James Bell

Biography

James Bell was an American actor who worked in film, television, and theater. Born in Suffolk, Virginia, he studied electrical engineering and graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1911. His stage career began in 1920 with the role of Venustiano in The Bad Man, and he worked on Broadway through 1941. His first film role came in 1932. His career included about 150 film and television performances, continuing until 1964. He acted in I Walked with a Zombie, a 1943 Val Lewton production directed by Jacques Tourneur. He also appeared in The Leopard Man, another Tourneur and Lewton film from that year. On television, he had four guest roles on Perry Mason, playing murder victims and murderers, and he also appeared in an episode of Laramie in 1960. He died in 1973.

81years old at death

Born December 1, 1891Suffolk
Died October 26, 1973Kents Store
Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Also credited as James H. Bell and James Harlee Bell

Movie Career

Films: 26
Career span: 31 years1933 to 1964

Genres

Drama69%, 18 films
Western35%, 9 films
Crime23%, 6 films
Action15%, 4 films
Film-Noir12%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Bell's first stage role came in 1920, playing Venustiano in The Bad Man, and he kept working on Broadway until 1941.
First role
In 1932, Bell made his first appearance on screen, taking a role in the film I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang.

James Bell movies on Netflix

Where Love Has Gone1964IMDb rating 6.1as Judge - Divorce Court
Posse from Hell1961IMDb rating 6.6as Benson
The Lonely Man1957IMDb rating 6.4as Judge Hart
The Tin Star1957IMDb rating 7.3as Judge Thatcher
Tribute to a Bad Man1956IMDb rating 6.7as L.A. Peterson
Marty1955IMDb rating 7.6as Mr. Snyder
Strategic Air Command1955IMDb rating 6.3as Rev. Dr. Thorne
Black Tuesday1954IMDb rating 6.8as John Norris
Riding Shotgun1954IMDb rating 6.4as Doc Winkler
The Glenn Miller Story1954IMDb rating 7.3as Mr. Burger
Crime Wave1953IMDb rating 7.3as Daniel O'Keefe
The Last Posse1953IMDb rating 6.6as Will Romer
Million Dollar Mermaid1952IMDb rating 6.5as Judge
Flying Leathernecks1951IMDb rating 6.3as Colonel
Red Mountain1951IMDb rating 6.1as Dr. Terry
Dial 11191950IMDb rating 6.8as Harrison D. Barnes
Brute Force1947IMDb rating 7.5as Crenshaw - Convict in Print Shop
The Sea of Grass1947IMDb rating 6.3as Sam Hall
Dead Reckoning1946IMDb rating 7.0as Father Logan
The Spiral Staircase1946IMDb rating 7.3as Constable
Blood on the Sun1945IMDb rating 6.0as Charley Sprague
I Walked with a Zombie1943IMDb rating 7.0as Dr. Maxwell
My Friend Flicka1943IMDb rating 6.5as Gus
The Leopard Man1943IMDb rating 6.7as Dr. Galbraith
Holiday Inn1942IMDb rating 7.3as Dunbar
Private Detective 621933IMDb rating 6.7as Whitey

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

I Walked with a Zombie1943 Drama, Fantasy, Horroras Dr. Maxwell
IMDb rating 7.016K votes
Marty1955 Drama, Romanceas Mr. Snyder
IMDb rating 7.631K votes
The Leopard Man1943as Dr. Galbraith
IMDb rating 6.76.6K votes
Holiday Inn1942as Dunbar
IMDb rating 7.320K votes
Dead Reckoning1946as Father Logan
IMDb rating 7.010K votes
Flying Leathernecks1951as Colonel
IMDb rating 6.36.1K votes
The Glenn Miller Story1954as Mr. Burger
IMDb rating 7.311K votes
The Spiral Staircase1946as Constable
IMDb rating 7.313K votes

Most often with

Anthony Mann directed three of these films, Jacques Tourneur two and André De Toth two. Lee Van Cleef appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Lee Van Cleef

Irving Bacon

Jeff Corey

Jay C. Flippen

Neville Brand

Charles CaneAnthony MannDirector, 3 films

Jacques TourneurDirector, 2 films

André De TothDirector, 2 films

Films together

Lee Van Cleef4 films together, 1956 to 1961
Lee Van Cleef's page
- Posse from Hell1961IMDb rating 6.6Bell as BensonCleef as Leo
- The Lonely Man1957IMDb rating 6.4Bell as Judge HartCleef as Faro
- The Tin Star1957IMDb rating 7.3Bell as Judge ThatcherCleef as Ed McGaffey
- Tribute to a Bad Man1956IMDb rating 6.7Bell as L.A. PetersonCleef as Fat Jones
Irving Bacon3 films together, 1933 to 1954
Irving Bacon's page
- The Glenn Miller Story1954IMDb rating 7.3Bell as Mr. BurgerBacon as Mr. Miller
- Holiday Inn1942IMDb rating 7.3Bell as DunbarBacon as Gus
- Private Detective 621933IMDb rating 6.7Bell as WhiteyBacon as Cab Driver
Jeff Corey3 films together, 1943 to 1951
Jeff Corey's page
- Red Mountain1951IMDb rating 6.1Bell as Dr. TerryCorey as Sgt. Skee
- Brute Force1947IMDb rating 7.5Bell as Crenshaw - Convict in Print ShopCorey as 'Freshman' Stack
- My Friend Flicka1943IMDb rating 6.5Bell as GusCorey as Tim Murphy
Jay C. Flippen3 films together, 1947 to 1955
Jay C. Flippen's page
- Strategic Air Command1955IMDb rating 6.3Bell as Rev. Dr. ThorneFlippen as Tom Doyle
- Flying Leathernecks1951IMDb rating 6.3Bell as ColonelFlippen as MSgt. Clancy, Line Chief
- Brute Force1947IMDb rating 7.5Bell as Crenshaw - Convict in Print ShopFlippen as Hodges - Guard
Neville Brand3 films together, 1951 to 1957
Neville Brand's page
- The Lonely Man1957IMDb rating 6.4Bell as Judge HartBrand as King Fisher
- The Tin Star1957IMDb rating 7.3Bell as Judge ThatcherBrand as Bart Bogardus
- Red Mountain1951IMDb rating 6.1Bell as Dr. TerryBrand as Lt. Dixon
Charles Cane3 films together, 1946 to 1955
Charles Cane's page
- Marty1955IMDb rating 7.6Bell as Mr. SnyderCane as Lou
- Crime Wave1953IMDb rating 7.3Bell as Daniel O'KeefeCane as Detective
- Dead Reckoning1946IMDb rating 7.0Bell as Father LoganCane as Lt. Kincaid
Anthony MannDirector, 3 films, 1954 to 1957
All films by Anthony Mann
- The Tin Star1957IMDb rating 7.3Bell as Judge Thatcher
- Strategic Air Command1955IMDb rating 6.3Bell as Rev. Dr. Thorne
- The Glenn Miller Story1954IMDb rating 7.3Bell as Mr. Burger
Jacques TourneurDirector, 2 films, 1943
All films by Jacques Tourneur
- I Walked with a Zombie1943IMDb rating 7.0Bell as Dr. Maxwell
- The Leopard Man1943IMDb rating 6.7Bell as Dr. Galbraith
André De TothDirector, 2 films, 1953 to 1954
All films by André De Toth
- Riding Shotgun1954IMDb rating 6.4Bell as Doc Winkler
- Crime Wave1953IMDb rating 7.3Bell as Daniel O'Keefe