Directing
James Parrott
EN, DE, FR, ES cinema · 157 credits
Born
1 August 1897
Died
10 May 1939 (aged 41)
Birthplace
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Also known as James G. Parrott · Jimmie Parrott · Jimmy Parrott · Paul Parrott · James Gibbons Parrott
From Wikipedia James Parrott (August 2, 1897 – May 10, 1939) was an American actor and film director; and the younger brother of film comedian Charley Chase. James Gibbons Parrott was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Charles and Blanche Thompson Parrott. In 1903, his father died from a heart attack, leaving the family in bad financial shape, which forced them to move in with a relative. Charley Jr. quit school, so he could go to work, in order to support his mother and brother. Eventually the call of the stage beckoned him, and Charley Jr. left home at age 16 to travel the vaudeville circuit as a singer and comedic performer. By the time James had reached his teens, he too, had quit school, and became involved with the street gangs of Baltimore. Later, Charley's connections in the film industry helped get his younger brother established in movies, and he would appear during the 1920s in a series of relatively successful comedies for producer Hal Roach. He was billed first as "Paul Parrott," then "Jimmie Parrott." Approximately 75 comedies were produced from 1921 to 1923, with titles continuing to be released through Pathé until 1926. Frequent co-stars included Marie Mosquini, Jobyna Ralston, Eddie Baker, and Sunshine Sammy. Parrott is probably best known as a comedy director. As "James Parrott," he specialized in the two-reel misadventures of Laurel and Hardy, including the Oscar-winning classic The Music Box, and Helpmates. During the 1930s Parrott had acquired serious drinking and drug problems (his diet medications were really addictive amphetamines) and although still able to direct quality shorts, he had developed a reputation as unreliable. By the mid-1930s his work was spotty: Stan Laurel used him sporadically to contribute gags to the Laurel and Hardy features, and he would direct an Our Gang short in 1934, plus several acceptable entries in Thelma Todd-Patsy Kelly series. By 1937, Parrott was accepting any jobs that came his way. He could no longer be counted on to direct or write, and relied on his brother to support him financially. There was a brief marriage to Ruby Ellen McCoy in 1937, but as his various addictions worsened, so did his state of mind. Parrott died at the age of 41 of heart failure. His brother Charley was devastated, and died 13 months later.
Known for
Filmography
The Parrott Chase
2009
The Parrott Chase
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten
Set Decoration
Block-Heads
Writer
Swiss Miss
Screenplay
Way Out West
Screenplay
The Tin Man
Director
Sing Sister Sing
Director
Treasure Blues
Director
The Misses Stooge
Director
Washee Ironee
Director
Mixed Nuts
Director
Twice Two
Director, Writer
The Music Box
Director, Writer
County Hospital
Director
The Chimp
Director, Writer
Helpmates
Director, Writer
Girl Grief
Director
Young Ironsides
Director
Mr. Bride
Director
Now We'll Tell One
Director
The Panic Is On
Director
Rough Seas
Director
Pardon Us
Director
Come Clean
Writer
Haunted at Midnight
Director
What a Bozo!
Director
One of the Smiths
Director
Skip the Maloo!
Director
The King
as Minor Role (uncredited)
Below Zero
Director
Night Owls
Director
Brats
Director, Writer
Another Fine Mess
Director
Hog Wild
Director, Story
Blotto
Director
Night of Goblins
Director
Thieves
Director
The Night Life
Director
Radiomanía
Director
Perfect Day
Director
The Hoose-Gow
Director
They Go Boom!
Director
Ruby Lips
Director
Should Married Men Go Home?
Writer, Director
Their Purple Moment
Director
Two Tars
Director
Habeas Corpus
Director
All for Nothing
Director
Chasing Husbands
Director
Galloping Ghosts
Director
Fluttering Hearts
Director
A One Mama Man
Director
Now I'll Tell One
Director
Forgotten Sweeties
Director
Are Brunettes Safe?
Director
Many Scrappy Returns
Director
Us
Director
Assistant Wives
Director
The Sting of Stings
Director
Between Meals
1926
Between Meals
as In Trouble
Soft Pedal
as Willing
Don't Butt In
1926
Don't Butt In
as The Roustabout
On the Front Page
Writer, Director
Are Parents Pickles?
as Fire Salesman
The Caretaker's Daughter
as The Caretaker (as Jimmie Parrott)
Laughing Ladies
Scenario Writer
Sittin' Pretty
as Bearded Lunatic
Get Busy
1924
Get Busy
as Taller pal
The 'Fraidy Cat
Director
Just a Minute
Director, Writer
Hard Knocks
Writer, Director
Powder and Smoke
Director, Writer
Don't Forget
Director, Writer
Post No Bills
as The Bill Poster
The Uncovered Wagon
1923
The Uncovered Wagon
as Bill Bunion
Dear Ol' Pal
as Lucian Dillgiggle
Jailed and Bailed
1923
Jailed and Bailed
as Paul (as Paul Parrott)
Take the Air
1923
Take the Air
as Iron-worker
Join the Circus
as Trainer
Tight Shoes
1923
Tight Shoes
as The New Clerk
Shine 'Em Up
as Paul, the Hustler
The Sleuth
1922
The Sleuth
as Bellboy / the Sleuth
Shiver and Shake
1922
Shiver and Shake
as The Newlywed Husband
Touch all the Bases
1922
Touch all the Bases
as Paul Parrott
Take Next Car
1922
Take Next Car
as Chief Engineer
Big Town Ideas
1921
Big Town Ideas
as Spick Spague
The Pickaninny
Director
Young Mr. Jazz
as (uncredited)
Don't Park Here
as A Car Owner
An Auto Nut
1919
An Auto Nut
as The Auto Nut's Lawyer (as Paul Parrott)
Don't Shove
as Party Guest
Hustling for Health
as Man missing his train
A Sammy in Siberia
as (uncredited)
Look Pleasant, Please
as Drunken Swell (uncredited)
Just Rambling Along
as Waiter / Chef Assistant
Let's Go
1918
Let's Go
as Sophisticated gentleman
It's a Wild Life
as Cab driver
