James Parrott

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James Parrott (August 2, 1898 – May 10, 1939), was an American actor and film director; and the younger brother of film comedian Charley Chase.

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[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years

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 Jr. connections in the film industry helped get his younger brother a full-time acting job at Fox, and he would appear during the 1920s in a series of relatively successful comedies, under the name of Paul Parrott. Eventually, Parrott followed Chase's lead by becoming a director, specializing in the two-reel misadventures of Laurel and Hardy, including the 1932's Oscar-winning classic The Music Box, and Helpmates.

[edit] Career

Parrott began directing full-time on the Roach lot in early 1920s. Moving around from series to series, he would contribute his talents to the Clyde Cook, Jimmy Finlayson, and the Hal Roach All Star Comedies series.

Parrott also starred in a series of clever one-reel comedies, under the names "Paul Parrott" and (in 1925-26) "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.

[edit] Later years

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. He left the Hal Roach Studios and was accepting any job that came his way. 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 and Patsy Kelly series.

By 1937, Parrott could not 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 42; the official cause of death was reported as heart failure, but Roach studio insiders were of the opinion that Parrott committed suicide by taking an overdose of pills

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Actor

[edit] Director

[edit] Writer

[edit] External links

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