James Cagney
“The electric, fast-talking dynamo of Warner Bros., equally at home as gangster and song-and-dance man.”
In 1931 James Cagney shoved half a grapefruit into Mae Clarke's face in 'The Public Enemy,' an electric burst of menace that made him an overnight star and the template for the movie gangster. The role launched a career of explosive intensity that ranged from ruthless mobsters to song-and-dance men.
Street Kid to Star
Cagney grew up tough on Manhattan's Lower East Side and started in vaudeville as a dancer. Warner Bros. signed him, and 'The Public Enemy' in 1931 turned the wiry, fast-talking actor into a sensation.
Gangster and Hoofer
Cagney defined the screen gangster, yet he was first and foremost a song-and-dance man. His Oscar-winning portrayal of George M. Cohan in 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' revealed his exuberant musical roots.
An American Original
From the doomed Cody Jarrett of 'White Heat' to comic turns late in his career, Cagney remained electric on screen. He received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1974 and is ranked among Hollywood's greatest stars.
Career Timeline
- 1899Born on Manhattan's Lower East Side
- 1930Signs with Warner Bros. and debuts in films
- 1931Star-making role in 'The Public Enemy'
- 1935Plays Bottom in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
- 1938First Oscar nod for 'Angels with Dirty Faces'
- 1942Wins Oscar for 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'
- 1949'Made it, Ma! Top of the world!' in 'White Heat'
- 1961Comic turn in Billy Wilder's 'One, Two, Three'
- 1974Receives the AFI Life Achievement Award
- 1986Dies in Stanford, New York, at 86
Biggest Hits
- Though famous as a tough-guy gangster, he won his only Oscar for a song-and-dance role in 'Yankee Doodle Dandy.'
- His line 'Made it, Ma! Top of the world!' from 'White Heat' was voted the 18th greatest movie quote by the AFI.
The Moment You Remember
As gangster Cody Jarrett in <em>White Heat</em>, Cagney stands atop a burning refinery gas tank shouting a triumphant farewell to his mother before the explosion, one of the most ferocious finales in film.
Portrait: Warner Bros. Studio · Public domain (PD-US-not renewed) · via Wikimedia Commons