James Cagney's biography

James Francis Cagney Jr. is 87 years old film actor born at New York City. He was born on Monday 17th of July 1899. He is often nicknamed as The Professional Againster, Jimmy. According to year of birth 1899 James belongs to Lost Generation. Birthday on 17th of July means he is Cancer. Cancer is a watery sign. They are very friendly and show motherly love to everyone. According to ascendant calculator, an important trait of these natives is their sensitive nature.

James is white american. James is citizen of United States of America. James is roman catholic. His primary profession is to be film actor. You can know James also as character actor, stage actor, television actor, trade unionist. He is recently known as film director.

James Cagney's schools

We found 2 schools He attended. Complete list of schools: Columbia University, Stuyvesant High School.

Detailed informations about his schools

He studied high school - Stuyvesant High School, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States (1918).

He studied university - Columbia College.

James Cagney's career

His main focus is to be film actor. He is famous thanks to his roles as Matt Doyle in the 1931 all-talking pre-Code gangster film The Public Enemy, George M. Cohan in the 1942 biographical musical film Yankee Doodle Dandy, and Cody Jarrett in the 1949 film noir White Heat. You could see him also in Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Is James Cagney gay ?

He is known to be straight.

How did James Cagney die

He died on on Sunday 30th of March 1986 when he was 87 years old at Stanford. James Cagneys death was caused by heart attack. It happend like natural causes.

Awards and competitions

James Cagney's Awards

Received the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award (1974).
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan at a ceremony at the White House on March 26, 1984.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6504 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.

James Cagney's Rankings

Ranked #45 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
His performance as George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) is ranked #6 on Premiere magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).
His performance as Tom Powers in The Public Enemy (1931) is ranked #57 on Premiere magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) is ranked #88 on the American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time.

James Cagney's Nominations

He was nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor for work Angels with Dirty Faces in 1938
James was nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor for work Yankee Doodle Dandy in 1943
He was nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor

What else you don't know about James Cagney ?

His middle name is Francis.

What James Cagney has done for a first time

Cagney's first job as an entertainer was as a female dancer in a chorus line.

James Cagney's quotes

There's not much to say about acting but this. Never settle back on your heels. Never relax. If you relax, the audience relaxes. And always mean everything you say.
All I try to do is to realise the man I'm playing fully, then put as much into my acting as I know how. To do it, I draw upon all that I've ever known, heard, seen or remember.
My biggest concern is that doing a rough-and-tumble scene I might hurt someone accidentally.
[in the early 1960s] In this business you need enthusiasm. I don't have enthusiasm for acting anymore. Acting is not the beginning and end of everything.
They need you. Without you, they have an empty screen. So, when you get on there, just do what you think is right and stick with it.
Where I come from, if there's a buck to be made, you don't ask questions, you go ahead and make it.
With me, a career was the simple matter of putting groceries on the table.
Once a song and dance man, always a song and dance man. Those few words tell as much about me professionally as there is to tell.
My father was totally Irish, and so I went to Ireland once. I found it to be very much like New York, for it was a beautiful country, and both the women and men were good-looking.
[about his most famous misquoted line] I never actually said, "Nnng-you dirty ra-at!" What I actually said was [imitating Cary Grant] "Judy! Judy! Judy!"
Learn your lines, find your mark, look 'em in the eye and tell 'em the truth.
[about The Public Enemy (1931)] What not many people know is that right up to two days before shooting started, I was going to play the good guy, the pal. Edward Woods played it in the end.
Learn your lines ... plant your feet ... look the other actor in the eye ... say the words ... mean them.
The lovers of hate, born in fear - Find no release from tension - They spend their lives in a permanent state - Of miserable apprehension.
[in 1931] I'm sick of guns and beating up women. Movies should be entertaining, not bloodbaths.
[on his Hollywood arrival] I came out here on a three week guarantee, and I stayed, to my absolute amazement, for thirty-one years.
The thing is to try to give the audience something to take away with them. That's what I always wanted to do.
I'm easy to imitate, but you never saw anyone imitate Spence Tracy. You can't mimic reserve and control very well.

James Cagney's height, weight, body shape, eye color

Lets describe how James Cagney looks. We will focus on James´s height, weight, body shape, eye color and hair color. James is tall as 5' 4¾" (164 cm). He weights 150lbs (68 kg). Body build is average. His eyes are tinted blue. James´s hair is shade of red.

James Cagney