James Parrott | WatchedThis

James Parrott

James Parrott

Directing

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.

Filmography Movies

Acting

Big Town IdeasMOVIE
MOVIE

Big Town Ideas

7.0(0.0K)
Big Town Ideas
Spick Spague
Way Out WestMOVIE
MOVIE

Way Out West

Way Out West
Between MealsMOVIE
MOVIE

Between Meals

8.0(0.0K)
Between Meals
In Trouble
Poster for Shine 'Em Up
MOVIE

Shine 'Em Up

5.2(0.0K)
Shine 'Em Up
Paul, the Hustler
Paste and PaperMOVIE
MOVIE

Paste and Paper

10.0(0.0K)
Paste and Paper
Poster for Post No Bills
MOVIE

Post No Bills

7.3(0.0K)
Post No Bills
The Bill Poster
Poster for Are Parents Pickles?
MOVIE

Are Parents Pickles?

9.0(0.0K)
Are Parents Pickles?
Fire Salesman
Poster for An Ozark Romance
MOVIE

An Ozark Romance

An Ozark Romance
The Uncovered WagonMOVIE
MOVIE

The Uncovered Wagon

6.0(0.0K)
The Uncovered Wagon
Bill Bunion
Poster for Shoot Straight
MOVIE

Shoot Straight

Shoot Straight

Production

Poster for Block-Heads
MOVIE

Block-Heads

7.0(0.1K)
Block-Heads
Writer
Furnace TroubleMOVIE
MOVIE

Furnace Trouble

10.0(0.0K)
Furnace Trouble
Director
Lesson No. 1MOVIE
MOVIE

Lesson No. 1

9.0(0.0K)
Lesson No. 1
Director
Stewed, Fried and BoiledMOVIE
MOVIE

Stewed, Fried and Boiled

7.0(0.0K)
Stewed, Fried and Boiled
Director
Poster for The Music Box
MOVIE

The Music Box

7.5(0.2K)
The Music Box
Director
Poster for Below Zero
MOVIE

Below Zero

6.6(0.1K)
Below Zero
Director
Poster for The Chimp
MOVIE

The Chimp

6.5(0.0K)
The Chimp
Director
Poster for County Hospital
MOVIE

County Hospital

6.8(0.1K)
County Hospital
Director
Poster for Perfect Day
MOVIE

Perfect Day

7.0(0.1K)
Perfect Day
Director
Poster for The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case
MOVIE

The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case

6.8(0.1K)
The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case
Director

Gallery

James Parrott portrait
James Parrott portrait
James Parrott portrait