James Stephenson

For other people named James Stephenson, see James Stephenson (disambiguation).

James Stephenson
in the trailer for The Letter (1940)
Born	James Albert Stephenson (1889-04-14)14 April 1889 Selby, North Yorkshire, England, UK
Died	Pacific Palisades, California. U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1937–1941
Spouse(s)	Lorna Anderson Stephenson

James Albert Stephenson (14 April 1889 – 29 July 1941) was a British actor. The son of chemist and druggist John G. Stephenson, and his wife, Emma, Stephenson grew up in the West Riding of Yorkshire and Burnley, Lancashire, with his brothers, Alan and Norman. He became a bank clerk and later had a career as a merchant. In the 1930s, he emigrated to the United States and took U.S. nationality in 1938.

Career

British stage actor Stephenson made his film debut in 1937 at the age of 48 initially with parts in four films. Warner Brothers signed him the following year, and he began playing urbane villains and disgraced gentlemen. His big break came when director William Wyler cast him, in spite of studio resistance, in The Letter (1940), opposite Bette Davis.

He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for that role. Later that year, he played the title role in Calling Philo Vance; and in 1941 he was first-billed in Shining Victory, in which he played the character of Dr. Paul Venner. Just as Stephenson's acting career was starting to rise, he died of a heart attack at the age of 52. His wife was Lorna Anderson Stephenson.

Selected filmography

• The Man Who Made Diamonds (1937)
• You Live and Learn (1937)
• Wanted by Scotland Yard (1937)
• Mr. Satan (1938)
• White Banners (1938)
• When Were You Born (1938)
• Nancy Drew... Detective (1938)
• King of the Underworld (1939)
• On Trial (1939)
• Devil's Island (1939)
• Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
• Sons of Liberty (1939)
• Beau Geste (1939)
• The Old Maid (1939)
• Secret Service of the Air (1939)
• Espionage Agent (1939)
• The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)
• We Are Not Alone (1939)
• Calling Philo Vance (1940)
• Murder in the Air (1940)
• The Sea Hawk (1940)
• A Dispatch from Reuter's (1940)
• River's End (1940)
• South of Suez (1940)
• The Letter (1940)
• Shining Victory (1941)

External links

• James Stephenson at the Internet Movie Database
• James Stephenson at AllMovie
• James Stephenson at Find a Grave