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• James Cagney was an award-winning American film actor best known for his gangster roles.

• Career

  Cagney made his stage debut in a 1919 production of Every Sailor, in which he played the part of a Sailor who dresses up as a woman. After a decade on the stage, Cagney made his film debut when he reworked a stage role for Sinner's Holiday in 1930 with Warner Bros..

• Warner Bros.

  Cagney had an on-again, off-again relationship with the Warner Bros. studios for many years. After getting his first break with them in 1930, he went independent in 1936 because of what he felt were contractual defaults on the part of the studio. He returned again in 1938 but left again after winning an Oscar for his role in Yankee Doodle Dandy. During this period away from Warner Bros. Cagney formed his own studio, William Cagney Productions. He finally returned in 1949, and continued his career with various studios until 1961 when he effectively retired.

• Fast Facts:

  1. Born: July 17, 1899
  2. Died: March 30, 1986
  3. Won the Best Actor Oscar for Yankee Doodle Dandy in 1942
  4. Married to Frances Cagney

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Humphrey Bogart | Henry Fonda | Jack Lemmon | Jimmy Stewart | Edward G Robinson | Rita Hayworth | William Powell

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