James Murray was an American actor who is best known for “The Crowd,” “Heroes for Sale,” and “The Big City.” Born on February 9, 1901, in New York City, he had a brief but impactful career in silent films.
Personal and Family Life
James Murray, nicknamed Jimmy, was born in the Bronx and had a brother, Harry Murray, who was also an actor in silent films. James was married twice; his first marriage was to Lucille McNarre, and he later married Marion Sayers, although this marriage ended in divorce after only a few months. He had a niece or nephew named Sean Murray, who continued the family legacy in acting.
Career
Murray’s journey to Hollywood began when he traveled 3,000 miles after appearing in “The Pilgrims” in 1924. He had a breakout role in “The Crowd” (1928), where his performance as John Sims received critical acclaim but also took a toll on him emotionally. Despite several notable roles following “The Crowd,” he struggled with the pressures of fame and turned to alcohol.
Death and Legacy
James Murray tragically drowned on July 11, 1936, in New York City, at the young age of 35. His death was a result of either jumping or falling off a pier, and it left a profound impact on director King Vidor, who once worked with him. Vidor was inspired to write a script based on Murray’s tragic life, but the project never materialized.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Crowd | 1928-03-03 | John ‘Johnny’ Sims |
| Heroes for Sale | 1933-06-17 | Blind Soldier |
| Air Hostess | 1933-01-15 | Ted Hunter |
| Frisco Jenny | 1933-01-14 | Dan McAllister |
| Central Airport | 1933-04-15 | Eddie Hughes |
| The Shakedown | 1929-03-09 | Dave Roberts |
| High Gear | 1933-03-21 | Mark ‘High Gear’ Sherrod |
| Bright Lights | 1930-09-21 | Connie Lamont |
| The Reckoning | 1932-02-15 | Terry |
| Rose Marie | 1936-01-31 | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| The Rampant Age | 1930-01-15 | Sandy Benton |
| Thunder | 1929-07-08 | Tommy |
| The Big City | 1928-03-23 | Curly |
| Kick In | 1931-05-22 | Benny LaMarr |
| San Francisco | 1936-06-26 | Earthquake Survivor (uncredited) |
| In Old Kentucky | 1927-11-20 | Jimmy Brierly |
| Shanghai Lady | 1929-11-17 | ‘Badlands’ McKinney |
| Ship Cafe | 1935-11-09 | Gerald (uncredited) |
| Rose-Marie | 1928-02-11 | Jim Kenyon |
| Hide-Out | 1930-03-30 | Jimmy Dorgan |
| The Lovelorn | 1927-12-17 | |
| In Line of Duty | 1931-11-28 | Cpl. Sherwood |
| The Drunkard | 1935-04-03 | Edward Middleton |
| The Little Wildcat | 1928-12-08 | Conrad Burton |
| Hold ‘er Sheriff | 1931-06-07 | Jimmy Dalton |
| Trapped | 1931-10-28 | Jimmy Dare |
| Baby Face | 1933-07-13 | Brakeman (uncredited) |