1897-08-01 ( 127 years old ) in Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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.
Movies
The King
1930-06-14
Pay the Cashier
1926-02-14
Soft Pedal
1926-01-31
Don't Butt In
1926-01-17
Between Meals
1926-01-03
Are Parents Pickles?
1925-11-08
The Caretaker's Daughter
1925-10-10
The House of Flickers
1925-03-15
A Deep Sea Panic
1924-09-28
Sittin' Pretty
1924-09-27
Get Busy
1924-04-27
Join the Circus
1923-12-02
Dear Ol' Pal
1923-11-11
No Pets
1923-10-07
Take the Air
1923-09-09
Post No Bills
1923-08-05
The Uncovered Wagon
1923-07-07
The Smile Wins
1923-04-08
Shoot Straight
1923-03-10
Tight Shoes
1923-02-25
Jailed and Bailed
1923-02-11
Paste and Paper
1923-01-13
Watch Your Wife
1923-01-07
Blaze Away
1922-12-03
Harvest Hands
1922-11-19
Shine 'Em Up
1922-11-04
The Golf Bug
1922-10-30
Shiver and Shake
1922-10-22
Face the Camera
1922-10-01
Bone Dry
1922-09-17
The Landlubber
1922-09-09
Touch all the Bases
1922-08-13
Take Next Car
1922-07-29
The Sleuth
1922-07-16
Big Town Ideas
1921-05-20
Don't Park Here
1920-05-19
His First Flat Tire
1920-01-02
Way Out West
1920-01-01
Don't Shove
1919-08-31
Count Your Change
1919-08-10
Young Mr. Jazz
1919-04-20
A Sammy in Siberia
1919-04-06
Hustling for Health
1919-02-02
Do You Love Your Wife?
1919-01-05
An Auto Nut
1919-01-01
Just Rambling Along
1918-11-03
Bride and Gloom
1918-08-18
An Ozark Romance
1918-07-06
Fireman Save My Child
1918-05-25
Hey There
1918-04-28
Look Pleasant, Please
1918-03-10
Hit Him Again
1918-02-17
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