James Daniel Parnell (October 9, 1923 – December 27, 1961)[2][3] was an American film and television actor.[4]
James Parnell | |
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![]() Parnell (center) with Chris Alcaide and Sherwood Price in Bonanza, 1960 | |
Born | James Daniel Parnell[1] (1923-10-09)October 9, 1923 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
Died | December 27, 1961(1961-12-27) (aged 38) North Hollywood, California, U.S. |
Occupation | Film and television actor |
Years active | 1950–1961 |
Spouse | Velma Lee Parnell[1] |
Children | 1[1] |
Parent | Emory Parnell (father) |
Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the son of Effie and Emory Parnell,[1][5] a vaudeville performer. He had a brother, Charles Parnell.[1] Parnell began his career in 1950, first appearing in the film California Passage, playing the uncredited role of a cowboy. He then appeared in the films Apache Drums, starring Stephen McNally and Coleen Gray and also G.I. Jane, which starred Jean Porter. Parnell had acted in New York, where he was a member of a company for five years of the musical Oklahoma! that was written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein.[1] In his career, Parnell appeared in over 100 films and television programs, including an appearance as "Marv Tremain" in the 1956 film Star in the Dust.[6] He also performed on stage plays.[5]
Parnell appeared in numerous films, such as, Yukon Gold (1952), starring Kirby Grant; War Paint (1953), starring Robert Stack and Joan Taylor; The Yellow Mountain (1954), starring Lex Barker, Mala Powers and Howard Duff; Crime Against Joe (1956), starring John Bromfield; The Delicate Delinquent (1957), starring Jerry Lewis; Hell's Five Hours (1958), again with Stephen McNally; The Walking Target (1960), starring Joan Evans, Merry Anders and Ron Foster and Gun Fight (1961), starring James Brown, Joan Staley and Gregg Palmer.[4][5] His last film credit was from the 1962 film Incident in an Alley, which starred Chris Warfield.[5][7] He also appeared in the television programs, Bonanza, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, 77 Sunset Strip, Tombstone Territory, Mr. Lucky, The Real McCoys, Have Gun, Will Travel and Bat Masterson.[8]
Parnell died in December 1961 in North Hollywood, California, at the age of 38.[1]