James Cardwell (actor)
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James Cardwell | |
---|---|
Born | Albert Paine Cardwell November 21, 1921 Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Cause of death | Suicide (gunshot) |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1944–1954 |
Spouse(s) | Esther Borton (divorced) |
James "Jimmy" Cardwell (born Albert Paine Cardwell; November 21, 1921 – January 31, 1954)[1][2][Note 1] was an American actor who appeared in more than twenty Hollywood films in the 1940s.
Career
Cardwell is probably best known for his debut as George Sullivan in 1944's Oscar-nominated[3] The Fighting Sullivans,[4] based on the true story of five navy brothers who died in action together when their ship was torpedoed in the Pacific Theater during World War II. His other significant roles included the Benny Goodman musical Sweet and Low-Down (1944),[5] the World War II drama A Walk in the Sun (1945),[6] and the police drama He Walked By Night (1948).[7] Reviewing the 1945 Charlie Chan mystery The Shanghai Cobra, the Kentucky New Era noted that "James Cardwell, a newcomer to the screen, shows himself to be a fine actor as the romantic lead opposite beautiful Joan Barclay."[8] However, he soon found himself consigned to B-movies: 1949's Daughter of the Jungle, in which Cardwell played the male lead opposite Lois Hall, earned the dubious distinction of a listing in the 1978 book The Fifty Worst Films of All Time.[9]
In 1950, Cardwell toured Australia with comedian Joe E. Brown in a production of the play Harvey.[6][10] He then joined the Colleano Troupe, a variety act, with whom he toured Australia, the UK, and the USA.[11] After returning to the USA he made two guest appearances in the Rod Cameron television series City Detective.[12] However, his movie career had stalled. He made only one further big-screen appearance before his death: a small unbilled role in the 1954 monster film Them!.[2]
Personal life
Cardwell was born Albert Paine Cardwell in Camden, New Jersey, the son of Raymond Cardwell and Bessie McCarroll. In 1942 he married Esther Borton. They divorced two years later.[2] In 1951 he became engaged to Australian model June Crocker, but she ended their relationship after she suffered serious burns in a stage accident.[13] According to author Jeffery P. Dennis, Cardwell subsequently "came out" as gay.[14]
Death
Apparently disheartened by his faltering career and financial difficulties, Cardwell committed suicide by gunshot at the age of 32 in Los Angeles, California on 31 January 1954.[12][15][Note 1]
Filmography
Title | Year | Role |
---|---|---|
The Fighting Sullivans | 1944 | George Sullivan |
Sweet and Low-Down | 1944 | Johnny Birch |
The Shanghai Cobra | 1945 | Ned Stewart |
Voice of the Whistler | 1945 | Fred (Doc) Graham |
A Walk in the Sun | 1945 | Sergeant Hoskins |
Behind the Mask | 1946 | Jeff Mann |
Canyon Passage | 1946 | Gray Bartlett |
Fear | 1946 | Ben |
The Missing Lady | 1946 | Terry Blake |
It Happened on Fifth Avenue | 1947 | Young man (unbilled) |
Robin Hood of Texas | 1947 | Duke Mantel |
The Devil on Wheels | 1947 | Jeff Clark |
Daredevils of the Clouds | 1948 | Johnny Martin |
Harpoon | 1948 | Red Dorsett Jr. |
He Walked by Night | 1948 | Chuck Jones |
King of the Gamblers | 1948 | 'Speed' Lacey |
The Return of the Whistler | 1948 | Barkley |
Trouble Preferred | 1948 | Hal 'Tuffy' Tucker |
And Baby Makes Three | 1949 | Police officer (unbilled) |
Daughter of the Jungle | 1949 | Paul Cooper |
Down Dakota Way | 1949 | Saunders |
Parole, Inc. | 1949 | Duke Vigili |
San Antone Ambush | 1949 | Clint Wheeler |
The Arizona Cowboy | 1949 | Hugh Davenport |
Tokyo Joe | 1949 | Military Policeman (unbilled) |
Them! | 1954 | Officer (unbilled) |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sources citing Cardwell's year of birth as 1920 appear to be in error. His death certificate records that he shot himself Sunday 31 January 1954, and his body was discovered the following day.[2] Some sources, including the California Death Index, cite 1 February 1954 as his "official" date of death.
References
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