JE
James Ellison
Actor
Born May 4, 1910Died December 23, 1993 (83 years)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
James Ellison (May 4, 1910 - December 23, 1993) was an American actor, born James Ellison Smith in Guthrie Center, Iowa, son of Edward James Smith and Ona Mary Ellis.
Ellison appeared in nearly seventy films between 1932 and 1962.
Ellison worked for a time in a film laboratory and while there was offered a screen test. He developed it himself and when he saw it, decided it was not satisfactory so he would not show it to the director. But he saw it anyway and Ellison got a contract.
Despite his rugged good looks and height of 6 feet 3 inches, Ellison's limited range and somewhat wooden screen presence kept him from the first (or even second) ranks of stardom. He spent much of his career in Westerns, including a stint in the mid-thirties as the sidekick of Hopalong Cassidy in Paramount's successful series. In 1938, he played a charming, romantic character opposite 26 year old Lucille Ball in the comedy, "Next Time I Marry", a film where Ball had her first top billing on screen credits. Before that, in 1936, he played his highest-profile role, as Buffalo Bill in Cecil B. DeMille's The Plainsman, which also starred Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur.
Despite that film's success, Ellison spent most of the remainder of his career shuttling between cowboy pictures and more varied roles, primarily in B movies with titles like Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case and The Undying Monster. He had a supporting role in 1941's Charley's Aunt (which starred Jack Benny) and played the romantic lead in 1943's The Gang's All Here, a Twentieth Century Fox musical in which he seemed somewhat lost among the vivid antics of Carmen Miranda, Charlotte Greenwood, and Edward Everett Horton (and was the only principal not to sing a note). He also co-starred with Tom Conway and Frances Dee in Val Lewton's production of I Walked with a Zombie, directed by Jacques Tourneur.
Ellison landed another romantic lead role as 'Jerry Gibson' in the musical film Lady, Let's Dance (1944) which starred ice skating sensation 'Belita'.
In the early 1950s, Ellison moved from acting to real estate. Joining fellow veteran Jackie Coogan, Ellison returned to the screen only once to play Axel 'Longhorn' Gates in a picture called When the Girls Take Over (1962).
James Ellison died at age 83 in Monterey, California after suffering a broken neck as the result of a fall.
Description above from the Wikipedia article James Ellison (actor), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
James Ellison (May 4, 1910 - December 23, 1993) was an American actor, born James Ellison Smith in Guthrie Center, Iowa, son of Edward James Smith and Ona Mary Ellis.
Ellison appeared in nearly seventy films between 1932 and 1962.
Ellison worked for a time in a film laboratory and while there was offered a screen test. He developed it himself and when he saw it, decided it was not satisfactory so he would not show it to the director. But he saw it anyway and Ellison got a contract.
Despite his rugged good looks and height of 6 feet 3 inches, Ellison's limited range and somewhat wooden screen presence kept him from the first (or even second) ranks of stardom. He spent much of his career in Westerns, including a stint in the mid-thirties as the sidekick of Hopalong Cassidy in Paramount's successful series. In 1938, he played a charming, romantic character opposite 26 year old Lucille Ball in the comedy, "Next Time I Marry", a film where Ball had her first top billing on screen credits. Before that, in 1936, he played his highest-profile role, as Buffalo Bill in Cecil B. DeMille's The Plainsman, which also starred Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur.
Despite that film's success, Ellison spent most of the remainder of his career shuttling between cowboy pictures and more varied roles, primarily in B movies with titles like Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case and The Undying Monster. He had a supporting role in 1941's Charley's Aunt (which starred Jack Benny) and played the romantic lead in 1943's The Gang's All Here, a Twentieth Century Fox musical in which he seemed somewhat lost among the vivid antics of Carmen Miranda, Charlotte Greenwood, and Edward Everett Horton (and was the only principal not to sing a note). He also co-starred with Tom Conway and Frances Dee in Val Lewton's production of I Walked with a Zombie, directed by Jacques Tourneur.
Ellison landed another romantic lead role as 'Jerry Gibson' in the musical film Lady, Let's Dance (1944) which starred ice skating sensation 'Belita'.
In the early 1950s, Ellison moved from acting to real estate. Joining fellow veteran Jackie Coogan, Ellison returned to the screen only once to play Axel 'Longhorn' Gates in a picture called When the Girls Take Over (1962).
James Ellison died at age 83 in Monterey, California after suffering a broken neck as the result of a fall.
Description above from the Wikipedia article James Ellison (actor), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
| 1986 | Laurel & Hardy (TV Series) · as Jeff Carter (1986) |
| 1962 | When the Girls Take Over · as Alex 'longhorn' Gates (as Jimmy Ellison) |
| 1952 | Texas City · as Jim Kirby (as Jimmy Ellison) |
| 1951 | Whistling Hills · as Sheriff Dave Holland |
| 1950 | The Texan Meets Calamity Jane · as Gordon Hastings |
| 1950 | Fast on the Draw · as Shamrock Ellison |
| 1950 | Crooked River · as Shamrock Ellison |
| 1950 | West of the Brazos · as Shamrock Ellison |
| 1950 | Colorado Ranger · as Shamrock Kid |
| 1950 | Marshal of Heldorado · as Shamrock Ellison |
| 1950 | Hostile Country · as Shamrock Ellison |
| 1948 | Last of the Wild Horses · as Duke Barnum |
| 1947 | Calendar Girl · as Steve Adams |
| 1945 | Hollywood and Vine · as Larry Winters |
| 1944 | Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore · as Mike Burke |
| 1944 | Lady, Let's Dance · as Jerry Gibson |
| 1943 | The Gang's All Here · as Andy Mason |
| 1943 | Best Foot Forward · as Cadet |
| 1943 | I Walked with a Zombie · as Wesley Rand |
| 1943 | Dixie Dugan · as Roger Hudson |
| 1942 | Army Surgeon · as Capt. James Mason |
| 1942 | The Undying Monster · as Robert Curtis |
| 1942 | That Other Woman · as Henry Summers |
| 1942 | Careful, Soft Shoulders · as Thomas Aldrich |
| 1941 | Ice-Capades · as Bob Clemens |
| 1941 | Charley's Aunt · as Jack Chesney |
| 1941 | They Met in Argentina · as Tim Kelly |
| 1941 | Play Girl · as Thomas Elwood Dice |
| 1940 | Anne of Windy Poplars · as Tony Pringle |
| 1940 | You Can't Fool Your Wife · as Andrew Hinklin |
| 1939 | Fifth Avenue Girl · as Mike |
| 1939 | Hotel for Women · as Jeff Buchanan |
| 1939 | Sorority House · as Bill Loomis |
| 1939 | Zenobia · as Jeff Carter |
| 1939 | Almost a Gentleman · as Dan Preston |
| 1938 | Next Time I Marry · as Anthony J. Anthony |
| 1938 | Vivacious Lady · as Keith |
| 1938 | Mother Carey's Chickens · as Ralph Thurston |
| 1937 | Annapolis Salute · as William J. "bill" Martin |
| 1937 | The Barrier · as Lt. Burrell |
| 1937 | 23 1/2 Hours Leave · as Sgt. Robert Gray |
| 1937 | Borderland · as Johnny Nelson |
| 1936 | Trail Dust · as Johnny Nelson |
| 1936 | The Plainsman · as William "buffalo Bill" Cody |
| 1936 | Three on the Trail · as Johnny Nelson |
| 1936 | Call of the Prairie · as Johnny Nelson |
| 1936 | Heart of the West · as Johnny Nelson |
| 1936 | The Leathernecks Have Landed · as Mac Macdonald |
| 1935 | Hitch Hike Lady · as Jimmy Peyton |
| 1935 | Bar 20 Rides Again · as Johnny Nelson |
| 1935 | The Eagle's Brood · as Johnny Nelson |
| 1935 | Hop-a-Long Cassidy · as Johnny Nelson |
| 1935 | Reckless · as Dale Every |
| 1935 | After Office Hours · as Harvey |
| 1935 | The Winning Ticket · as Jimmy |
| 1934 | Student Tour · as Student |
| 1934 | Death on the Diamond · as Cubs Player |
| 1934 | Carolina · as Dancer |
| 1933 | Central Airport · as Amarillo Pilot Crossing Fingers |
| 1932 | The Famous Ferguson Case · as Reporter Lane (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Play Girl · as Elmer |