J.M. Kerrigan
Biography
J. M. Kerrigan was an Irish actor who began with the Irish National Theatre in 1907 and became a mainstay of the Abbey Players, performing works by William Butler Yeats, Lady Gregory, and John Millington Synge. He created the part of Shawn Keogh in Synge's The Playboy of the Western World and toured with the company to New York in 1908 and 1911. By the 1920s he was working on Broadway, and he appeared in 35 productions there, including Outward Bound in 1924. After six silent films starting in 1916, he settled in Hollywood in 1935 for John Ford's The Informer. He often played hangers-on, and his best-known part was Leach in The General Died at Dawn (1936). Later screen work included Gone with the Wind (1939) and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954). He appeared in 114 films and 15 television series and died in 1964.
79years old at death
- Born Dublin
- Died Hollywood
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
- Also credited as James Michael Kerrigan, Joseph Michael Kerrigan and Joseph M. Kerrigan
Movie Career
- Films
- 25
- Career span
- 25 years1931 to 1956
Genres
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Big break
In 1935, John Ford's The Informer brought Kerrigan to Hollywood for good, since he had been hired there with several other Abbey performers.
Beyond film
Kerrigan starred as the leprechaun Jackeen J. O'Malley in the 1946 Broadway show Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley, which closed after only four performances.
J.M. Kerrigan movies on Netflix
The Fastest Gun Aliveas Kevin McGovern
20,000 Leagues Under the Seaas Old Billy
The Silver Whipas Riley
My Cousin Rachelas Reverend Pascoe
Park Rowas Dan O'Rourke
The Luck of the Irishas Tatie the Innkeeper
Tarzan and the Amazonsas Splivens
The Spanish Mainas Pillery Gow
The Fighting Seabeesas Sawyer Collins
Captains of the Cloudsas Foster
The Wolf Manas Charles Conliffe
The Sea Hawkas Eli Matson
The Great Man Votesas Hot Shot Gillings
Union Pacificas Monahan
Hearts in Bondageas Paddy Callahan
Lloyd's of Londonas Brook Watson
The General Died at Dawnas Leach
The Prisoner of Shark Islandas Judge Maiben
Barbary Coastas Judge Harper
The Informeras Terry
Werewolf of Londonas Hawkins
The Lost Patrolas Quincannon
A Study in Scarletas Jabez Wilson
The Rainbow Trailas Paddy Harrigan
The Black Camelas Thomas MacMasters
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea1954 Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fias Old Billy
IMDb rating 7.240K votes
Most often with
John Ford directed three of these films, Michael Curtiz two and Henry Koster two. Five actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.








Films together
Alan Hale3 films together, 1934 to 1942
Alan Hale's page Captains of the Clouds1942IMDb rating 6.4Kerrigan as FosterHale as Francis Patrick 'Tiny' Murphy
The Sea Hawk1940IMDb rating 7.6Kerrigan as Eli MatsonHale as Carl Pitt
The Lost Patrol1934IMDb rating 6.8Kerrigan as QuincannonHale as Cook
Francis McDonald3 films together, 1936 to 1940
Francis McDonald's page The Sea Hawk1940IMDb rating 7.6Kerrigan as Eli MatsonMcDonald as Kroner
Union Pacific1939IMDb rating 7.0Kerrigan as MonahanMcDonald as General Dodge
The Prisoner of Shark Island1936IMDb rating 7.2Kerrigan as Judge MaibenMcDonald as John Wilkes Booth
Una O'Connor3 films together, 1935 to 1940
Una O'Connor's page The Sea Hawk1940IMDb rating 7.6Kerrigan as Eli MatsonO'Connor as Miss Latham
Lloyd's of London1936IMDb rating 6.9Kerrigan as Brook WatsonO'Connor as Widow Blake
The Informer1935IMDb rating 7.3Kerrigan as TerryO'Connor as Mrs. McPhillip
Fritz Leiber3 films together, 1936 to 1945
Fritz Leiber's page The Spanish Main1945IMDb rating 6.3Kerrigan as Pillery GowLeiber as Bishop
The Sea Hawk1940IMDb rating 7.6Kerrigan as Eli MatsonLeiber as Inquisitor
Hearts in Bondage1936IMDb rating 5.6Kerrigan as Paddy CallahanLeiber as Capt. John Ericsson
Clyde Cook3 films together, 1935 to 1940
Clyde Cook's page The Sea Hawk1940IMDb rating 7.6Kerrigan as Eli MatsonCook as Walter Boggs
Barbary Coast1935IMDb rating 6.7Kerrigan as Judge HarperCook as Oakie
The Informer1935IMDb rating 7.3Kerrigan as TerryCook as Flash Patron
Paul Fix2 films together, 1936 to 1944
Paul Fix's page The Fighting Seabees1944IMDb rating 6.4Kerrigan as Sawyer CollinsFix as Ding Jacobs
The Prisoner of Shark Island1936IMDb rating 7.2Kerrigan as Judge MaibenFix as David Herold
John FordDirector, 3 films, 1934 to 1936
All films by John Ford The Prisoner of Shark Island1936IMDb rating 7.2Kerrigan as Judge Maiben
The Informer1935IMDb rating 7.3Kerrigan as Terry
The Lost Patrol1934IMDb rating 6.8Kerrigan as Quincannon
Michael CurtizDirector, 2 films, 1940 to 1942
All films by Michael Curtiz Captains of the Clouds1942IMDb rating 6.4Kerrigan as Foster
The Sea Hawk1940IMDb rating 7.6Kerrigan as Eli Matson
Henry KosterDirector, 2 films, 1948 to 1952
All films by Henry Koster My Cousin Rachel1952IMDb rating 7.1Kerrigan as Reverend Pascoe
The Luck of the Irish1948IMDb rating 6.7Kerrigan as Tatie the Innkeeper
Also two films together27 more actors
- Bela LugosiThe Wolf Man (1941) and The Black Camel (1931)
- Barton MacLaneTarzan and the Amazons (1945) and The Spanish Main (1945)
- Wallace FordThe Informer (1935) and The Lost Patrol (1934)
- Robert AdlerThe Silver Whip (1953) and The Luck of the Irish (1948)
- Russell HicksHearts in Bondage (1936) and The General Died at Dawn (1936)
- Brian DonlevyUnion Pacific (1939) and Barbary Coast (1935)
- Akim TamiroffUnion Pacific (1939) and The General Died at Dawn (1936)
- Joel McCreaUnion Pacific (1939) and Barbary Coast (1935)
- Billy BevanThe Lost Patrol (1934) and A Study in Scarlet (1933)
- Claude RainsThe Wolf Man (1941) and The Sea Hawk (1940)
- Reginald DennyCaptains of the Clouds (1942) and The Lost Patrol (1934)
- Tyrone PowerThe Luck of the Irish (1948) and Lloyd's of London (1936)
- Donald MeekBarbary Coast (1935) and The Informer (1935)
- Francis FordThe Prisoner of Shark Island (1936) and The Informer (1935)
- Montagu LoveThe Sea Hawk (1940) and Lloyd's of London (1936)
- William FrawleyThe Fighting Seabees (1944) and The General Died at Dawn (1936)
- Harry CareyThe Prisoner of Shark Island (1936) and Barbary Coast (1935)
- Warner OlandWerewolf of London (1935) and The Black Camel (1931)
- Victor McLaglenThe Informer (1935) and The Lost Patrol (1934)
- Leonid KinskeyThe Fighting Seabees (1944) and The General Died at Dawn (1936)
- Maria OuspenskayaTarzan and the Amazons (1945) and The Wolf Man (1941)
- Frank McGlynn Sr.Hearts in Bondage (1936) and The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936)
- Madeleine CarrollLloyd's of London (1936) and The General Died at Dawn (1936)
- Douglas WoodHearts in Bondage (1936) and The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936)
- Joe BrooksThe Silver Whip (1953) and The Fighting Seabees (1944)
- Brenda MarshallCaptains of the Clouds (1942) and The Sea Hawk (1940)
- Wong ChungBarbary Coast (1935) and Werewolf of London (1935)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


