Cagney, James Francis

Cagney, James Francis (1899-1986), American actor and Academy Award winner, noted for his tough-guy roles. Born in New York, he attended Columbia University, and made his Broadway debut in the chorus of the musical revue Pitter Patter (1920). He continued singing and dancing in vaudeville and musical revues throughout the 1920s, appearing in his first film, Sinner's Holiday in 1930. His performance in Enemies of the Public (1931; United States title, The Public Enemy) established Cagney as a screen “tough guy”, a role he played in many subsequent films, including The Crowd Roars (1932), Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), and White Heat (1949). He received an Academy Award for his portrayal of the dramatist and actor George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942). Cagney's versatility as an actor also extended to film comedy. He played Bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream (1935), the lead role in One, Two, Three (1961), and the police chief in Ragtime (1981). Cagney was given the 1974 Life Achievement Award of the American Film Institute.