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James Cagney Facts
| Sign | Cancer |
| Born |
Jul 17, 1899 New York City, NY |
| Died |
Mar 30, 1986 Stanfordville, NY |
| Age | Died at 86 |
| Total Facts | 62 |
Part of the first group of major stars to join the Screen Actors Guild in October 1933 as member number 50. Before his Guild presidency, he served nearly a decade on the Board and as First Vice President. Cagney was elected Guild president in September 1942.
Pictured on a 33¢ USA commemorative postage stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series, issued 22 July 1999.
President of Screen Actors Guild (SAG). [1942-1944]
Ranked #45 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Though most Cagney imitators use the line "You dirty rat!", Cagney never actually said it in any of his films.
To protest the quality of scripts he was given at Warner Brothers, instead of violating his contract by refusing to appear in a picture he reputedly used his appearance to get even. In Jimmy the Gent (1934) he got an ugly crew-cut to make himself look like the hoodlum Warners wanted him to play. In movies like He Was Her Man (1934) he grew a thin mustache to upset thin-mustachioed studio boss Jack L. Warner.
Turned down Stanley Holloway's role as Eliza's father in My Fair Lady (1964).
Turned down the lead role in The Jolson Story (1946), which went to Larry Parks.
Two grandchildren, from daughter Kathleen, Verniey Lee and Christina May Thomas.
Was best friends with actors Pat O'Brien and Frank McHugh.
Was of Irish-Norwegian origin.
Wrote that of the sixty-two films he made, he rated Love Me or Leave Me (1955) costarring Doris Day among his top five.