James Cagney

James Cagney, actor, dancer, painter, was a tough kid off New York's Lower East Side. In Cagney's youth, you made a dollar any way possible and didn't ask a whole lot of questions how-as described by Cagney's own words. The son of a saloon-keeper, Cagney was never at a loss for words or any less quick when his fists were called for in a situation. Cagney's rough exterior was perfect for the gangster films of the 1930's. He first made a name for himself in the film "The Public Enemy" as a ruthless thug. This was the film where Cagney shoved the grapefruit in the face of his moll (Fay Wray) and forever liked himself to tough guys. Cagney went on to star in numerous films (including "Angels With Dirty Faces","The Roaring Twenties", "White Heat" and his Academy Award winning role of George M. Cohan in"Yankee Doodle Dandy")during a career that lasted into the 1960's.