights
Movie · Director
The Tin Man
Movie · Director
Sing Sister Sing
Movie · Director
Treasure Blues
Movie · Director
The Misses Stooge
Movie · Director
Do Your Stuff
Movie · Director
Washee Ironee
Movie · Director
Mixed Nuts
Movie · Director
Benny, from Panama
Movie · Director
Opened by Mistake
Movie · Director
A Duke for a Day
Movie · Director
Twice Two
Movie · Director
The Music Box
Movie · Director
County Hospital
Movie · Director
The Chimp
Movie · Director
Helpmates
Movie · Director
Girl Grief
Movie · Director
Young Ironsides
Movie · Director
Mr. Bride
Movie · Director
Now We'll Tell One
Movie · Director
Hinter Schloss und Riegel
Movie · Director
The Panic Is On
Movie · Director
Rough Seas
Movie · Director
The Pip from Pittsburg
Movie · Director
Messing Around
Movie · Director
Pardon Us
Movie · Director
Haunted at Midnight
Movie · Director
The lady from Chicago
Movie · Director
What a Bozo!
Movie · Director
One of the Smiths
Movie · Director
Skip the Maloo!
Movie · Director
Pardon Us
Movie · Director
Below Zero
Movie · Director
The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case
Movie · Director
Night Owls
Movie · Director
Brats
Movie · Director
Another Fine Mess
Movie · Director
Hog Wild
Movie · Director
Blotto
Movie · Director
Night of Goblins
Movie · Director
Shivering and Shaking
Movie · Director
Thieves
Movie · Director
The Night Life
Movie · Director
Radiomanía
Movie · Director
Lesson No. 1
Movie · Director
Furnace Trouble
Movie · Director
Stewed, Fried and Boiled
Movie · Director
Perfect Day
Movie · Director
The Hoose-Gow
Movie · Director
They Go Boom!
Movie · Director
Ruby Lips
Movie · Director
Should Married Men Go Home?
Movie · Director
Their Purple Moment
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Two Tars
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Habeas Corpus
Movie · Director
All for Nothing
Movie · Director
Chasing Husbands
Movie · Director
Galloping Ghosts
Movie · Director
Fluttering Hearts
Movie · Director
A One Mama Man
Movie · Director
Now I'll Tell One
Movie · Director
Forgotten Sweeties
Movie · Director
Are Brunettes Safe?
Movie · Director
Many Scrappy Returns
Movie · Director
The Lighter That Failed
Movie · Director
Never the Dames Shall Meet
Movie · Director
Us
Movie · Director
Assistant Wives
Movie · Director
The Sting of Stings
Movie · Director
Bigger and Better Blondes
Movie · Director
What Women Did for Me
Movie · Director
On the Front Page
Movie · Director
There Ain't No Santa Claus
Movie · Director
Should Sailors Marry?
Movie · Director
The 'Fraidy Cat
Movie · Director
Love's Detour
Movie · Director
Just a Minute
Movie · Director
Powder and Smoke
Movie · Director
Hard Knocks
Movie · Director
Don't Forget
Movie · Director
The Pickaninny
Movie · Director