GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN - JAMES FINLAYSON: THE LAD FROM LARBERT

Since the advent of cinema, many well-known actors have faded from the public eye due to the changes reflected in popular culture and the passing of time. Today, we are going to take a look at the life and career of one of these actors, James Finlayson, by chronicling his journey through the entertainment industry. Please enjoy.





Full name: James Henderson Finlayson / Occupation: Actor / Born: August 27, 1887, in Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland / Died: October 9, 1953, in Los Angeles, California, USA (aged 66) / Years active: 1910 to 1951

What do we know about his life before he started his career? James was brought up in a small town in Scotland by his father, Alexander Finlayson, who was a blacksmith with his own iron foundry, and his mother, Isabella Finlayson, who was a housewife and an occasional shopworker. The two of them had seven children together and lived most of their lives in Larbert (now a town in Falkirk). When he came of age, James was employed by his father to be a tinsmith at his iron foundry. But after a while, he disliked working there (see below for a possible explanation 👇) and decided to study for a business qualification at Edinburgh University.

How did he start his career? While attending Edinburgh University, James met and befriended the actor, John Clyde, who inspired him to quit his studies and start acting on stage. He initially found work playing small parts in venues across Scotland, like the Theatre Royal in Edinburgh, before joining a local repertory company and appearing in plays. But by 1911, James, along with his brother, Robert (again, see below for a possible explanation 👇), left Scotland and traveled to America because James managed to hone his acting abilities and was soon hired to perform in plays, most notably, the Broadway production of the play, 'Bunty Pulls the Strings', written by Graham Moffat. This led him to stay in America and embark on a nationwide tour in vaudeville, which after four to five years, resulted in him going to California and beginning his career in film.

What happened next? James arrived in California in 1916, and for the next several years he found work acting in silent films produced by L-KO, Thomas Ince, and then, Mack Sennett. But despite his moderate success, working alongside the likes of the Keystone Kops and Ben Turpin, James never became a popular household name until his contract with Mack Sennett ended (circa 1922) and he started working for Hal Roach. Hal, who was one of Mack Sennett's main rivals, hired James to star in films with such comedians as Snub Pollard, Charley Chase, and famously, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. In fact, his films with Laurel and Hardy became so popular, that he appeared in thirty-three of their films, including 'Pardon Us' (1931), 'Our Relations' (1936), and 'Way Out West' (1937), predominantly playing antagonistic characters, authority figures, or any other type of supporting role. James continued to play supporting roles throughout the remainder of his career, in films such as 'Foreign Correspondent' (1940) and 'Royal Wedding' (1951).

What was he best known for? Where his appearance was concerned, James was generally known for his bald head and his bushy mustache (which some say was fake). In terms of his behavior, though, he typically played animated individuals who'd convey a number of trademark comedic mannerisms, consisting of his squint, his outraged double-take reactions, his flustered demeanor, and his characteristic exclamation, 'D'ooooooh!'.

Was he married? Yes, in 1919, James married an American lady from Winneshiek County, Iowa, named Emily Cora Gilbert, and by all accounts, they stayed together until James's untimely death. They never sired any children and Emily eventually passed away in September, 1981, at the age of 82.

How did he pass away? Due to ill health, James retired from acting in 1951, but to keep up to date with what was going on in the film industry, some mornings he'd talk and have breakfast with the English actress, Stephanie Insall. One morning, however, he didn't show up for their regular rendezvous, so Stephanie went to his home to see what had happened to him, only to then discover his lifeless body. He died from a heart attack the night before. He was 66 years old.

Additional information:

• Some people have said that the main reason James stopped working at his father's iron foundry was because he lost two toes on his left foot while he was there.
• His younger brother, Robert Finlayson, went to America with James and became a camera technician.
• Not only did he work with Laurel and Hardy before they became an official double act, but during their rise to stardom, James was also considered to join their team and become a permanent third member.
• A plaque erected by the Scottish Film Council honoring his legacy was displayed in Bo'ness Library as part of the HippFest 2019 silent film festival.
• According to the popular voice actor, Dan Castellaneta, James's trademark expression, 'D'ooooooh!', inspired him to utter a similar phrase for the character, Homer Simpson, who regularly appears in the popular animated TV show, 'The Simpsons'. Although, in Dan's case, he articulates the phrase faster.

So, there you have it, folks, a quick look at the life and career of the actor, James Finlayson. Out of curiosity, have you seen any of the films James starred in? And if you have, which one is your favorite and why? Either way, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.