James 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.
Young Mr. Jazz
as (uncredited)While running away from his girl's father, Harold's car breaks down in front of a dance hall run...
Movie pageJust Rambling Along
as Waiter / chef assistantA nervy young man follows a pretty lady into a diner to flirt with her, but winds up getting...
Movie pageLook Pleasant, Please
as Drunken Swell (uncredited)A photo studio operator seems only interested in flirting with women. Hilarity ensues.
Movie pageA Sammy in Siberia
as (uncredited)A bumbling American soldier saves a girl from a bunch of Cossacks.
Movie pageDon't Shove
as Party GuestHarold and his rival fight over Bebe on her birthday, first at her home and then at a nearby...
Movie pageThe Caretaker's Daughter
as The Caretaker (as Jimmie Parrott)The two-reel silent film comedy The Caretaker's Daughter was distributed by Pathe in 1925....
Movie pageShine 'Em Up
as Paul, the HustlerPaul's career as a shoeshine man is interrupted when he is mistaken for an escaped convict, but...
Movie pageThe King
as Minor Role (uncredited)The king is a juvenile dolt who tries the patience of the shrewish queen. While she's in the...
Movie pageFireman Save My Child
as uncreditedIn this popular two reeler where Harold runs to the rescue of a woman on a fire engine, he is...
Movie pageHey There
as uncreditedIn this early short Harold Lloyd sneaks into a movie studio in order to locate an attractive...
Movie pageDon't Park Here
as A Car OwnerNot one but two of Charlie Chaplin impersonators, Harry Mann and Monty Banks, a film directed by...
Movie pageAn Ozark Romance
as uncreditedHarold visits the Ozarks, where he has some funny experiences with a mountain girl and her...
Movie pageDo You Love Your Wife?
as uncreditedStan plays a janitor at a hotel dropping letters and trying to retrieve them with a vacuum,...
Movie pagePost No Bills
as The Bill PosterPaul Parrott plays an obsessive-compulsive bill poster in this thoroughly average Hal Roach...
Movie pageHustling for Health
as Man missing his trainStan Laurel is picked up at the train depot and brought back by the husband to the family home...
Movie pageCount Your Change
as uncreditedHarold becomes the victim of a clever bulldog pup who chases him in and out of various places.
Movie pageShoot Straight
as uncreditedSHOOT STRAIGHT - starring Paul Parrott, with Jobyna Ralston, Eddie Baker and George Rowe. A...
Movie pageThe House of Flickers
as uncreditedThe troubles of a movie projectionist in a newly-purchased theater are chronicled in this...
Movie pageJoin the Circus
as Trainer'Snub' Pollard wants to hang himself but figures joining the circus was better idea.
Movie pageAre Parents Pickles?
as Fire SalesmanJames Parrott joins every lodge in town to get in good with people as he tries to sell his fire...
Movie page