James Craig

Biography

James Craig was an American actor who got his start at Paramount, where a screen test won him a contract and he appeared in B-movies and serials as James Mead, among them Born to the West (1937). A Broadway role in Missouri Legend (1938) revived Hollywood's interest, and RKO bought out his Universal contract and gave him a suitor's part opposite Ginger Rogers in Kitty Foyle (1940), a big hit. At RKO he also took the part of a New Hampshire farmer who gives up his soul in All That Money Can Buy (1941). Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer signed him to a seven-year contract as a possible replacement for Clark Gable, and The Human Comedy (1943) was a massive success. Later credits included Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945), a villainous turn in Side Street (1950), the Western Drums in the Deep South (1951), While the City Sleeps (1956), Bigfoot (1970) and Doomsday Machine (1972), his last film. He died in 1985.

73years old at death

Born February 4, 1912Nashville
Died June 28, 1985Santa Ana
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
James Henry Meador (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 16
Career span: 35 years1937 to 1972

Genres

Drama50%, 8 films
Crime31%, 5 films
Sci-Fi31%, 5 films
Horror25%, 4 films
Romance19%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
Craig's big break came when RKO bought out his Universal contract so he could play one of Ginger Rogers' suitors in Kitty Foyle (1940), which became a big hit.
Big break
Louis B. Mayer, who ran Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, thought Craig looked like Clark Gable, the studio's most popular male star. Mayer gave Craig a seven-year contract in case Gable enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces.
A role that slipped away
Craig had a test for the part of Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind. He also had the lead in North of Shanghai for Columbia in 1939.

James Craig movies on Netflix

Doomsday Machine1972IMDb rating 2.6as Dr. Haines
Bigfoot1970IMDb rating 2.7as Cyrus
The Revenge of Dr. X1967IMDb rating 2.7as Dr. Bragan
While the City Sleeps1956IMDb rating 6.9as 'Honest' Harry Kritzer
Drums in the Deep South1951IMDb rating 5.8as Maj. Clay Clayburn
The Strip1951IMDb rating 6.1as Delwyn 'Sonny' Johnson
A Lady Without Passport1950IMDb rating 6.1as Chief Frank Westlake, INS
Side Street1950IMDb rating 7.1as George Garsell / Mr. Howard
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes1945IMDb rating 7.6as Nels Halverson
The Human Comedy1943IMDb rating 7.0as Tom Spangler
All That Money Can Buy1941IMDb rating 7.5as Jabez Stone
Black Friday1940IMDb rating 6.3as Reporter Ernst Gives Notes To
Kitty Foyle1940IMDb rating 6.9as Mark
Seven Sinners1940IMDb rating 6.5as Ensign
The Man They Could Not Hang1939IMDb rating 6.8as Juror Watkins
Born to the West1937IMDb rating 5.6as Brady

Best known for

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

Top

Kitty Foyle1940 Drama, Romanceas Mark
IMDb rating 6.94.6K votes
Side Street1950 Crime, Thrilleras George Garsell / Mr. Howard
IMDb rating 7.13.9K votes
The Human Comedy1943as Tom Spangler
IMDb rating 7.02.8K votes
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes1945as Nels Halverson
IMDb rating 7.62.7K votes
While the City Sleeps1956as 'Honest' Harry Kritzer
IMDb rating 6.98.0K votes
The Revenge of Dr. X1967as Dr. Bragan
IMDb rating 2.7730 votes
A Lady Without Passport1950as Chief Frank Westlake, INS
IMDb rating 6.11.3K votes
Doomsday Machine1972as Dr. Haines
IMDb rating 2.61.6K votes

Most often with

Nine actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

John Wayne

Boris Karloff

Mickey Rooney

Louis Jean Heydt

Robert Osterloh

Marsha Hunt

Films together

John Wayne2 films together, 1937 to 1940
John Wayne's page
- Seven Sinners1940IMDb rating 6.5Craig as EnsignWayne as Dan
- Born to the West1937IMDb rating 5.6Craig as BradyWayne as Dare Rudd
Boris Karloff2 films together, 1939 to 1940
Boris Karloff's page
- Black Friday1940IMDb rating 6.3Craig as Reporter Ernst Gives Notes ToKarloff as Dr. Ernest Sovac
- The Man They Could Not Hang1939IMDb rating 6.8Craig as Juror WatkinsKarloff as Dr. Henryk Savaard
Mickey Rooney2 films together, 1943 to 1951
Mickey Rooney's page
- The Strip1951IMDb rating 6.1Craig as Delwyn 'Sonny' JohnsonRooney as Stanley Maxton
- The Human Comedy1943IMDb rating 7.0Craig as Tom SpanglerRooney as Homer Macauley
Louis Jean Heydt2 films together, 1945 to 1951
Louis Jean Heydt's page
- Drums in the Deep South1951IMDb rating 5.8Craig as Maj. Clay ClayburnHeydt as Col. House
- Our Vines Have Tender Grapes1945IMDb rating 7.6Craig as Nels HalversonHeydt as Mr. Faraassen
Robert Osterloh2 films together, 1950 to 1951
Robert Osterloh's page
- Drums in the Deep South1951IMDb rating 5.8Craig as Maj. Clay ClayburnOsterloh as Sgt. Harper
- A Lady Without Passport1950IMDb rating 6.1Craig as Chief Frank Westlake, INSOsterloh as Lt. Lannahan, NYC Cop
Marsha Hunt2 films together, 1937 to 1943
Marsha Hunt's page
- The Human Comedy1943IMDb rating 7.0Craig as Tom SpanglerHunt as Diana Steed
- Born to the West1937IMDb rating 5.6Craig as BradyHunt as Judy Worstall
Also two films together3 more actors
- Sally ForrestWhile the City Sleeps (1956) and The Strip (1951)
- Dorothy MorrisOur Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945) and The Human Comedy (1943)
- Jackie 'Butch' JenkinsOur Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945) and The Human Comedy (1943)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

Top