James Ellison

Biography

James Ellison was an American actor who worked in nearly 70 films between 1932 and 1962. Born in Guthrie Center, Iowa, he started in a film laboratory, where a screen test led to a contract after he was discovered at Harold Lloyd's Little Theatre for Professionals. Much of his career was in westerns, notably Paramount's Hopalong Cassidy series as Johnny Nelson in the mid-1930s. He played Buffalo Bill in Cecil B. DeMille's The Plainsman (1936) and received third billing in Vivacious Lady (1938) with Ginger Rogers and Jimmy Stewart. He shared top billing with Lucille Ball in You Can't Fool Your Wife (1940). Later credits include The Undying Monster (1942), The Gang's All Here (1943), and I Walked with a Zombie (1943). He left acting for real estate in the early 1950s and returned for When the Girls Take Over (1962). He died in 1993.

83years old at death

Born May 4, 1910Guthrie Center
Died December 23, 1993Monterey
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Also credited as James Ellison Smith

Movie Career

Films: 8
Career span: 7 years1936 to 1943

Genres

Comedy63%, 5 films
Romance63%, 5 films
Horror25%, 2 films
Drama13%, 1 film
Fantasy13%, 1 film

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Ellison worked in a film laboratory and was discovered at Harold Lloyd's Beverly Hills Little Theatre for Professionals, where he was offered a screen test. He developed the footage himself, thought it unsatisfactory, and would not show the director, but the director saw it and Ellison got a contract.
Big break
In 1936, Ellison took his highest-profile part, Buffalo Bill in Cecil B. DeMille's The Plainsman, a success that also starred Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur. DeMille reportedly disliked his performance and hoped the young actor would never make a film as good again.
About the name
Ellison took the lead part in a run of B-western films made by Lippert Pictures in 1950, and the studio gave him the nickname "Shamrock" Ellison.

James Ellison movies on Netflix

I Walked with a Zombie1943IMDb rating 7.0as Wesley Rand
The Gang's All Here1943IMDb rating 6.6as Andy Mason
The Undying Monster1942IMDb rating 6.1as Robert Curtis
You Can't Fool Your Wife1940IMDb rating 5.6as Andrew Hinklin
Fifth Avenue Girl1939IMDb rating 6.8as Mike
Zenobia1939IMDb rating 6.0as Jeff Carter
Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1as Keith
The Plainsman1936IMDb rating 6.8as William "Buffalo Bill" Cody

Best known for

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

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I Walked with a Zombie1943 Drama, Fantasy, Horroras Wesley Rand
IMDb rating 7.016K votes
Vivacious Lady1938 Comedy, Romanceas Keith
IMDb rating 7.15.1K votes
The Undying Monster1942as Robert Curtis
IMDb rating 6.11.8K votes
The Plainsman1936as William "Buffalo Bill" Cody
IMDb rating 6.82.7K votes
Fifth Avenue Girl1939as Mike
IMDb rating 6.82.1K votes
You Can't Fool Your Wife1940as Andrew Hinklin
IMDb rating 5.6445 votes
The Gang's All Here1943as Andy Mason
IMDb rating 6.62.2K votes
Zenobia1939as Jeff Carter
IMDb rating 6.0726 votes

Most often with

Six 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.

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Jack Carson

Ginger Rogers

Franklin Pangborn

Hobart Cavanaugh

Alec CraigNorman Mayes

Films together

Jack Carson2 films together, 1938 to 1939
Jack Carson's page
- Fifth Avenue Girl1939IMDb rating 6.8Ellison as MikeCarson as Minnesota
- Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Ellison as KeithCarson as Waiter Captain
Ginger Rogers2 films together, 1938 to 1939
Ginger Rogers's page
- Fifth Avenue Girl1939IMDb rating 6.8Ellison as MikeRogers as Mary Grey
- Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Ellison as KeithRogers as Francey
Franklin Pangborn2 films together, 1938 to 1939
Franklin Pangborn's page
- Fifth Avenue Girl1939IMDb rating 6.8Ellison as MikePangborn as Higgins
- Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Ellison as KeithPangborn as Apartment Manager
Hobart Cavanaugh2 films together, 1939 to 1940
Hobart Cavanaugh's page
- You Can't Fool Your Wife1940IMDb rating 5.6Ellison as Andrew HinklinCavanaugh as Potts
- Zenobia1939IMDb rating 6.0Ellison as Jeff CarterCavanaugh as Mr. Dover
Alec Craig2 films together, 1938 to 1942
Alec Craig's page
- The Undying Monster1942IMDb rating 6.1Ellison as Robert CurtisCraig as Will the Groundsman
- Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Ellison as KeithCraig as Joseph
Norman Mayes2 films together, 1940 to 1943
Norman Mayes's page
- I Walked with a Zombie1943IMDb rating 7.0Ellison as Wesley RandMayes as Bayard
- You Can't Fool Your Wife1940IMDb rating 5.6Ellison as Andrew HinklinMayes as Porter at Dock

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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