James Cagney was an actor best known for playing “tough guys” in films. He was born July 17, 1899, New York City's Lower East Side, second of five children.  Cagney attended Columbia University School of Fine Arts,  and began appearing in plays put on by  Lenox Hill Settlement House. He married  Frances "Billie" Vernoned in 1921, and the marriage lasted 65 years. They adopted two children in 1940. 

Cagney toured in vaudeville, had parts in dramas and in musicals, and gradually worked his way up to starring roles. His fifth film for Warner's was The Public Enemy (1931). Cagney became, and stayed, one of studio's top stars for over 20 years.  He made films for MGM, Paramount, andnUniversal in the 1950s and retired from acting in 1961. He returned to the screen in 1981's Ragtime. James Cagney died on March 30, 1986.