Photos

James Parrott

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 ForDirecting
  • Born1 August 1897 (age 128)
  • Place of BirthBaltimore, Maryland, USA

James Parrott

Photos
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 ForDirecting
  • Born1 August 1897 (age 128)
  • Place of BirthBaltimore, Maryland, USA
KNOWN FOR
PHOTOS
CREDITS
Poster
Laurel & Hardy: Year Two
star
10.0
2024
Poster
Laurel & Hardy: Year One
star
10.0
2023
Poster
Laurel & Hardy - Highlights
star
8.5
2002
Poster
The Tin Man
star
7.0
1935
Poster
Sing Sister Sing
star
6.0
1935
Poster
Treasure Blues
star
-
1935
Poster
The Misses Stooge
star
-
1935
Poster
Do Your Stuff
star
-
1935
Poster
Washee Ironee
star
6.8
1934
Poster
Mixed Nuts
star
6.2
1934
Poster
Benny, from Panama
star
6.0
1934
Poster
Opened by Mistake
star
-
1934
Poster
A Duke for a Day
star
-
1934
Poster
Twice Two
star
6.6
1933
Poster
The Music Box
star
7.55
1932
Poster
The Chimp
star
6.534
1932
Poster
County Hospital
star
6.8
1932
Poster
Helpmates
star
7.2
1932
Poster
Girl Grief
star
5.0
1932
Poster
Young Ironsides
star
-
1932
Poster
Mr. Bride
star
5.5
1932
Poster
Now We'll Tell One
star
-
1932
Poster
Hinter Schloss und Riegel
star
-
1932
Poster
The Panic Is On
star
2.0
1931
Poster
Rough Seas
star
-
1931
Poster
The Pip from Pittsburg
star
6.5
1931
Poster
Messing Around
star
-
1931
Poster
Pardon Us
star
6.4
1931
Poster
Haunted at Midnight
star
8.5
1931
Poster
One of the Smiths
star
-
1931
Poster
Skip the Maloo!
star
-
1931
Poster
What a Bozo!
star
1.0
1931
Poster
The lady from Chicago
star
-
1931
Poster
Below Zero
star
6.5
1930
Poster
The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case
star
6.7
1930
Poster
Night Owls
star
7.4
1930
Poster
Brats
star
6.8
1930
Poster
Another Fine Mess
star
6.8
1930
Poster
Blotto
star
7.2
1930
Poster
Hog Wild
star
6.8
1930
Poster
Night of Goblins
star
6.0
1930
Poster
Shivering and Shaking
star
6.818
1930
Poster
Thieves
star
6.875
1930
Poster
The Night Life
star
7.2
1930
Poster
Radiomanía
star
-
1930
Poster
The King
star
4.2
1930
Poster
Furnace Trouble
star
-
1929
Poster
Lesson No. 1
star
-
1929
Poster
Stewed, Fried and Boiled
star
-
1929
Poster
Perfect Day
star
6.9
1929
Poster
The Hoose-Gow
star
6.6
1929
Poster
They Go Boom!
star
6.8
1929
Poster
Ruby Lips
star
-
1929
Poster
Should Married Men Go Home?
star
6.4
1928
Poster
Their Purple Moment
star
6.5
1928
Poster
Two Tars
star
6.6
1928
Poster
Habeas Corpus
star
6.6
1928
Poster
All for Nothing
star
-
1928
Poster
Chasing Husbands
star
-
1928
Poster
Galloping Ghosts
star
-
1928
Poster
Fluttering Hearts
star
5.111
1927
Poster
A One Mama Man
star
-
1927
Poster
Now I'll Tell One
star
5.8
1927
Poster
Forgotten Sweeties
star
3.0
1927
Poster
Many Scrappy Returns
star
-
1927
Poster
Are Brunettes Safe?
star
-
1927
Poster
The Lighter That Failed
star
-
1927
Poster
Never the Dames Shall Meet
star
-
1927
Poster
Us
star
0.5
1927
Poster
Assistant Wives
star
-
1927
Poster
The Sting of Stings
star
-
1927
Poster
Bigger and Better Blondes
star
-
1927
Poster
What Women Did for Me
star
-
1927
Poster
On the Front Page
star
5.7
1926
Poster
There Ain't No Santa Claus
star
6.0
1926
Poster
Between Meals
star
-
1926
Poster
Soft Pedal
star
-
1926
Poster
Pay the Cashier
star
-
1926
Poster
Don't Butt In
star
-
1926
Poster
Should Sailors Marry?
star
5.4
1925
Poster
Are Parents Pickles?
star
-
1925
Poster
The Caretaker's Daughter
star
3.5
1925
Poster
The House of Flickers
star
-
1925
Poster
The 'Fraidy Cat
star
6.8
1924
Poster
Love's Detour
star
-
1924
Poster
Just a Minute
star
5.0
1924
Poster
Powder and Smoke
star
5.2
1924
Poster
Hard Knocks
star
5.2
1924
Poster
Don't Forget
star
4.5
1924
Poster
A Deep Sea Panic
star
-
1924
Poster
Sittin' Pretty
star
5.0
1924
Poster
Get Busy
star
5.0
1924
Poster
Post No Bills
star
5.0
1923
Poster
Paste and Paper
star
-
1923
Poster
The Uncovered Wagon
star
5.0
1923
Poster
Shoot Straight
star
-
1923
Poster
Dear Ol' Pal
star
-
1923
Poster
Jailed and Bailed
star
-
1923
Poster
Watch Your Wife
star
-
1923
Poster
No Pets
star
-
1923
Poster
Tight Shoes
star
-
1923
Poster
Join the Circus
star
-
1923
Poster
Take the Air
star
-
1923
Poster
The Smile Wins
star
-
1923
Poster
Shine 'Em Up
star
5.0
1922
Poster
Blaze Away
star
-
1922
Poster
Harvest Hands
star
5.0
1922
Poster
The Sleuth
star
-
1922
Poster
The Golf Bug
star
5.5
1922
Poster
Shiver and Shake
star
-
1922
Poster
Touch all the Bases
star
-
1922
Poster
The Landlubber
star
3.0
1922
Poster
Take Next Car
star
-
1922
Poster
Bone Dry
star
-
1922
Poster
Face the Camera
star
-
1922
Poster
The Pickaninny
star
-
1921
Poster
Big Town Ideas
star
-
1921
Poster
Way Out West
star
-
1920
Poster
His First Flat Tire
star
-
1920
Poster
Young Mr. Jazz
star
5.8
1919
Poster
Don't Park Here
star
4.0
1919
Poster
Count Your Change
star
5.0
1919
Poster
An Auto Nut
star
5.0
1919
Poster
Don't Shove
star
5.5
1919
Poster
Do You Love Your Wife?
star
5.7
1919
Poster
Hustling for Health
star
5.1
1919
Poster
A Sammy in Siberia
star
5.2
1919
Poster
An Ozark Romance
star
-
1918
Poster
Hey There
star
6.9
1918
Poster
Hit Him Again
star
-
1918
Poster
Fireman Save My Child
star
5.5
1918
Poster
Look Pleasant, Please
star
5.0
1918
Poster
Just Rambling Along
star
5.2
1918
Poster
Bride and Gloom
star
-
1918
Poster
Let's Go
star
-
1918
Poster
A Gasoline Wedding
star
5.3
1918
Poster
Beat It
star
-
1918
Poster
The Lamb
star
-
1918
Poster
It's a Wild Life
star
5.0
1918
Poster
Pipe the Whiskers
star
5.0
1918
Poster
Here Come the Girls
star
2.0
1918