James T. Murray (February 9, 1901 â€" July 11, 1936) was an American
film actor best known for starring in the 1928 film The Crowd.Born in
The Bronx, Murray was the second of seven children of Mary (née
Casserly) and Christopher Murray. His mother was a native of Ireland,
as was his father, who by 1910 was employed in New York as an
insurance inspector for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.In
1923, Murray made his film debut as Captain John Alden in the
Pilgrims, a three-reel production shot at Yale University in New
Haven, Connecticut and surrounding area locations. In 1924, Murray
moved to Hollywood with hopes of continuing an acting career. Over the
next three years, Murray found film work, mostly as an extra. In 1927,
Murray got his break when he was "discovered" by director King Vidor
who was then in pre-production for his next film, The Crowd. Vidor saw
Murray walking near the casting office on the M-G-M lot and thought
Murray looked right for the lead role. Murray, however, failed to show
up for a meeting arranged by Vidor, apparently thinking the
prospective offer was a joke. Vidor tracked Murray down and eventually
cast him as “the ordinary man as hero†John Sims. Upon its
premiere in March 1928, The Crowd was a critical and financial success
and Murray's performance was lauded by both the critics and the
public. Shortly before working in Vidor's production, Murray also
starred alongside Joan Crawford in Rose-Marie, released in February
1928.
film actor best known for starring in the 1928 film The Crowd.Born in
The Bronx, Murray was the second of seven children of Mary (née
Casserly) and Christopher Murray. His mother was a native of Ireland,
as was his father, who by 1910 was employed in New York as an
insurance inspector for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.In
1923, Murray made his film debut as Captain John Alden in the
Pilgrims, a three-reel production shot at Yale University in New
Haven, Connecticut and surrounding area locations. In 1924, Murray
moved to Hollywood with hopes of continuing an acting career. Over the
next three years, Murray found film work, mostly as an extra. In 1927,
Murray got his break when he was "discovered" by director King Vidor
who was then in pre-production for his next film, The Crowd. Vidor saw
Murray walking near the casting office on the M-G-M lot and thought
Murray looked right for the lead role. Murray, however, failed to show
up for a meeting arranged by Vidor, apparently thinking the
prospective offer was a joke. Vidor tracked Murray down and eventually
cast him as “the ordinary man as hero†John Sims. Upon its
premiere in March 1928, The Crowd was a critical and financial success
and Murray's performance was lauded by both the critics and the
public. Shortly before working in Vidor's production, Murray also
starred alongside Joan Crawford in Rose-Marie, released in February
1928.
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