James Cagney

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

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..

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.

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

• Note: The majority of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.

• July 17, 1899: Born

• 1931: The Public Enemy

• 1931: Smart Money

• 1931: Blonde Crazy

• 1932: Winner Take All

• 1933: Hard to Handle

• 1933: Lady Killer

• 1934: Here Comes the Navy

• 1934: The St. Louis Kid

• 1935: The Irish in Us

• 1935: A Midsummer Night's Dream

• 1935: Mutiny on the Bounty

• 1935: Frisco Kid

• 1937: Something to Sing About

• 1938: Boy Meets Girl

• 1938: Angels with Dirty Faces

• 1939: The Oklahoma Kid

• 1939: The Roaring Twenties

• 1942: Yankee Doodle Dandy

• 1949: White Heat

• 1951: Come Fill the Cup

• 1955: Love Me or Leave Me

• 1955: Run for Cover

• 1955: Mister Roberts

• 1957: Man of a Thousand Faces

• 1981: Ragtime

• March 30, 1986: Died