As one of Hollywood’s most famous “tough guy” actors, James Cagney was known for the exuberance he poured into his roles. His passion for acting earned him considerable accolades, including a Life Achievement Award, an Oscar and a Medal of Freedom.
James Cagney’s Early Days
Perhaps James Cagney’s early reputation as a tough guy in the Yorkville section of Manhattan was a prelude of things to come. Born July 17, 1899, he was one of the best young boxers in the area by age 14, writes the Kennedy Center.
During high school, James worked for $16 a week wrapping packages at Wanamaker’s Department Store. He spent a semester at Columbia University but had to withdraw for financial reasons. In 1921, Cagney met actress Frances Willard. They married and stayed together for 64 years. He later moved on to act in some Broadway roles, and participated in a vaudeville tour. After starring in “Penny Arcade” in 1929, he was asked to do a Hollywood screen test, and appeared in his first movies, “Sinner’s Holiday,” the next year.
Sources in this Story
- The Kennedy Center: Biography of James Cagney
- Encyclopedia Britannica: James Cagney
- American Film Institute: 1974: James Cagney
- Hecklerspray: Top Seven Movie Misquotes
- Washington Post: For Cagney, a Loving Salute
Cagney’s Film Career
“The Public Enemy” was Cagney’s fourth film and in it, he was able to help create a memorable film moment when he smashed part of a grapefruit in Mae Clark’s face. See the dramatic scene between Clark and Cagney on YouTube.
Cagney’s films may have been characterized by his ability to play the tough guy, but his role as song-and-dance man George M. Cohan in “Yankee Doodle Dandy” is considered the most famous part he ever played. His performance in this film earned him an Oscar, Encyclopedia Britannica reports.
In 1974, Cagney won the second Life Achievement Award ever presented by the American Film Institute. Charlton Heston offered the tribute address. Of Cagney, Heston said, “One of the most significant figures of a generation when American film was dominant, Cagney, that most American of actors, somehow communicated eloquently to audiences all over the world.”
The Man and His Work
- “Cagney by Cagney”
- “The Public Enemy” (DVD)
- “White Heat” (DVD)
- “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (DVD)
- “Man of a Thousand Faces” (DVD)
- “Angels With Dirty Faces” (DVD)
The Rest of the Story
One movie quote misattributed to Cagney is the line, “You dirty rat.” Cagney denied ever saying this, however. The correct line, found in the film “Blonde Crazy,” is “Mmmm, that dirty, double-crossing rat.”
Cagney’s health deteriorated after he retired. At the urging of his doctors, he made a comeback with a small role in “Ragtime” in 1981.
In 1984, Cagney was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor given from the United States government.
When Cagney passed away on his upstate New York Farm in 1986, his family chose to have his service at St. Francis de Sales church, which he attended as a child, though the archbishop had offered to have the service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, New York City’s catholic church.
This article was originally written by Lindsey Chapman; it was updated June 5, 2017.
