James Bacon

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James Bacon
Born May 12, 1914 (1914-05-12) (age 94)
Buffalo, New York
Occupation Film, television actor, journalist
Years active 1954 – 1986

James Bacon (born May 12, 1914) is an American journalist.

Bacon attended the University of Notre Dame from 1933-1936, dropping out during his senior year in order to help his parents, who had recently lost their home in a flood. He earned his degree in journalism in 1943 from Syracuse University and then served in the Navy. After leaving the Associated Press in 1966, he wrote briefly for the Hollywood Reporter and then for 17 years for The Los Angeles Herald-Examiner.[1]

Although a columnist by trade, Bacon appeared in numerous films, generally in walk-on cameos. For example, Bacon appeared in all five films in the 'Planet of the Apes' series, becoming the only actor to do so. He portrayed an ape in each of the films with the exception of Escape from the Planet of the Apes, in which he played a human, General Faulkner. This was the only film of the 'Ape' series in which he was credited.

Bacon penned three books in the 1970s and 1980s. The first book, Hollywood is a Four Letter Town, was published in 1977; its sequel, Made in Hollywood, in 1978. Of note in these books were his close friendships with, among others, Jackie Gleason, Humphrey Bogart, Bob Hope, Milton Berle, and Desi Arnaz. Bacon also discusses his brief affair with Marylin Monroe.[2][3]

Bacon also wrote a biography on Jackie Gleason, which was published in 1985, titled, How Sweet It Is: The Jackie Gleason Story.

In 1999, Bacon was the subject of an E! True Hollywood Story episode.

He received star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 2007-04-06.[4]

[edit] Filmography

  • Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter (1986) .... Vet
  • The Longshot (1986) .... Track Usher
  • The Day the Bubble Burst (1982) (TV)
  • The Patricia Neal Story (1981) (TV) .... Reporter
    • ... aka An Act of Love: The Patricia Neal Story
  • Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981) .... Reporter at Clinic
  • Underground Aces (1981) .... Bussinessman #2
  • More Wild Wild West (1980) (TV) .... The Wheelman
  • The Man with Bogart's Face (1980) .... Reporter
    • ... aka Sam Marlowe, Private Eye
  • Meteor (1979) .... News Reporter
  • Half a House (1979) .... Jordan's client
    • ... aka House Divided (USA)
  • Flying High .... Reporter (1 episode, 1978)
  • South by Southwest (1978) TV episode .... Reporter
  • The One Man Jury (1978) .... Reporter
    • ... aka Dead on Arrival
  • Good Guys Wear Black (1978) .... Senator
  • Capricorn One (1978) .... Reporter #4
  • Mean Dog Blues (1978) .... Court Clerk
  • Sextette (1978) .... Reporter
  • Cat in the Cage (1978) .... Police Captain
  • The Legend of Frank Woods (1977) .... Cowboy
  • High Velocity (1976) .... Monroe
  • The Last Hard Men (1976) .... Deputy Jetfore
  • Tunnel Vision (1976) .... Gene Scallion
    • ... aka Tunnelvision
  • Planet Earth (1974) (TV) .... Partha
  • The Outfit (1973) .... Bookie
  • Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) (uncredited) .... Ape
    • ... aka Colonization of the Planet of the Apes
  • Night Gallery .... Reporter (1 episode, 1972)
    • ... aka Rod Serling's Night Gallery (USA)
  • The Ring with the Red Velvet Ropes (1972) TV episode .... Reporter
  • Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) (uncredited) .... Ape
  • Adam-12 .... Newsman / ... (2 episodes, 1971)
  • The Ferret (1971) TV episode .... William Spence
  • Log 76: The Militants (1971) TV episode .... Newsman
  • The Seven Minutes (1971) (as Jim Bacon) .... Reporter
  • Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) .... General Faulkner
  • The Virginian.... 2nd Reporter (1 episode, 1970)
    • ... aka The Men from Shiloh (USA: new title)
    • With Love, Bullets and Valentines (1970) TV episode .... 2nd Reporter
  • Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) (uncredited) .... Ape
  • Skullduggery (1970) .... Commentator
  • 80 Steps to Jonah (1969) .... Hobo
  • The Big Valley .... Hotel Clerk (1 episode, 1969)
    • The 25 Graves of Midas (1969) TV episode .... Hotel Clerk
  • Planet of the Apes (1968) (uncredited) .... Ape
    • ... aka Monkey Planet
  • Way... Way Out (1966) (uncredited) .... Reporter
  • Underworld U.S.A. (1961) (uncredited) .... Newspaperman
  • Cry for Happy (1961) (uncredited) .... Press Correspondent
  • Pepe (1960) (uncredited) .... Bartender
  • The Roaring 20's .... Jim (1 episode, 1960)
    • Bold Edition (1960) TV episode .... Jim
  • Pay or Die (1960) (uncredited) .... Subway Guard
  • The Rebel .... Dude (1 episode, 1960)
    • He's Only a Boy (1960) TV episode (as Jim Bacon) .... Dude
  • Al Capone (1959) (uncredited) .... Reporter
  • Black Tuesday (1954) (uncredited) .... Reporter at Electrocution

[edit] References

  1. ^ L.A. Confidential, page 2, Notre Dame Magazine Online - University of Notre Dame
  2. ^ L.A. Confidential, by Robert Cubbage, Notre Dame Magazine Online - University of Notre Dame
  3. ^ CantonRep.com | The Canton Repository | Canton, Stark County & Northeast Ohio News, Community Events & Classifieds
  4. ^ Unimediaimages Photo-Agency

[edit] External links