James Barton

Biography

James Barton (November 1, 1890 - February 19, 1962) was an American vaudevillian and a character actor in films and television. Born into a theatrical family in Gloucester City, New Jersey, Barton began performing in minstrel shows and burlesque houses throughout the country in 1898. His years of experience working with African American performers led to his becoming one of the first jazz dancers in America. After working with repertory companies in the South and Midwest, he made his Broadway debut in the musical revue The Passing Show of 1919 in a role originally intended for Ed Wynn. He frequently was the highlight in mediocre productions, and a critic for the Daily News noted, "Whenever the book failed him, he shuffled into one or more of his eccentric dances." Additional theatre credits include Sweet and Low, Tobacco Road, The Iceman Cometh, and Paint Your Wagon. Barton's film career began in the silent era. His screen credits include The Time of Your Life, Here Comes the Groom, and The Misfits. On television he appeared in The Ford Television Theatre, Lux Video Theatre, Studio One, The Kaiser Aluminum Hour, Playhouse 90, Kraft Television Theatre, The Rifleman, Adventures in Paradise, and Naked City. Barton died of a heart attack in Mineola, New York. Bing Crosby considered James Barton to be one his ten favorite performers of all time, alongside names such as Al Jolson, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland and Nat King Cole. Description above from the Wikipedia article James Barton (vaudevillian), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

The Rifleman

Naked City

Naked City

Naked City

Studio One

The Ed Sullivan Show

Adventures in Paradise

Letter to Loretta

All Movies (18)

• The Misfits1961 · as Fletcher's grandfather
• Quantez1957 · as Minstrel
• The Naked Hills1956 · as Jimmo McCann
• Kraft Television Theatre: Alice in Wonderland1954 · as The Mock Turtle
• The Foggy, Foggy Dew1952 · as The Stranger
• Golden Girl1951 · as John Crabtree
• Here Comes the Groom1951 · as William 'Pa' Jones
• The Scarf1951 · as Ezra Thompson
• The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady1950 · as Dennis O'Grady
• Wabash Avenue1950 · as Harrigan
• Yellow Sky1948 · as Grandpa
• The Time of Your Life1948 · as Kit Carson
• The Shepherd of the Hills1941 · as Old Matt Matthews
• Hideaway Girl1936 · as Motorcycle Policeman
• Back to Nature1936 · as Motorcycle Officer
• His Family Tree1935 · as Patrick Murphy
• Captain Hurricane1935 · as Capt. Zenas Henry Brewster
• Helldorado1935 · as Motorcycle Cop

All TV Shows (13)

• The Americans1961
• Adventures in Paradise1959 · as Rocky
• New York Confidential1959
• Naked City1958 · as Bo Giles
• The Rifleman1958
• Naked City1958 · as Matty
• Naked City1958 · as Tom Dobbins
• Letter to Loretta1953 · as Ernie Clevenger
• Lux Video Theatre1950 · as The Stranger
• Lux Video Theatre1950 · as Waters
• Lux Video Theatre1950 · as Uncle Ed
• Studio One1948 · as Joe Tinker
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self