James Kirkwood

Biography

James Kirkwood was an American actor and director. Born in Grand Rapids in 1876, he entered movies in 1909 and quickly found work as a leading man for D. W. Griffith. By 1912 he had also begun directing, and Mary Pickford counted him as a favorite. His time as a director wound down around 1920, after which he concentrated on performing and remained active on screen into the 1950s. Over a career that lasted close to fifty years, he appeared in more than two hundred films. George Melford first chose Kirkwood for the lead in The Sheik, the role of Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan, but Rudolph Valentino played it instead. Kirkwood died in 1963.

87years old at death

Born February 22, 1876Grand Rapids
Died August 24, 1963Woodland Hills
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
Also credited as James Kirkwood Sr.

Movie Career

Films: 6
Career span: 44 years1909 to 1953

Genres

Drama83%, 5 films
Western50%, 3 films
Comedy33%, 2 films
Crime33%, 2 films
Biography17%, 1 film

First and latest

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
Kirkwood was George Melford's original choice to star as Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan in The Sheik, a role that was later famously passed to Rudolph Valentino.
First role
Kirkwood made his first screen appearance in 1909, and before long he was taking on lead roles for D. W. Griffith.

James Kirkwood movies on Netflix

The Last Posse1953IMDb rating 6.6as Judge Parker
The Sun Shines Bright1953IMDb rating 6.9as General Fairfield
I Dream of Jeanie1952IMDb rating 5.8as Doctor
Intruder in the Dust1949IMDb rating 7.6as Convict
The Rainbow Trail1932IMDb rating 6.4as Venters
A Corner in Wheat1909IMDb rating 6.6as Farmer

Best known for

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

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A Corner in Wheat1909 Crime, Dramaas Farmer
IMDb rating 6.63.1K votes
The Last Posse1953 Westernas Judge Parker
IMDb rating 6.6629 votes
The Sun Shines Bright1953as General Fairfield
IMDb rating 6.92.1K votes
The Rainbow Trail1932as Venters
IMDb rating 6.444 votes
Intruder in the Dust1949as Convict
IMDb rating 7.63.5K votes
I Dream of Jeanie1952as Doctor
IMDb rating 5.8272 votes

Worked with

James Kirkwood shares two films with Harry Hayden, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Harry Hayden

Elzie Emanuel

Henry O'Neill

Slim Pickens

Monte Blue

Broderick Crawford

Clarence BrownDirector, 1 film D.W. GriffithDirector, 1 film

John FordDirector, 1 film

Films together

Harry Hayden2 films together, 1949 to 1953
Harry Hayden's page
- The Last Posse1953IMDb rating 6.6Kirkwood as Judge ParkerHayden as Davis, a Traveling Salesman
- Intruder in the Dust1949IMDb rating 7.6Kirkwood as ConvictHayden as Mr. Mallison
Elzie Emanuel2 films together, 1949 to 1953
Elzie Emanuel's page
- The Sun Shines Bright1953IMDb rating 6.9Kirkwood as General FairfieldEmanuel as U.S. Grant 'You Ess' Woodford
- Intruder in the Dust1949IMDb rating 7.6Kirkwood as ConvictEmanuel as Aleck
Henry O'Neill1 film together, 1953
Henry O'Neill's page
- The Sun Shines Bright1953IMDb rating 6.9Kirkwood as General FairfieldO'Neill as Joe D. Habersham
Slim Pickens1 film together, 1953
Slim Pickens's page
- The Sun Shines Bright1953IMDb rating 6.9Kirkwood as General FairfieldPickens as Sterling, Lanky Backwoodsman
Monte Blue1 film together, 1953
Monte Blue's page
- The Last Posse1953IMDb rating 6.6Kirkwood as Judge ParkerBlue as Uncle Will Kane
Broderick Crawford1 film together, 1953
Broderick Crawford's page
- The Last Posse1953IMDb rating 6.6Kirkwood as Judge ParkerCrawford as Sheriff John Frazier
Clarence BrownDirector, 1 film, 1949
All films by Clarence Brown
- Intruder in the Dust1949IMDb rating 7.6Kirkwood as Convict
D.W. GriffithDirector, 1 film, 1909
All films by D.W. Griffith
- A Corner in Wheat1909IMDb rating 6.6Kirkwood as Farmer
John FordDirector, 1 film, 1953
All films by John Ford
- The Sun Shines Bright1953IMDb rating 6.9Kirkwood as General Fairfield

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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