James Pierce

Biography

James Pierce was an American actor who appeared in films from 1924 to 1951 and became the fourth actor to portray Tarzan on screen. Born in Freedom, Indiana, he played center for the Indiana Hoosiers football team and was an All-American before graduating in 1921. Pierce then coached high school football in Arizona and started acting on the side. After being cast in a 1923 production of The Deerslayer, he settled in California and continued coaching. At a party given by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the author of the Tarzan books, Burroughs immediately wanted him for the next Tarzan film. Pierce gave up a role in Wings, which went to newcomer Gary Cooper, and starred in the silent Tarzan and the Golden Lion, released by RKO Radio Pictures in 1927. In the 1936 serial Flash Gordon, he played Prince Thun of the Lion Men, and he took small parts, mostly westerns, through 1951.

83years old at death

Born August 8, 1900unincorporated area
Died December 11, 1983Apple Valley
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Also credited as James Hubert Pierce

Movie Career

Films: 3
Career span: 6 years1932 to 1938

Every film, newest first

1938Rocket ShipIMDb rating 6.5
1936Flash GordonIMDb rating 6.9
1932Horse FeathersIMDb rating 7.5

Genres

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
Pierce turned down a part in Wings so he could take the Tarzan role, and a newcomer named Gary Cooper was given his part in Wings instead.
A change of course
Pierce was cast in a 1923 production of The Deerslayer, then stayed in California. There he coached football at Glendale High School, where John Wayne was one of his players.
A change of course
Pierce was a pilot who served during World War II in the National Airmen's Reserve, which later became today's Air National Guard.

James Pierce movies on Netflix

Rocket Ship1938IMDb rating 6.5as King Thun
Flash Gordon1936IMDb rating 6.9as Prince Thun
Horse Feathers1932IMDb rating 7.5as Ed Mullen

Most often with

Ten 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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Richard Alexander

George Cleveland

Charles Middleton

Richard Tucker

Frank Shannon

Buster Crabbe

Films together

Richard Alexander2 films together, 1936 to 1938
Richard Alexander's page
- Rocket Ship1938IMDb rating 6.5Pierce as King ThunAlexander as Prince Barin
- Flash Gordon1936IMDb rating 6.9Pierce as Prince ThunAlexander as Prince Barin
George Cleveland2 films together, 1936 to 1938
George Cleveland's page
- Rocket Ship1938IMDb rating 6.5Pierce as King ThunCleveland as Professor Henson
- Flash Gordon1936IMDb rating 6.9Pierce as Prince ThunCleveland as Professor Hensley
Charles Middleton2 films together, 1936 to 1938
Charles Middleton's page
- Rocket Ship1938IMDb rating 6.5Pierce as King ThunMiddleton as Ming the Merciless
- Flash Gordon1936IMDb rating 6.9Pierce as Prince ThunMiddleton as Ming the Merciless
Richard Tucker2 films together, 1936 to 1938
Richard Tucker's page
- Rocket Ship1938IMDb rating 6.5Pierce as King ThunTucker as Professor Gordon
- Flash Gordon1936IMDb rating 6.9Pierce as Prince ThunTucker as Professor Gordon
Frank Shannon2 films together, 1936 to 1938
Frank Shannon's page
- Rocket Ship1938IMDb rating 6.5Pierce as King ThunShannon as Dr. Hans Zarkov
- Flash Gordon1936IMDb rating 6.9Pierce as Prince ThunShannon as Dr. Hans Zarkov
Buster Crabbe2 films together, 1936 to 1938
Buster Crabbe's page
- Rocket Ship1938IMDb rating 6.5Pierce as King ThunCrabbe as Flash Gordon
- Flash Gordon1936IMDb rating 6.9Pierce as Prince ThunCrabbe as Flash Gordon
Also two films together4 more actors
- Jean RogersRocket Ship (1938) and Flash Gordon (1936)
- Theodore LorchRocket Ship (1938) and Flash Gordon (1936)
- Jack 'Tiny' LipsonRocket Ship (1938) and Flash Gordon (1936)
- Priscilla LawsonRocket Ship (1938) and Flash Gordon (1936)
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.

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