James Craig (born James Henry Meador, February 4, 1912 – June 27, 1985) was an American actor. He is best known for appearances in films like '' Kitty Foyle'' (1940) and ''

The Devil and Daniel Webster "The Devil and Daniel Webster" (1936) is a short story by American writer Stephen Vincent Benét. He tells of a New Hampshire farmer who sells his soul to the devil and is later defended by Daniel Webster, a fictional version of the noted 19th-c ...

'' (1941), and his stint as a leading man at

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by amazon (company), Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded o ...

in the 1940s where he appeared in films like '' The Human Comedy'' (1943).

Biography

He was born in Nashville, Tennessee and studied at the

Rice Institute The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is an international agricultural research and training organization with its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, in the Philippines, and offices in seventeen countries. IRRI is known for its work ...

, planning a career in medicine. After graduation he worked for a time as a professional football player, and a debt collector. A visit to Hollywood made him decide to become an actor. He returned home and worked in theatre for a year, then went back to Hollywood. He did a screen test for Paramount, which offered him a contract.

Paramount

He began appearing in films at

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...

, originally using the name James Mead. He appeared mostly in

B-movies A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double featur ...

and serials. His early credits included ''

Sophie Lang Goes West ''Sophie Lang Goes West'' is a 1937 American crime film directed by Charles Reisner, written by Frederick Irving Anderson, Doris Anderson, Brian Marlow and Robert Wyler, and starring Gertrude Michael, Lee Bowman, Sandra Storme, Buster Crabbe, B ...

'' (1937), ''

This Way Please ''This Way Please'' is a 1937 American musical comedy directed by Robert Florey and featuring Charles "Buddy" Rogers, a popular singer from the days of vaudeville entertainment. According to historian Martin Grams, the film was the introduction ...

'' (1937), ''

Thunder Trail ''Thunder Trail'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Charles Barton, written by Robert Yost and Stuart Anthony, and starring Gilbert Roland, Charles Bickford, Marsha Hunt, J. Carrol Naish, James Craig and Monte Blue. The film, based ...

'' (1937), '' Born to the West'' (1937), '' The Buccaneer'' (1938), ''

The Big Broadcast of 1938 ''The Big Broadcast of 1938'' is a Paramount Pictures musical comedy film starring W. C. Fields and featuring Bob Hope. Directed by Mitchell Leisen, the film is the last in a series of ''Big Broadcast'' movies that were variety show anthologies. ...

'' (1938), and '' Swing, Teacher, Swing'' (1938). He was in '' Pride of the West'' (1938). Craig left Hollywood and went to New York. He appeared on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

in ''Missouri Legend'' (1938), which re-ignited Hollywood's interest in him.

Columbia

Craig tested for the role of

Rhett Butler Rhett Butler (Born in 1828) is a fictional character in the 1936 novel ''Gone with the Wind'' by Margaret Mitchell and in the 1939 film adaptation of the same name. It is one of Clark Gable's most recognizable and significant roles. Role Rhe ...

in ''

Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind may also refer to: Music * ''Gone with the Wind'' ...

'' and had the lead in ''

North of Shanghai ''North of Shanghai'' is a 1939 American drama film directed by D. Ross Lederman. Cast * James Craig as Jed Howard * Betty Furness as Helen Warner * Keye Luke as Jimmy Riley * Morgan Conway as Bob Laird * Joe Downing as Chandler (as Joseph D ...

'' (1939) for Columbia. He was in ''

The Lone Wolf's Daughter ''The Lone Wolf's Daughter'' is a surviving 1919 American silent era crime/drama/thriller motion picture starring Bertram Grassby, Louise Glaum, and Thomas Holding. Directed by William P.S. Earle and produced by J. Parker Read, Jr., the scree ...

'' (1939) and the serial ''

Flying G-Men ''Flying G-Men'' is a 15-episode 1939 adventure film Film serial, directed by James W. Horne and Ray Taylor. The serial was the sixth of the 57 serials released by Columbia. Four "Flying G-Men" battle with enemy saboteurs intent on destroying A ...

'' (1939). He was in ''

Blondie Meets the Boss ''Blondie Meets the Boss'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. Based on the Chic Young comic strip of the same name, the film is the second in the '' Blondie'' series, which ...

'' (1939), '' Romance of the Redwoods'' (1939), ''

Blind Alley "Blind Alley" is a science fiction short story by American writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the March 1945 issue of ''Astounding Science Fiction'', and later included in the collection ''The Early Asimov'' (1972). Although the sto ...

'' (1939), ''

Outside These Walls ''Outside These Walls'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Ray McCarey and starring Michael Whalen, Dolores Costello and Virginia Weidler. Plot Walen plays Dan Sparling, a convicted embezzler who becomes editor of his prison newspaper ...

'' (1939), and '' Missing Daughters'' (1939). He was in a

Buster Keaton Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent film work, in which his trademark was physical comedy accompanied by a stoic, deadpan expression ...

short, ''

Pest from the West ''Pest from the West'' is the first short subject starring American comedian Buster Keaton made for Columbia Pictures. Keaton made a total of ten films for the studio between 1939 and 1941. Synopsis Keaton is a millionaire vacationing in Mexico ...

'' (1939), then ''

Good Girls Go to Paris ''Good Girls Go to Paris'' is a 1939 American romantic comedy film starring Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell. Plot Jenny Swanson is a waitress in a small college town whose dream is to go to Paris by any means necessary. She confides her plan for ...

'' (1939) and the serial ''

Overland with Kit Carson ''Overland with Kit Carson'' is a 1939 American Western serial film directed by Norman Deming and Sam Nelson and starring Bill Ellott, Iris Meredith, Richard Fiske and Bobby Clack. Plot When Pegleg and his Black Raiders threaten the westward ...

'' (1939). He did a short with

Andy Clyde Andrew Allan Clyde (March 25, 1892 – May 18, 1967) was a Scottish-born American film and television actor whose career spanned more than four decades. In 1921 he broke into silent films as a Mack Sennett comic, debuting in ''On a Summer ...

, ''Trouble Finds Andy Clyde'' (1939), then ''

Behind Prison Gates ''Behind Prison Gates'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Charles Barton and written by Arthur T. Horman and Leslie T. White. The film stars Brian Donlevy, Julie Bishop, Joseph Crehan, Paul Fix, George Lloyd and Dick Curtis. The film wa ...

'' (1939), ''

The Man They Could Not Hang ''The Man They Could Not Hang'' is a 1939 American horror film directed by Nick Grinde from a screenplay by Karl Brown. It stars Boris Karloff as Dr. Henryk Savaard,Stephen Jacobs, ''Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster'', Tomahawk Press 2011 pp. ...

'' (1939), and ''

Konga Konga () is a locality situated in Tingsryd Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of ...

'' (1939). Craig was in some

Charley Chase Charles Joseph Parrott (October 20, 1893 – June 20, 1940), known professionally as Charley Chase, was an American comedian, actor, screenwriter and film director. He worked for many pioneering comedy studios but is chiefly associated with pro ...

shorts, ''Skinny the Moocher'' (1939) and ''Static in the Attic'' (1939). After ''

A Woman Is the Judge ''A Woman Is the Judge'' is an American 1939 drama film directed by Nick Grinde and starring Frieda Inescort, Otto Kruger, Rochelle Hudson, Mayo Methot, Gordon Oliver, and Arthur Loft. The film tagline is ''Love bridges the gulf between a judge an ...

'' (1939) he appeared in the

Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeared ...

film ''

Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise ''Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise'' is a 1939 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 42nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures ...

''. Craig followed this with ''

Taming of the West A tame animal is an animal that is relatively tolerant of human presence. Tameness may arise naturally (as in the case, for example, of island tameness) or due to the deliberate, human-directed process of training an animal against its initially ...

'' (1939), ''

Scandal Sheet Tabloid journalism is a popular style of largely sensationalist journalism (usually dramatized and sometimes unverifiable or even blatantly false), which takes its name from the tabloid newspaper format: a small-sized newspaper also known as ...

'' (1939), '' Forestalled'' (1939), and ''

Cafe Hostess ''Cafe Hostess'' is a 1940 American crime film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Preston Foster and Ann Dvorak. The screenplay was written by Harold Shumate, based on a story by Tay Garnett and Howard Higgin. Prior to filming the studio had ...

'' (1940).

Universal

Craig signed with Universal in November 1939. The studio announced it wanted to build him into a leading man. He had a support role in '' Black Friday'' (1940), then he did ''

The House Across the Bay ''The House Across the Bay'' is a 1940 film directed by Archie Mayo, starring George Raft and Joan Bennett, produced by Walter Wanger, written by Myles Connolly and Kathryn Scola, and released by United Artists. The supporting cast features Lloy ...

'' (1940) for

Walter Wanger Walter Wanger (born Walter Feuchtwanger; July 11, 1894 – November 18, 1968) was an American film producer active from the 1910s, his career concluding with the turbulent production of '' Cleopatra,'' his last film, in 1963. He began at Para ...

. He returned to Universal for ''

Zanzibar Zanzibar (; ; ) is an insular semi-autonomous province which united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. It is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of many small islands ...

'' (1940), where he had the male lead. He was down the cast list for '' Secret Enemy'' (1940), and the serial '' Winners of the West'' (1940) but had a lead part in ''

South to Karanga ''South to Karanga'' is a 1940 American action adventure film directed by Harold D. Schuster starring James Craig, Luli Deste and Charles Bickford. Production The film was originally called ''Bombay Uprising'' but was relocated from India to Af ...

'' (1940). Craig had smaller parts in '' I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now'' (1940), '' Seven Sinners'' (1940), and '' Lucky Ralston'' (1940).

RKO

Craig's big break happened when RKO bought out his contract with Universal to play one of

Ginger Rogers Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starri ...

' suitors in '' Kitty Foyle'' (1940). This was a big hit. RKO gave him the romantic lead in ''

Unexpected Uncle ''Unexpected Uncle'' is a 1941 American comedy-drama film directed by Peter Godfrey and starring Charles Coburn, Anne Shirley, and James Craig. Cast *Anne Shirley as Kathleen Brown * James Craig as Johnny Kerrigan *Charles Coburn as Alfred Cr ...

'' (1941), and he played a New Hampshire farmer who sells his soul in ''

All That Money Can Buy ''The Devil and Daniel Webster'' is a 1941 fantasy film based on the 1938 play adaptation of Stephen Vincent Benét's 1936 short story " The Devil and Daniel Webster". The play by Benét was in turn based on the libretto created by Benét for a ...

'', also titled ''

'' (1941), with

Walter Huston Walter Thomas Huston ( ;According to the Province of Ontario. ''Ontario, C ...

and Edward Arnold. He appeared with

Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedienne and producer. She was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five times, and was the recipient of several other accolades, such as the Golden ...

in an RKO Western, ''

Valley of the Sun A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains, which will typically contain a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams over ...

'' (1942).

Edward Small Edward Small (born Edward Schmalheiser, February 1, 1891, Brooklyn, New York – January 25, 1977, Los Angeles) was a film producer from the late 1920s through 1970, who was enormously prolific over a 50-year career. He is best known for the movi ...

cast him in '' Friendly Enemies'' (1942), supporting

Charles Ruggles Charles Sherman Ruggles (February 8, 1886 – December 23, 1970) was an American comic character actor. In a career spanning six decades, Ruggles appeared in close to 100 feature films, often in mild-mannered and comic roles. He was also the e ...

and

Charles Winninger Charles J. Winninger (May 26, 1884 – January 27, 1969) was an American stage and film actor, most often cast in comedies or musicals. Life and career Winninger was born in Athens, Wisconsin, the son of Rosalia (Grassler) and Franz Winninger ...

MGM

Louis B. Mayer Louis Burt Mayer (; born Lazar Meir; July 12, 1882 or 1884 or 1885 – October 29, 1957) was a Canadian-American film producer and co-founder of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios (MGM) in 1924. Under Mayer's management, MGM became the film industr ...

, head of

, thought Craig resembled the studio's most popular male star

Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...

. Mayer signed Craig to a seven-year contract to potentially fill in for Gable when he enlisted in the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

. MGM started off Craig as the lead in some B Westerns, ''

The Omaha Trail ''The Omaha Trail'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Edward Buzzell. It stars James Craig and Pamela Blake. Cast * James Craig as Pat Candel * Pamela Blake as Julie Santley * Dean Jagger as Pipsestone Ross * Edward Ellis as Mr. V ...

'' (1942) and ''

Northwest Rangers ''Northwest Rangers'' is a 1942 American Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Northern second feature film that is a remake of ''Manhattan Melodrama'' set in the North-West Mounted Police of Canada. It was also known as ''Gambler's Choice''. Plot A mountie tr ...

'' (1942). The latter was a remake of ''

Manhattan Melodrama ''Manhattan Melodrama'' is a 1934 American pre-Code crime film, produced by MGM, directed by W. S. Van Dyke, and starring Clark Gable, William Powell, and Myrna Loy. The movie also provided one of Mickey Rooney's earliest film roles. (Rooney pla ...

'' with Craig playing the role played by Gable in the original. Both films lost money. Craig went back to RKO for '' Seven Miles from Alcatraz'' (1942) then did a naval propaganda short, ''Freedom Comes High''. MGM launched Craig as a star in '' The Human Comedy'' (1943), which was a massive success. He was

Ann Sothern Ann Sothern (born Harriette Arlene Lake; January 22, 1909 – March 15, 2001) was an American actress who worked on stage, radio, film, and television, in a career that spanned nearly six decades. Sothern began her career in the late 1920 ...

's love interest in ''

Swing Shift Maisie ''Swing Shift Maisie'' (also known as ''Swing It, Maisie'') is a 1943 romantic comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod. It is the seventh in a series of 10 films starring Ann Sothern as Maisie, preceded by ''Maisie Gets Her Man'' (1942) and fol ...

'' (1943) and supported

Margaret O'Brien Angela Maxine O'Brien (born January 15, 1937) is an American film, radio, television, and stage actress, and is one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema. Beginning a prolific career as a child actress in feature f ...

in '' Lost Angel'' (1943). In 1944, Craig co-starred with

William Powell William Horatio Powell (July 29, 1892 – March 5, 1984) was an American actor. A major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the ''The Thin Man (film), Thin Man'' series based on the Nick and Nora Cha ...

and

Hedy Lamarr Hedy Lamarr (; born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler; November 9, 1914 January 19, 2000) was an Austrian-born American film actress and inventor. A film star during Hollywood's golden age, Lamarr has been described as one of the greatest movie actresse ...

in ''

The Heavenly Body ''The Heavenly Body'' is a 1944 American romantic comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and starring William Powell and Hedy Lamarr. Based on a story by Jacques Théry, with a screenplay by Michael Arlen and Walter Reisch, the film is about the ...

''. That year exhibitors voted him the second most likely to be a "star of tomorrow". Craig supported

Ronald Colman Ronald Charles Colman (9 February 1891 – 19 May 1958) was an English-born actor, starting his career in theatre and silent film in his native country, then immigrating to the United States and having a successful Hollywood film career. He wa ...

in '' Kismet'' (1944), and

Lana Turner Lana Turner ( ; born Julia Jean Turner; February 8, 1921June 29, 1995) was an American actress. Over the course of her nearly 50-year career, she achieved fame as both a pin-up model and a film actress, as well as for her highly publicized per ...

in ''

Marriage Is a Private Affair ''Marriage is a Private Affair'' is a 1944 war-comedy film, directed by Robert Z. Leonard, based on novel ''Marriage Is a Private Affair'' (1941) by Judith Kelly. It stars Lana Turner, Frances Gifford and James Craig. Plot During World War II T ...

'' (1944); the latter was a big hit. Craig was given the star role in '' Gentle Annie'' (1945) and ''

Dangerous Partners ''Dangerous Partners'' is a 1945 American adventure film directed by Edward L. Cahn and written by Marion Parsonnet and Edmund L. Hartmann, based on the novel “Paper Chase” by Oliver Weld Bayer, the pen-name of Leo and Eleanor Bayer (later kn ...

'' (1945); he was reunited with O'Brien in ''

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes ''Our Vines Have Tender Grapes'' is a 1945 American drama film directed by Roy Rowland and starring Edward G. Robinson and Margaret O'Brien. Background The film is based on the 1940 novel of the same name by George Victor Martin about the Norw ...

'' (1945). Craig starred in ''

She Went to the Races ''She Went to the Races'' is a 1945 American comedy film directed by Willis Goldbeck and starring James Craig, Frances Gifford and Ava Gardner. The screenplay concerns a team of scientists who discover a seemingly foolproof way of discovering ...

'' (1945), and two with Butch Jenkins, ''

Boys' Ranch ''Boys' Ranch'' was a six-issue American comic book series created by the veteran writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby for Harvey Comics in 1950. A Western in the then-prevalent "kid gang" vein popularized by such film series as "Our ...

'' (1946) and ''

Little Mister Jim ''Little Mister Jim'' is a 1946 American drama film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Butch Jenkins, James Craig and Frances Gifford. Plot Army captain "Big Jim" Tukker has a young son, Little Jim, who runs away from home. Once found, t ...

'' (1947), which both lost money. Craig replaced

Van Johnson Charles Van Dell Johnson (August 25, 1916 – December 12, 2008) was an American film, television, theatre and radio actor. He was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during and after World War II. Johnson was described as the embodiment o ...

in the final film of the

Dr. Kildare Dr. James Kildare is a fictional American medical doctor, originally created in the 1930s by the author Frederick Schiller Faust under the pen name Max Brand. Shortly after the character's first appearance in a magazine story, Paramount Pictur ...

series. The film, ''

Dark Delusion ''Dark Delusion'' is a 1947 American drama film directed by Willis Goldbeck and starring James Craig, Lionel Barrymore, and Lucille Bremer. Produced and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the last film in the Dr. Kildare film series which st ...

'' (1947), lost money. Craig was loaned to Eagle Lion to appear in '' The Man from Texas'' (1948). Eagle Lion borrowed him again for ''

Northwest Stampede ''Northwest Stampede'' is a 1948 American contemporary Northwestern film produced and directed by Albert S. Rogell. It stars Joan Leslie and James Craig. The film was shot in Cinecolor in Alberta and features the Calgary Stampede. Joan Leslie ...

'' (1948) then he went back to MGM to play the villain in ''

Side Street A side road is a minor highway typically leading off a main road.Main road — definition

'' (1949). It flopped as did ''

A Lady Without Passport ''A Lady Without Passport'' is a 1950 American film noir film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and starring Hedy Lamarr and John Hodiak. Written by Howard Dimsdale, the film is about a beautiful concentration-camp refugee who has taken up residence in ...

'' (1950), where Craig supported Lamarr and

John Hodiak John Hodiak ( ; April 16, 1914 – October 19, 1955) was an American actor who worked in radio, stage and film. Early life Hodiak was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Anna (Pogorzelec) and Walter Hodiak. He was of Ukrainian and ...

, and ''

The Strip The Las Vegas Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South in Clark County, Nevada, that is known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos. The Strip, as it is known, is about long, and is immediately south of the Las Vegas city ...

'' (1951) with

Mickey Rooney Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule Jr.; other pseudonym Mickey Maguire; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American actor. In a career spanning nine decades, he appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last surviving stars of the ...

. Craig had the lead in a Western, ''

Drums in the Deep South ''Drums in the Deep South'' is an American Civil War war western film directed by William Cameron Menzies who was production designer of David O. Selznick's ''Gone With the Wind'' (1939) and also designed the cave sequences in Selznick's ''The A ...

'' (1951), for the King Brothers and RKO. He supported

Yvonne De Carlo Margaret Yvonne Middleton (September 1, 1922January 8, 2007), known professionally as Yvonne De Carlo, was a Canadian-American actress, dancer and singer. She became a Hollywood film star in the 1940s and 1950s, made several recordings, and late ...

in '' Hurricane Smith'' (1952). He wrote the script for the Western '' Scorching Fury'' (1952). The ''Los Angeles Times'' noted that Craig's MGM contract "seems to go on and on... notwithstanding he only seems to appear in the company's films at well-spaced intervals."

gave him the lead in ''

Fort Vengeance ''Fort Vengeance'' (aka ''Royal Mounted Police'') is a 1953 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and starring James Craig, Rita Moreno and Keith Larsen.Code Two ''Code Two'' is a 1953 American film noir crime film about men training to be motorcycle cops. It stars Ralph Meeker, Sally Forrest, Elaine Stewart, Robert Horton and Keenan Wynn, and was directed by Fred M. Wilcox. Plot Classmates at the Los A ...

'' (1953) for MGM. In 1953 his $2,500 a week contract with MGM ended.

Later career

Craig began appearing on TV in "The Westerner" for ''

Chevron Theatre ''Chevron Theatre'' is an American, 30-minute, filmed television anthology series, produced by MCA/ Revue Productions for first-run syndication. A total of 105 episodes aired from 1952 to 1954. Among its guest stars were Natalie Wood, Raymon ...

'' and ''

Studio 57 ''Studio 57'' (also known as ''Heinz Studio 57'') is an American anthology series that was broadcast on the now-defunct DuMont Television Network from September 1954 to July 1955, and in syndication from 1955 to 1958. "It's a Small World", the ...

'' and "Wedding March" for ''

Ford Television Theatre ''General Motors Theatre'' (also known as ''CBC Theatre, Encounter, Ford Television Theatre,'' and ''General Motors Presents'') was a Canadian television anthology drama series of television plays, which ran on CBC Television under various titl ...

''. He did "Dead Reckoning" for ''

Science Fiction Theatre ''Science Fiction Theatre'' was an American science fiction anthology television series that was produced by Ivan Tors and Maurice Ziv and originally aired in syndication. It premiered on April 9, 1955 and ended on April 6, 1957, with a total of ...

'' (1955). Craig returned to features with ''

Last of the Desperados ''Last of the Desperados'' is a 1955 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Orville H. Hampton. The film stars James Craig (actor), James Craig, Jim Davis (actor), Jim Davis, Barton MacLane, Margia Dean, D ...

'' (1955), where he had the lead, and ''

While the City Sleeps While the City Sleeps may refer to: * ''While the City Sleeps'' (1928 film), an American silent film starring Lon Chaney * ''While the City Sleeps'' (1950 film), a Swedish drama scripted by Ingmar Bergman * ''While the City Sleeps'' (1956 film), ...

'' (1956), which he had a support role. He could be seen in starring roles in B films like ''

The Women of Pitcairn Island ''The Women of Pitcairn Island'' is a 1956 American adventure drama film directed by Jean Yarbrough and starring Lynn Bari, John Smith and Sue England. The film's sets were designed by the art director Dave Milton. Plot Nearly twenty years af ...

'' (1956), ''

Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend ''Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by Richard L. Bare and starring Randolph Scott, James Craig, Angie Dickinson and James Garner. James Garner, who had a small role, said "it was always fun working with Di ...

'' (1957) with

Randolph Scott George Randolph Scott (January 23, 1898 – March 2, 1987) was an American film actor whose career spanned the years from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in a variety of ...

, '' The Persuader'' (1957), '' The Cyclops'' (1957) for

Bert I. Gordon Bert Ira Gordon (born September 24, 1922) is an American filmmaker and visual effects artist. He is best known for writing and directing science fiction and horror B-movies such as ''King Dinosaur'' (1955), ''The Amazing Colossal Man'' (1957), '' ...

, ''

Naked in the Sun ''Naked in the Sun'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by R. John Hugh and written by John Cresswell. It is based on the 1956 novel ''The Warrior'' by Frank G. Slaughter. The film stars James Craig, Lita Milan, Barton MacLane, Dennis C ...

'' (1957), '' Ghost Diver'' (1957), ''

Man or Gun ''Man or Gun'' is a 1958 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Albert C. Gannaway and written by Vance Skarstedt and James J. Cassity. The film stars Macdonald Carey, Audrey Totter, James Craig (actor), James Craig, James Gleason, ...

'' (1958) and ''

Four Fast Guns ''Four Fast Guns'' is a 1960 American Western film directed by William J. Hole Jr. and written by James Edmiston and Dallas Gaultois. The film stars James Craig, Martha Vickers, Edgar Buchanan, Brett Halsey, Paul Richards and Richard Martin. ...

'' (1960). He guest starred on shows like '' The Millionaire'' (1956), '' Broken Arrow'' (1957), ''

Have Gun – Will Travel ''Have Gun – Will Travel'' is an American Western series that was produced and originally broadcast by CBS on both television and radio from 1957 through 1963. The television version of the series starring Richard Boone was rated number t ...

'' (1958), ''

Colgate Theatre ''Colgate Theatre'' is a 30-minute dramatic television anthology series telecast on NBC during 1949 and 1958 for a total of 50 episodes in two different formats. The first edition, a live television anthology, was telecast on Monday nights from J ...

'' (1958), ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American old-time radio and television anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program ...

'' (1960), and ''

Tales of Wells Fargo ''Tales of Wells Fargo'' is an American Western television series starring Dale Robertson that ran from 1957 to 1962 on NBC. Produced by Revue Productions, the series aired in a half-hour format until its final season, when it expanded to ...

'' (1962).

B films

Craig went to Japan for ''

The Revenge of Doctor X ''Venus Flytrap'' (also known as ''Body of the Prey'' (working title)) is a 1970 American-Japanese science fiction horror film shot partly in Japan. It was distributed by the Toei Company of Japan. The film was released in Japan as ''Akuma no Niwa ...

'' (1967), also known as ''Venus Flytrap''. He had support roles in ''

Hostile Guns ''Hostile Guns'' is a 1967 Western starring George Montgomery, Tab Hunter and Yvonne de Carlo. Plot Cast * George Montgomery as Sheriff Gid McCool *Tab Hunter as Mike Reno *Yvonne De Carlo as Laura Mannon *Brian Donlevy as Marshal Willett * ...

'' (1967), ''

Fort Utah Fort Utah (also known as Fort Provo) was the original white settlement at Provo, Utah, United States, and was established March 12, 1849. The original settlers were President John S. Higbee and about 30 families or 150 persons that were sent fr ...

'' (1967) and ''

Arizona Bushwhackers ''Arizona Bushwhackers'' is a 1968 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and starring Howard Keel, Yvonne de Carlo, John Ireland, Marilyn Maxwell, Scott Brady and Brian Donlevy.Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...

'', ''

Custer George Armstrong Custer (December 5, 1839 – June 25, 1876) was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the American Indian Wars. Custer graduated from West Point in 1861 at the bottom of his class, b ...

'', and '' The Virginian'' Craig could also be seen in '' The Devil's Brigade'' (1968), '' If He Hollers, Let Him Go!'' (1968), ''

Bigfoot Bigfoot, also commonly referred to as Sasquatch, is a purported ape-like creature said to inhabit the forest of North America. Many dubious articles have been offered in attempts to prove the existence of Bigfoot, including anecdotal claims o ...

'' (1970), and ''

The Tormentors ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1971). Both his last film and television performance came in 1972: he played Dr. Hainer in the sci-fi movie '' Doomsday Machine'' and John Rodman on ''

The ABC Afternoon Playbreak ''The ABC Afternoon Playbreak'' is an American television anthology series that was broadcast on ABC from 1973 to 1975. The ninety-minute dramas aired once a month and featured some of the more popular television and film stars of the 1970s ( Dia ...

'' episode "This Child Is Mine".

Personal life

Craig was married to Mary June Ray (from 1939 to 1954), Jil Jarmyn (married 1959, divorced 1963), and Sumie Jassi; each union ended in divorce. Craig's first wife claimed he hit her. In 1963, a judge issued an arrest warrant to Craig for refusing to attend a divorce hearing involving his second wife Jane. He turned himself in and successfully argued for his release. Jane alleged he had broken into their home, beaten her and cut-up her clothes; she also alleged he had a problem with drinking. In 1967 Jane killed her eleven year old son by a previous marriage, then committed suicide. Craig had two sons, Robert and James Jr., and a daughter; one of the sons predeceased him. During his 1954 divorce hearing, Craig revealed he made money from a variety of sources in addition to acting, including race horses, a cafe, a chicken ranch, and carpentry. After retiring from acting in 1972, Craig became a real estate agent.

Death

Craig died of

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma (since about 98–99% of all lung cancers are carcinomas), is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissue (biology), tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas derive from tran ...

at Western Medical Center in Tustin, California, in 1985. He was 74.

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1937) – Waiter (uncredited) * ''

'' (1937) – Soldier (uncredited) * ''

'' (1937) – Bob Tate * '' Born to the West'' (1937) – Brady (uncredited) * '' The Buccaneer'' (1938) – Victory Ball Creole Guest (uncredited) * ''

'' (1938) – Steward (uncredited) * ''

College Swing ''College Swing'', also known as ''Swing, Teacher, Swing'' in the U.K., is a 1938 comedy film directed by Raoul Walsh and starring George Burns, Gracie Allen, Martha Raye, and Bob Hope. The supporting cast features Edward Everett Horton, Ben Bl ...

'' (1938) – Student (uncredited) * '' Pride of the West'' (1938) – Nixon * ''

'' (1939) – Jed Howard * ''

The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt ''The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt'' is a 1939 American adventure film directed by Peter Godfrey and written by Jonathan Latimer. The film stars Warren William and Ida Lupino. The film was released by Columbia Pictures on January 27, 1939. The Lone W ...

'' (1939) – Party Guest (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939, Serial) – John Cummings * ''

'' (1939) – (uncredited) * '' Romance of the Redwoods'' (1939) – Logger (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) – Party Guest (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) – Reporter (uncredited) * '' Missing Daughters'' (1939) – 1st Attendant (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) – Party Guest (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) – Trapper Tennessee * ''

'' (1939) – Jenkins (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) – Juror Watkins * ''

Konga, the Wild Stallion ''Konga, the Wild Stallion'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Sam Nelson and starring Fred Stone, Rochelle Hudson and Richard Fiske. Plot In this drama, a battle has to be fought between rancher Yance Calhoun and farmer Jordan Hadley ...

'' (1939) – Ed (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) – Detective (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939 ''

The Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeared ...

'') – Swindler Driving Car (uncredited) * '' The Taming of the West'' (1939) – Handy Clem – Henchman * ''

'' (1939) – Mann * '' Two-Fisted Rangers'' (1939) – Saloon Gambler (uncredited) * ''

'' (1940) – Rocky (uncredited) * '' Black Friday'' (1940) – Reporter Ernst Gives Notes To (uncredited) * ''

'' (1940) – Brenda's Friend (uncredited) * ''

'' (1940) – Steve Marland * '' Enemy Agent'' (1940) – Federal Agent Posing as Drunk (uncredited) * '' Winners of the West'' (1940, Serial) – Jim Jackson * ''

'' (1940) – Steve Hawley * '' I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now'' (1940) – Ray * '' Seven Sinners'' (1940) – Ensign #1 * ''

Law and Order In modern politics, law and order is the approach focusing on harsher enforcement and penalties as ways to reduce crime. Penalties for perpetrators of disorder may include longer terms of imprisonment, mandatory sentencing, three-strikes laws a ...

'' (1940) – Brant * '' Kitty Foyle'' (1940) – Mark Eisen * ''

'' (1941) – Johnny Kerrigan * ''

'' (1941) – Jabez Stone * ''

'' (1942) – Jonathan Ware * '' Friendly Enemies'' (1942) – Bill Pfeiffer * ''

'' (1942) – Pat Candel * ''

'' (1942) – Frank 'Blackie' Marshall * '' Seven Miles from Alcatraz'' (1942) – Champ Larkin * '' The Human Comedy'' (1943) – Tom Spangler * ''

'' (1943) – 'Breezy' McLaughlin * '' Lost Angel'' (1943) – Mike Regan * ''

'' (1944) – Lloyd X. Hunter * '' Kismet'' (1944) – Caliph * ''

'' (1944) – Capt. Miles Lancing * '' Gentle Annie'' (1944) – Lloyd Richland aka Rich Williams * ''

'' (1945) – Jeff Caighn * ''

'' (1945) – Nels Halverson * ''

'' (1945) – Steve Canfield * ''

'' (1946) – Dan Walker * ''

'' (1947) – Capt. Big Jim Tukker * ''

'' (1947) – Dr. Tommy Coalt * '' The Man from Texas'' (1948) – Tobias Simms, alias Toby Heath * ''

'' (1948) – Dan Bennett * ''

Side Street A side road is a minor highway typically leading off a main road.Main road — definition

'' (1949) – Georgie Garsell * ''

'' (1950) – Chief Frank Westlake, INS * ''

'' (1951) – Delwyn 'Sonny' Johnson * ''

'' (1951) – Maj. Clay Clayburn * '' Hurricane Smith'' (1952) – Gorvahlsen * ''

'' (1953) – Police Lt. Redmon * ''

'' (1955) – Sheriff Pat Garrett * ''

Massacre A massacre is the killing of a large number of people or animals, especially those who are not involved in any fighting or have no way of defending themselves. A massacre is generally considered to be morally unacceptable, especially when per ...

'' (1956) – Teniente Ezparza * ''

'' (1956) – 'Honest' Harry Kritzer * ''

'' (1956) – Capt. Jeb Page * ''

'' (1957) – Ep Clark * '' The Persuader'' (1957) – Bick Justin * '' The Cyclops'' (1957) – Russ Bradford * ''

'' (1957) – Chief Osceola * '' Ghost Diver'' (1957) – Roger Bristol * ''

'' (1958) – Pinch Corley * ''

'' (1960) – Tom Sabin * ''

'' (1967) – Ned Cooper * ''

'' (1967) – Bo Greer * ''

Arizona Bushwhackers ''Arizona Bushwhackers'' is a 1968 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and starring Howard Keel, Yvonne de Carlo, John Ireland, Marilyn Maxwell, Scott Brady and Brian Donlevy.The Devil's Brigade'' (1968) – Major General Knapp * '' If He Hollers, Let Him Go!'' (1968) – Police Chief * ''

'' (1970) – Cyrus * '' The Revenge of Dr. X'' (1970) – Dr. Bragan * ''The Tormentors'' (1971) * '' Doomsday Machine'' (1972) – Dr. Haines (final film role)

Radio appearances

References

External links

"James Craig, Once Billed as 2nd Gable, Dies"
''Los Angeles Times'' obituary, July 9, 1985.

''New York Times'' obituary, July 10, 1985.
"James Craig; Actor Had Clark Gable-type Roles"
''Chicago Tribune'' obituary, July 10, 1985.

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Craig, James 1912 births 1985 deaths American male stage actors American male film actors American male television actors Male actors from Nashville, Tennessee Deaths from lung cancer in California Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Rice University alumni 20th-century American male actors Universal Pictures contract players