Person Details

Birthday:

Aliases: James G. Parrott , Jimmie Parrott , Jimmy Parrott , Paul Parrott , James Gibbons Parrott

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 107

TV Involvements: 0


Most Famous Work

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.

Most Famous Work

Way Out West
Average
7

Way Out West

(1937) Screenplay
Pardon Us
Average
6

Pardon Us

(1931) Director
County Hospital
Average
7

County Hospital

(1932) Director
Swiss Miss
Average
6

Swiss Miss

(1938) Screenplay
Blotto
Average
7

Blotto

(1930) Director
Block-Heads
Average
7

Block-Heads

(1938) Writer
Below Zero
Average
7

Below Zero

(1930) Director
Perfect Day
Average
7

Perfect Day

(1929) Director

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
1930 Minor Role (uncredited)
1926 N/A
Willing
The Roustabout
In Trouble
1925 Fire Salesman
The Caretaker (as Jimmie Parrott)
N/A
1924 N/A
Bearded Lunatic
Taller pal
1923 Trainer
Lucian Dillgiggle
N/A
Iron-worker
The Bill Poster
Bill Bunion
N/A
N/A
The New Clerk
Paul (as Paul Parrott)
N/A
N/A
1922 N/A
The Son
Paul, the Hustler
Paul
The Newlywed Husband
N/A
N/A
N/A
Paul Parrott
Chief Engineer
Bellboy / the Sleuth
1921 N/A
1920 A Car Owner
N/A
N/A
1919 Party Guest
N/A
(uncredited)
(uncredited)
Man missing his train
N/A
The Auto Nut's Lawyer (as Paul Parrott)
1918 Waiter / chef assistant
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Drunken Swell (uncredited)
N/A
Year Character Movie/Tv

Directing

Year Role Movie/Tv
2002 Director
1935 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1934 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1933 Director
1932 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1931 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1930 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1929 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1928 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1927 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1926 Director
Director
1925 Director
1924 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1921 Director
Year Role Movie/Tv

Writing


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