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James Parrott

James Parrott

Known For Directing
Birthday Aug 01, 1897
Died May 10, 1939 (41)
Birthplace Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Popularity 0.2 (history)
Updated Nov 15, 2024
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
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

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Filmography

The King

The King

1930

as Minor Role (uncredited)

Between Meals

Between Meals

1926

as In Trouble

Don't Butt In

Don't Butt In

1926

as The Roustabout

Are Parents Pickles?

Are Parents Pickles?

1925

as Fire Salesman

The Caretaker's Daughter

The Caretaker's Daughter

1925

as The Caretaker (as Jimmie Parrott)

Get Busy

Get Busy

1924

as Taller pal

Sittin' Pretty

Sittin' Pretty

1924

as Bearded Lunatic

Post No Bills

Post No Bills

1923

as The Bill Poster

Take the Air

Take the Air

1923

as Iron-worker

Jailed and Bailed

Jailed and Bailed

1923

as Paul (as Paul Parrott)

Dear Ol' Pal

Dear Ol' Pal

1923

as Lucian Dillgiggle

Join the Circus

Join the Circus

1923

as Trainer

The Sleuth

The Sleuth

1922

as Bellboy / the Sleuth

Harvest Hands

Harvest Hands

1922

as The Son

Shine 'Em Up

Shine 'Em Up

1922

as Paul, the Hustler

Shiver and Shake

Shiver and Shake

1922

as The Newlywed Husband

Touch all the Bases

Touch all the Bases

1922

as Paul Parrott

Take Next Car

Take Next Car

1922

as Chief Engineer

The Golf Bug

The Golf Bug

1922

as Paul

Don't Park Here

Don't Park Here

1920

as A Car Owner

An Auto Nut

An Auto Nut

1919

as The Auto Nut's Lawyer (as Paul Parrott)

Don't Shove

Don't Shove

1919

as Party Guest

A Sammy in Siberia

A Sammy in Siberia

1919

as (uncredited)

Hustling for Health

Hustling for Health

1919

as Man missing his train

Young Mr. Jazz

Young Mr. Jazz

1919

as (uncredited)

Just Rambling Along

Just Rambling Along

1918

as Waiter / chef assistant

Look Pleasant, Please

Look Pleasant, Please

1918

as Drunken Swell (uncredited)

Block-Heads

Block-Heads

1938

Writer

Swiss Miss

Swiss Miss

1938

Screenplay

Way Out West

Way Out West

1937

Screenplay

Twice Two

Twice Two

1933

Writer

The Midnight Patrol

The Midnight Patrol

1933

Writer

The Music Box

The Music Box

1932

Writer

The Chimp

The Chimp

1932

Writer

Their First Mistake

Their First Mistake

1932

Writer

Helpmates

Helpmates

1932

Writer

One Good Turn

One Good Turn

1931

Writer

Come Clean

Come Clean

1931

Writer

Brats

Brats

1930

Writer

Hog Wild

Hog Wild

1930

Story

Wandering Papas

Wandering Papas

1926

Writer

On the Front Page

On the Front Page

1926

Writer

Say It with Babies

Say It with Babies

1926

Writer

Get 'Em Young

Get 'Em Young

1926

Writer

Along Came Auntie

Along Came Auntie

1926

Writer

Chasing the Chaser

Chasing the Chaser

1925

Writer

Hard Knocks

Hard Knocks

1924

Writer

Just a Minute

Just a Minute

1924

Writer

Powder and Smoke

Powder and Smoke

1924

Writer

Don't Forget

Don't Forget

1924

Writer

Treasure Blues

Treasure Blues

1935

Director

Sing Sister Sing

Sing Sister Sing

1935

Director

The Misses Stooge

The Misses Stooge

1935

Director

The Tin Man

The Tin Man

1935

Director

Do Your Stuff

Do Your Stuff

1935

Director

Washee Ironee

Washee Ironee

1934

Director

Mixed Nuts

Mixed Nuts

1934

Director

Opened by Mistake

Opened by Mistake

1934

Director

Benny, from Panama

Benny, from Panama

1934

Director

A Duke for a Day

A Duke for a Day

1934

Director

Twice Two

Twice Two

1933

Director

The Music Box

The Music Box

1932

Director

The Chimp

The Chimp

1932

Director

Mr. Bride

Mr. Bride

1932

Director

Young Ironsides

Young Ironsides

1932

Director

Girl Grief

Girl Grief

1932

Director

Now We'll Tell One

Now We'll Tell One

1932

Director

Helpmates

Helpmates

1932

Director

County Hospital

County Hospital

1932

Director

Pardon Us

Pardon Us

1931

Director

Rough Seas

Rough Seas

1931

Director

The Pip from Pittsburg

The Pip from Pittsburg

1931

Director

Skip the Maloo!

Skip the Maloo!

1931

Director

The Panic Is On

The Panic Is On

1931

Director

One of the Smiths

One of the Smiths

1931

Director

What a Bozo!

What a Bozo!

1931

Director

The lady from Chicago

The lady from Chicago

1931

Director

Hog Wild

Hog Wild

1930

Director

Brats

Brats

1930

Director

Another Fine Mess

Another Fine Mess

1930

Director

Below Zero

Below Zero

1930

Director

Blotto

Blotto

1930

Director

Night Owls

Night Owls

1930

Director

Ruby Lips

Ruby Lips

1929

Director

The Hoose-Gow

The Hoose-Gow

1929

Director

They Go Boom!

They Go Boom!

1929

Director

Stewed, Fried and Boiled

Stewed, Fried and Boiled

1929

Director

Lesson No. 1

Lesson No. 1

1929

Director

Perfect Day

Perfect Day

1929

Director

Furnace Trouble

Furnace Trouble

1929

Director

Two Tars

Two Tars

1928

Director

Chasing Husbands

Chasing Husbands

1928

Director

Their Purple Moment

Their Purple Moment

1928

Director

All for Nothing

All for Nothing

1928

Director

Habeas Corpus

Habeas Corpus

1928

Director

Us

Us

1927

Director

Fluttering Hearts

Fluttering Hearts

1927

Director

Assistant Wives

Assistant Wives

1927

Director

Forgotten Sweeties

Forgotten Sweeties

1927

Director

Now I'll Tell One

Now I'll Tell One

1927

Director

The Sting of Stings

The Sting of Stings

1927

Director

The Lighter That Failed

The Lighter That Failed

1927

Director

Many Scrappy Returns

Many Scrappy Returns

1927

Director

What Women Did for Me

What Women Did for Me

1927

Director

Are Brunettes Safe?

Are Brunettes Safe?

1927

Director

A One Mama Man

A One Mama Man

1927

Director

On the Front Page

On the Front Page

1926

Director

Should Sailors Marry?

Should Sailors Marry?

1925

Director

Hard Knocks

Hard Knocks

1924

Director

The 'Fraidy Cat

The 'Fraidy Cat

1924

Director

Just a Minute

Just a Minute

1924

Director

Love's Detour

Love's Detour

1924

Director

Powder and Smoke

Powder and Smoke

1924

Director

Don't Forget

Don't Forget

1924

Director

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

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Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 2 3 1
2024 7 8 16 3
2024 8 5 11 2
2024 9 3 7 1
2024 10 3 6 1
2024 11 2 4 1
2024 12 2 4 1
2025 1 4 11 1
2025 2 2 6 1
2025 3 2 3 1
2025 5 1 3 1
2025 6 1 1 1
2025 7 0 0 0
2025 8 0 4 0
2025 9 0 0 0
2025 10 0 0 0

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