JB
James Barton
Actor
Died February 19, 1962 (71 years)
James Barton (November 1, 1890 - February 19, 1962) was an American vaudevillian and a character actor in films and television.
Born into a theatrical family in Gloucester City, New Jersey, Barton began performing in minstrel shows and burlesque houses throughout the country in 1898. His years of experience working with African American performers led to his becoming one of the first jazz dancers in America. After working with repertory companies in the South and Midwest, he made his Broadway debut in the musical revue The Passing Show of 1919 in a role originally intended for Ed Wynn. He frequently was the highlight in mediocre productions, and a critic for the Daily News noted, "Whenever the book failed him, he shuffled into one or more of his eccentric dances." Additional theatre credits include Sweet and Low, Tobacco Road, The Iceman Cometh, and Paint Your Wagon.
Barton's film career began in the silent era. His screen credits include The Time of Your Life, Here Comes the Groom, and The Misfits. On television he appeared in The Ford Television Theatre, Lux Video Theatre, Studio One, The Kaiser Aluminum Hour, Playhouse 90, Kraft Television Theatre, The Rifleman, Adventures in Paradise, and Naked City.
Barton died of a heart attack in Mineola, New York.
Bing Crosby considered James Barton to be one his ten favorite performers of all time, alongside names such as Al Jolson, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland and Nat King Cole.
Description above from the Wikipedia article James Barton (vaudevillian), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Born into a theatrical family in Gloucester City, New Jersey, Barton began performing in minstrel shows and burlesque houses throughout the country in 1898. His years of experience working with African American performers led to his becoming one of the first jazz dancers in America. After working with repertory companies in the South and Midwest, he made his Broadway debut in the musical revue The Passing Show of 1919 in a role originally intended for Ed Wynn. He frequently was the highlight in mediocre productions, and a critic for the Daily News noted, "Whenever the book failed him, he shuffled into one or more of his eccentric dances." Additional theatre credits include Sweet and Low, Tobacco Road, The Iceman Cometh, and Paint Your Wagon.
Barton's film career began in the silent era. His screen credits include The Time of Your Life, Here Comes the Groom, and The Misfits. On television he appeared in The Ford Television Theatre, Lux Video Theatre, Studio One, The Kaiser Aluminum Hour, Playhouse 90, Kraft Television Theatre, The Rifleman, Adventures in Paradise, and Naked City.
Barton died of a heart attack in Mineola, New York.
Bing Crosby considered James Barton to be one his ten favorite performers of all time, alongside names such as Al Jolson, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland and Nat King Cole.
Description above from the Wikipedia article James Barton (vaudevillian), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
| 1961 | Alcoa Premiere (TV Series) · as Hobbs |
| 1961 | Frontier Circus (TV Series) · as Angus Macduff |
| 1961 | The Misfits · as Fletcher's Grandfather |
| 1961 | The Americans (TV Series) |
| 1959 | Adventures in Paradise (TV Series) · as Rocky |
| 1959 | Hotel de Paree (TV Series) · as Cully Jackson |
| 1958 | Naked City (TV Series) · as Bo Giles |
| 1958 | The Rifleman (TV Series) |
| 1957 | Quantez · as Minstrel |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Kit Carson |
| 1956 | Kaiser Aluminum Hour (TV Series) · as Sheriff Adam Griffith |
| 1956 | The Naked Hills · as Jimmo Mccann |
| 1955 | The Jane Wyman Show (TV Series) · as Hugh Carmody |
| 1953 | The Loretta Young Show (TV Series) · as Ernie Clevenger |
| 1952 | Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre (TV Series) · as Old Man Crandall |
| 1951 | Golden Girl · as John Crabtree |
| 1951 | Here Comes the Groom · as William 'pa' Jones |
| 1951 | The Scarf · as Ezra Thompson |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as The Stranger |
| 1950 | Wabash Avenue · as Harrigan |
| 1950 | The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady · as Dennis O'grady |
| 1948 | Yellow Sky · as Grandpa |
| 1948 | Studio One (TV Series) · as Joe Tinker |
| 1948 | The Time of Your Life · as Kit Carson |
| 1947 | Kraft Television Theatre (TV Series) · as The Mock Turtle |
| 1941 | The Shepherd of the Hills · as Old Matt Matthews |
| 1935 | His Family Tree · as Patrick Murphy |
| 1935 | Captain Hurricane · as Capt. Zenas Henry Brewster |
| 1934 | The Pest · as The Pest |