James Dunn

James Dunn, commenting on his relationship with Shirley Temple: "She's a grand baby; sweet, nice, wholesome, never fresh. I think she's swell and one of the things of which I'm most proud is that Shirley thinks I'm all right too."

Dunn worked on the stage, in vaudeville and as an extra in silent movies before he was signed by Fox in 1931. His first movie with Fox was 1931's "Sob Sister" (1931). While at Fox, he appeared with Shirley Temple in her first three features: "Baby, Take a Bow" (1934), "Stand Up and Cheer!" (1934) and "Bright Eyes" (1934, below).

After Temple told cast members of "Bright Eyes" she was going to marry him when she grew up, Dunn said, "That makes it 100%. Up to now Shirley was the only girl in Hollywood to whom at one time or another I hadn't been reported engaged." On Christmas in 1935, Dunn fulfilled Shirley Temple's wish that Santa Claus visit her house by airplane, delivering presents to her via parachute.

In 1935, Fox merged with Twentieth Century and bought out Dunn's contract. His career soon began to wane as he was forced to work freelance. At the same time, Dunn was becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol, earning him a reputation as an erratic, irresponsible performer, further diminishing his employment prospects. His decline from top box office draw to B movie actor was almost as startling as his meteoric rise to fame had been. Nevertheless, he usually managed to keep working, whether it be on stage, in radio, or in low-budget "poverty row films."

In 1945 Dunn was given a second chance at movie stardom when young director, Elia Kazan chose him for the role of Johnny Nolan in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn". His sensitive portrayal of the gentle, alcoholic father earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Happy Birthday, James Dunn!