James Parrott
Director
118
Movies
0
TV Shows
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.
Behind the Camera
The Chimp
Director, Escritor
The Pickaninny
Director
Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten
Set Decoration
Wandering Papas
Escritor
Block-Heads
Escritor
Pardon Us
Director
Blotto
Director
Way Out West
Guionista
Fluttering Hearts
Director
Come Clean
Escritor
The Music Box
Director, Escritor
Swiss Miss
Guionista
The Midnight Patrol
Escritor
Brats
Director, Escritor
Should Married Men Go Home?
Director, Escritor
Two Tars
Director
Another Fine Mess
Director
Perfect Day
Director
Hog Wild
Director, Historia
County Hospital
Director
Laughing Ladies
Scenario Writer
Girl Grief
Director
They Go Boom!
Director
Their Purple Moment
Director
Twice Two
Director, Escritor
Night Owls
Director
Along Came Auntie
Escritor
The Hoose-Gow
Director
Below Zero
Director
One of the Smiths
Director
As Actor/Actress
The King
Minor Role (uncredited)
Beat It
Hustling for Health
Man missing his train
A Gasoline Wedding
Post No Bills
The Bill Poster
The House of Flickers
The Caretaker's Daughter
The Caretaker (as Jimmie Parrott)
Do You Love Your Wife?
Shoot Straight
Hey There
The Lamb
A Sammy in Siberia
(uncredited)
Here Come the Girls
Shine 'Em Up
Paul, the Hustler
Young Mr. Jazz
(uncredited)
Soft Pedal
Willing
It's a Wild Life
Cab driver
Don't Park Here
A Car Owner
Don't Shove
Party Guest
Fireman Save My Child
Just Rambling Along
Waiter / Chef Assistant
Pipe the Whiskers
Hit Him Again
Sittin' Pretty
Bearded Lunatic
Count Your Change
Dear Ol' Pal
Lucian Dillgiggle
An Ozark Romance
Are Parents Pickles?
Fire Salesman
Look Pleasant, Please
Drunken Swell (uncredited)
Join the Circus
Trainer