Cause of death Suicide (gunshot) Years active 1944–1954 | Occupation Actor | |
Full Name Albert Paine Cardwell Born November 21, 1921 ( 1921-11-21 ) Camden, New Jersey, U.S. Died 31 January 1954, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States Spouse Esther Borton (m. 1942–1944) Parents Raymond Cardwell, Bessie Cardwell Movies The Fighting Sullivans, He Walked by Night, The Shanghai Cobra, Sweet and Low‑Down, The Return of the Whistler Similar Alfred L Werker, Lloyd Bacon, Alfred Zeisler, Phil Karlson, Archie Mayo | ||
James "Jimmy" Cardwell (born Albert Paine Cardwell; November 21, 1921 – January 31, 1954) was an American actor who appeared in more than twenty Hollywood films in the 1940s.
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Career
Cardwell is probably best known for his debut as George Sullivan in 1944's Oscar-nominated The Fighting Sullivans, based on the true story of five navy brothers who died in action together when their ship was torpedoed in the Pacific Theater during World War II. His other significant roles included the Benny Goodman musical Sweet and Low-Down (1944), the World War II drama A Walk in the Sun (1945), and the police drama He Walked By Night (1948). Reviewing the 1945 Charlie Chan mystery The Shanghai Cobra, the Kentucky New Era remarked that "James Cardwell, a newcomer to the screen, shows himself to be a fine actor as the romantic lead opposite beautiful Joan Barclay." However, he soon found himself consigned to B-movies: 1949's Daughter of the Jungle, in which Cardwell played the male lead opposite Lois Hall, earned the dubious distinction of a listing in the 1978 book The Fifty Worst Films of All Time.
In 1950, Cardwell toured Australia with comedian Joe E. Brown in a production of the play Harvey. He then joined the Colleano Troupe, a variety act, with whom he toured Australia, the UK, and the USA. After returning to the USA he made two guest appearances in the Rod Cameron television series City Detective. However, his movie career had stalled. He made only one further big-screen appearance before his death: a small unbilled role in the 1954 monster film Them!.
Personal life
Cardwell was born Albert Paine Cardwell in Camden, New Jersey, the son of Raymond Cardwell and Bessie McCarroll. In 1942 he married Esther Borton. They divorced two years later. In 1951 he became engaged to Australian model June Crocker, but she ended their relationship after she suffered serious burns in a stage accident. According to author Jeffery P. Dennis, Cardwell subsequently "came out" as gay.
Death
Apparently disheartened by his faltering career and financial difficulties, Cardwell committed suicide by gunshot at the age of 32 in Los Angeles, California on 31 January 1954.