James Harlee Bell (December 1, 1891 – October 26, 1973) was an American film and stage actor who appeared in about 150 films and television shows through 1964. Bell was born in

Suffolk, Virginia Suffolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and as such has no county. As of the 2020 census, the population was 94,324. It is the 9th most populous city in Virginia and the largest city in Virginia by boundary land area a ...

, and graduated from

Virginia Polytechnic Institute Virginia Tech (formally the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and informally VT, or VPI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also has educational facilities in six re ...

in 1911 with a degree in electrical engineering. In 1920, he made his theatrical debut as Venustiano in ''The Bad Man''. He worked steadily on Broadway through 1941. Bell's first film role was in '' I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang'' in 1932. He appeared in the films '' I Walked with a Zombie'' and '' The Leopard Man'', both of which were directed by

Jacques Tourneur Jacques Tourneur (; November 12, 1904 – December 19, 1977) was a French film director known for the classic film noir ''Out of the Past'' and a series of low-budget horror films he made for RKO Studios, including '' Cat People'', ''I Walked w ...

, produced by Val Lewton, and released in 1943. Among his television appearances were four guest roles on the

legal drama A legal drama is a genre of film and television that generally focuses on narratives regarding legal practice and the justice system. The American Film Institute (AFI) defines "courtroom drama" as a genre of film in which a system of justice play ...

series '' Perry Mason''. In 1958, he played murder victim J.J. Stanley in the episode "

The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister This is a list of episodes for ''Perry Mason'', an American legal drama series that aired on CBS television for nine seasons (September 21, 1957 – May 22, 1966). The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles criminal ...

", and murderer P.E. Overbrook in "

The Case of the Lazy Lover This is a list of episodes for ''Perry Mason'', an American legal drama series that aired on CBS television for nine seasons (September 21, 1957 – May 22, 1966). The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles criminal ...

." In 1960, he played murderer Zack Davis in "

The Case of the Frantic Flyer This is a list of episodes for ''Perry Mason'', an American legal drama series that aired on CBS television for nine seasons (September 21, 1957 – May 22, 1966). The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles criminal ...

", and murder victim Silas Vance in "

The Case of the Lavender Lipstick This is a list of episodes for ''Perry Mason'', an American legal drama series that aired on CBS television for nine seasons (September 21, 1957 – May 22, 1966). The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles criminal ...

". That same year, Bell appeared as Dr. Malcolm Allen in the Western TV series '' Laramie'', in the episode " Street of Hate".

Broadway roles

* '' The Bad Man'' (1920) as Venustiano * ''A Free Soul'' (1928) as Bill Wilfong * ''Jarnegan'' (1928) as Jimmy Fallon * ''Your Uncle Dudley'' (1933) as Robert Kirby * ''Thunder on the Left'' (1933) as Martin * '' The Last Mile'' (1930) as Richard Walters * ''Kill That Story'' (1934) as Duke Devlin * ''Tobacco Row'' as Lester

Selected filmography

* '' I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang'' (1932) - Red (uncredited) * '' The Monkey's Paw'' (1933) - Flute Player (uncredited) * '' The King's Vacation'' (1933) - Anderson * '' Infernal Machine'' (1933) - Spencer * '' Private Detective 62'' (1933) - Whitey * '' Storm at Daybreak'' (1933) - Peter (uncredited) * '' Day of Reckoning'' (1933) - Slim * ''

White Woman ''White Woman'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Stuart Walker and starring Carole Lombard, Charles Laughton, and Charles Bickford.''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1931-40'' published by The American Film I ...

'' (1933) - Hambly * ''

Student Tour ''Student Tour'' is a 1934 American musical film directed by Charles Reisner, written by Ralph Spence and Philip Dunne, and starring Jimmy Durante, Charles Butterworth, Maxine Doyle, Phil Regan, Douglas Fowley and Nelson Eddy. It was releas ...

'' (1934) - Indian Fakir (uncredited) * '' The Lives of a Bengal Lancer'' (1935) - Indian Officer (uncredited) * ''

Holiday Inn Holiday Inn is an American chain of hotels based in Atlanta, Georgia. and a brand of IHG Hotels & Resorts. The chain was founded in 1952 by Kemmons Wilson, who opened the first location in Memphis, Tennessee that year. The chain was a division ...

'' (1942) - Dunbar * '' I Walked with a Zombie'' (1943) - Dr. Maxwell * '' The Leopard Man'' (1943) - Dr. Galbraith * '' My Friend Flicka'' (1943) - Gus * '' So Proudly We Hail!'' (1943) - Col. White * '' Gangway for Tomorrow'' (1943) - Tom Burke * ''

I Love a Soldier ''I Love a Soldier'' is a 1944 American drama film directed by Mark Sandrich and written by Allan Scott. The film stars Paulette Goddard, Sonny Tufts, Beulah Bondi, Walter Sande, Mary Treen and Ann Doran. The film was released on August 15 ...

'' (1944) - Williams * '' Thunderhead, Son of Flicka'' (1945) - Gus * '' Blood on the Sun'' (1945) - Charley Sprague * ''

The Girl of the Limberlost ''The Girl of the Limberlost'' is a 1945 American drama film starring Ruth Nelson, Dorinda Clifton, and Loren Tindall, and directed by Mel Ferrer. The film is based on a 1909 novel by Gene Stratton-Porter, which was previously filmed in 1909 as ...

'' (1945) - Wesley Sinton * '' The Spiral Staircase'' (1946) - Constable * '' The Unknown'' (1946) - Edward Martin * ''

Dead Reckoning In navigation, dead reckoning is the process of calculating current position of some moving object by using a previously determined position, or fix, and then incorporating estimates of speed, heading direction, and course over elapsed time. ...

'' (1947) - Father Logan * '' Blind Spot'' (1947) - Det. Lt. Fred Applegate * '' The Sea of Grass'' (1947) - Sam Hall * ''

The Millerson Case ''The Millerson Case'' is a 1947 American mystery drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Warner Baxter, Nancy Saunders and Clem Bevans. In the 8th film of Columbia's '' Crime Doctor'' series, Dr. Robert Ordway (Warner Baxter) i ...

'' (1947) - Ezra Minnich * ''

Brute Force Brute Force or brute force may refer to: Techniques * Brute force method or proof by exhaustion, a method of mathematical proof * Brute-force attack, a cryptanalytic attack * Brute-force search, a computer problem-solving technique People * Brut ...

'' (1947) - Crenshaw - Convict in Print Shop * ''

The Romance of Rosy Ridge ''The Romance of Rosy Ridge'' is a 1947 American Western film directed by Roy Rowland, about a rural community bitterly divided during the aftermath of the American Civil War. It stars Van Johnson, Thomas Mitchell, and Janet Leigh in her film de ...

'' (1947) - John Willhart * ''

Philo Vance's Secret Mission ''Philo Vance's Secret Mission'' is a 1947 American mystery film directed by Reginald Le Borg and starring Alan Curtis, Sheila Ryan and Tala Birell.Backer p.35 It was part of a series of films featuring the detective Philo Vance made during the ...

'' (1947) - Sheriff Harry Madison * ''

Driftwood __NOTOC__ Driftwood is wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach of a sea, lake, or river by the action of winds, tides or waves. In some waterfront areas, driftwood is a major nuisance. However, the driftwood provides shelter and fo ...

'' (1947) - Sheriff Bolton * '' Killer McCoy'' (1947) - Father Patrick Ryan * '' I, Jane Doe'' (1948) - Judge Bertrand * '' Black Eagle'' (1948) - Frank Hayden * ''

Sealed Verdict ''Sealed Verdict'' is a 1948 American adventure drama war film directed by Lewis Allen and starring Ray Milland and Florence Marly. Plot Maj. Robert Lawson (Ray Milland), a lawyer working in Germany as part of the American Army's tribunal for ...

'' (1948) - Mr. Hockland * '' Roughshod'' (1949) - Pa (Ed) Wyatt * '' Streets of Laredo'' (1949) - Ike * '' Dial 1119'' (1950) - Harrison D. Barnes * ''

The Company She Keeps ''The Company She Keeps'' is a 1951 drama film starring Lizabeth Scott, Jane Greer and Dennis O'Keefe. The film was directed by John Cromwell, whose film the previous year, ''Caged'', also concerned a woman sent to prison. It marked Jeff Brid ...

'' (1951) - Mr. Neeley * ''

Buckaroo Sheriff of Texas ''Buckaroo Sheriff of Texas'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Philip Ford and starring Michael Chapin, Eilene Janssen, and James Bell.Pitts p.54 The film's sets were designed by art director Frank Arrigo. Plot Cast * Michael C ...

'' (1951) - Sheriff Tom White * '' The Dakota Kid'' (1951) - Sheriff Tom White * ''

Flying Leathernecks ''Flying Leathernecks'' is a 1951 American Technicolor action war film directed by Nicholas Ray, produced by Edmund Grainger, (who had produced ''Sands of Iwo Jima'') and starring John Wayne and Robert Ryan. The movie details the exploits an ...

'' (1951) - Colonel * ''

Arizona Manhunt ''Arizona Manhunt'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and starring Michael Chapin, Eilene Janssen and James Bell.Drew p.656 The film's sets were designed by the art director Frank Hotaling. Plot Cast * Michael Ch ...

'' (1951) - Sheriff Tom White * '' Red Mountain'' (1951) - Dr. Terry * ''

Japanese War Bride ''Japanese War Bride'' (also known as ''East is East'') is a 1952 drama film directed by King Vidor. The film featured the American debut of Shirley Yamaguchi in the title role. In February 2020, the film was shown at the 70th Berlin Internation ...

'' (1952) - Ed Sterling * ''

Wild Horse Ambush ''Wild Horse Ambush'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and written by William Lively. The film stars Michael Chapin, Eilene Janssen, James Bell, Richard Avonde, Roy Barcroft and Julian Rivero. The film was released ...

'' (1952) - Sheriff Tom White * ''

Ride the Man Down ''Ride the Man Down'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane, written by Mary C. McCall, Jr., and starring Brian Donlevy, Rod Cameron, Ella Raines, Forrest Tucker, Barbara Britton, Chill Wills and J. Carrol Naish. The film was ...

'' (1952) - John Evarts * '' Million Dollar Mermaid'' (1952) - Judge * ''Hannah Lee: An American Primitive'' (1953) - Man at Carousel in Prologue (uncredited) * ''

The Last Posse ''The Last Posse'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring Broderick Crawford, John Derek, Charles Bickford and Wanda Hendrix.Devil's Canyon'' (1953) - Dr. Betts * '' Crime Wave'' (1953) - Daniel O'Keefe * ''

All the Brothers Were Valiant ''All the Brothers Were Valiant'' is a 1953 Technicolor adventure drama film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by Richard Thorpe. The film's screenplay was written by Harry Brown and based on the 1919 novel '' All the Brothers Were Va ...

'' (1953) - Aaron Burnham * '' The Glenn Miller Story'' (1954) - Mr. Burger * '' Riding Shotgun'' (1954) - Doc Winkler * ''

About Mrs. Leslie ''About Mrs. Leslie'' is a 1954 American drama film directed by Daniel Mann and starring Shirley Booth and Robert Ryan. It was nominated for a BAFTA Award in 1955. Plot Vivien Leslie, a Beverly Hills, California rooming house owner, reminisces i ...

'' (1954) - Mr. Herbert Poole * '' Black Tuesday'' (1954) - John Norris * ''

Strategic Air Command Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile ...

'' (1955) - Rev. Dr. Thorne * '' Marty'' (1955) - Mr. Snyder (uncredited) * ''

Lay That Rifle Down ''Lay That Rifle Down'' is a 1955 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont starring Judy Canova. It was the thirteenth and last in a series of Judy Canova films released by Republic Pictures.Hurst p.233 Plot Judy Canova works in a hotel ...

'' (1955) - Mr. Fetcher * ''

Sincerely Yours Sincerely Yours may refer to: Film * Sincerely Yours (film), ''Sincerely Yours'' (film), a 1955 American romantic music comedy featuring Liberace * ''Sincerely Yours...'', a 1985 Soviet comedy Music * Sincerely Yours (record label), a Swedish rec ...

'' (1955) - Grandfather Hunt * ''

Texas Lady ''Texas Lady'' is a 1955 color American Western film directed by Tim Whelan in his final film before his death in 1957, and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. It stars Claudette Colbert, Barry Sullivan and Ray Collins. The film tells the stor ...

'' (1955) - Cass Gower * ''

A Lawless Street ''A Lawless Street'' is a 1955 American Western film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and starring Randolph Scott and Angela Lansbury. The film is also known as ''The Marshal of Medicine Bend'' in the United States. Plot The marshal of Medicine Bend ...

'' (1955) - Asaph Dean * ''

Tribute to a Bad Man ''Tribute to a Bad Man'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Robert Wise and starring James Cagney about a rancher whose harsh enforcement of frontier justice alienates the woman he loves. It was based on the short story "Hanging's for ...

'' (1956) - L.A. Peterson * '' A Day of Fury'' (1956) - Doc Logan * '' Huk!'' (1956) - Stephen Rogers * ''

The Search for Bridey Murphy ''The Search for Bridey Murphy'' is a 1956 American drama film directed by Noel Langley and starring Teresa Wright, Louis Hayward and Nancy Gates, based on the best-selling book by Morey Bernstein.Indick p.172 It is inspired by the story of Ameri ...

'' (1956) - Hugh Lynn Cayce * '' Four Girls in Town'' (1957) - Walter Conway * '' The Lonely Man'' (1957) - Judge Hart * '' Back from the Dead'' (1957) - Mr. Bradley * '' Johnny Trouble'' (1957) - Reverend Harrington * '' The Tin Star'' (1957) - Judge Thatcher * '' In Love and War'' (1958) - Sidney Lenaine (uncredited) * '' The Trap'' (1959) - Sourdough (uncredited) * '' The Oregon Trail'' (1959) - Jeremiah Cooper * ''

-30- -30- has been traditionally used by journalists in North America to indicate the end of a story or article that is submitted for editing and typesetting. It is commonly employed when writing on deadline and sending bits of the story at a time, v ...

'' (1959) - Ben Quinn * ''

Posse from Hell ''Posse from Hell'' is a 1961 American Western film directed by Herbert Coleman and starring Audie Murphy and John Saxon. Plot In 1880 four escapees from death row, Crip, Leo, Chunk, and Hash ride into the town of Paradise and enter the Roseb ...

'' (1961) - Benson * ''

Claudelle Inglish ''Claudelle Inglish'' is a 1961 American film directed by Gordon Douglas and based on the 1958 novel by Erskine Caldwell. It stars Diane McBain and Arthur Kennedy. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1962 for Best Costume Design (Howard S ...

'' (1961) - Josh * ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...

'' (1962, Episode: "The Jury") - Hjalmer Olson * '' The Virginian'' (1963 episode "To Make This Place Remember") - Dr. David T. Harvey * '' Twilight of Honor'' (1963) - Charles Crispin * '' Where Love Has Gone'' (1964) - Judge - Divorce Court (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

* * * Bell, Joyce Arling
Pumpernickel and champagne : a biography of James Harllee Bell
Kents Store, Va.: J.A. Bell, 1973. Print. {{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, James 1891 births 1973 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male stage actors Virginia Tech alumni Actors from Virginia