James Bacon (May 12, 1914 – September 18, 2010) was an American author and journalist who also worked as an actor in film and television. He wrote historical accounts of his years observing Hollywood and a biography of Jackie Gleason.
Life and career Bacon was born in Buffalo, New York. He attended the University of Notre Dame from 1933–1936, dropping out during his senior year in order to help his parents, who had recently lost their home in a flood. He earned his degree in journalism in 1943 from Syracuse University and then served in the Navy. After leaving the Associated Press in 1966, he wrote briefly for The Hollywood Reporter and then for 17 years for The Los Angeles Herald-Examiner.L.A. Confidential, page 2, Notre Dame Magazine Online – University of Notre Dame He had published a weekly column in Beverly Hills magazine since 1996.
Although a columnist by trade, Bacon appeared in numerous films, generally in walk-on cameos, often as reporters or newsmen. He appeared in all five films in the 'Planet of the Apes' series, becoming the only actor to do so. He portrayed an ape in each of the films with the exception of Escape from the Planet of the Apes, in which he played a human, General Faulkner. This was the only film of the 'Ape' series in which he was credited.
Bacon penned three books in the 1970s and 1980s. His first book, Hollywood is a Four Letter Town, was published in 1977. Its sequel, Made in Hollywood, was published in 1978.L.A. Confidential, by Robert Cubbage, Notre Dame Magazine Online – University of Notre Dame The Canton Repository, Canton, Stark County & Northeast Ohio News, Community Events & Classifieds
Bacon wrote a biography of Jackie Gleason, which was published in 1985, entitled How Sweet It Is: The Jackie Gleason Story. In 1999, Bacon was the subject of an E! True Hollywood Story episode. Bacon received star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 6, 2007.
Death Bacon died in his sleep from congestive heart failure on September 18, 2010, aged 96.New York Daily News obituary (with photo)
Selected filmography
Black Tuesday (1954) .... Reporter at Electrocution (uncredited) The Boss (1956) .... Himself (uncredited) Teacher's Pet (1958) .... Himself (uncredited) Al Capone (1959) .... Reporter (uncredited) The Big Circus (1959) .... Himself - Reporter (uncredited) The Rebel (1960, TV Series) .... Dude Pay or Die (1960) .... Subway Guard (uncredited) College Confidential (1960) .... Himself - Reporter The Roaring 20's (1960, TV Series) .... Jim Pepe (1960) .... Bartender (uncredited) Cry for Happy (1961) .... Press Correspondent (uncredited) Underworld U.S.A. (1961) .... Newspaperman (uncredited) The Big Bankroll (1961) .... Investment Man (uncredited) The Oscar (1966) .... Reporter (uncredited) Way... Way Out (1966) .... Reporter (uncredited) Planet of the Apes (1968) .... Ape (uncredited) The Big Valley (1969, TV Series) .... Hotel Clerk 80 Steps to Jonah (1969) .... Hobo Skullduggery (1970) .... Commentator Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) .... Ape (uncredited) Men From Shiloh, the rebranded name of The Virginian (1970, TV Series) ... 2nd Reporter Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) .... General Faulkner The Seven Minutes (1971) .... Reporter (as Jim Bacon) Adam-12 (1971, TV Series) .... Newsman Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) .... Ape (uncredited) Night Gallery (1972, TV Series) .... Reporter Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) .... Gorilla Soldier (uncredited) Sssssss (1973) .... Spectator (uncredited) The Outfit (1973) .... Bookie Planet Earth (1974, TV Movie) .... Partha How to Seduce a Woman (1974) .... Himself Half a House (1975) .... Jordan's client Tunnel Vision (1976) .... Gene Scallion The Last Hard Men (1976) .... Deputy Jetfore High Velocity (1976) .... Monroe The Legend of Frank Woods (1977) .... Cowboy Viva Knievel! (1977) .... Reporter (uncredited) Rollercoaster (1977) .... Reporter (uncredited) The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977) .... Himself (as Jim Bacon) Capricorn One (1977) .... Reporter Number 4 Mean Dog Blues (1978) .... Court Clerk Sextette (1978) .... Reporter Good Guys Wear Black (1978) .... Senator The One Man Jury (1978) .... Reporter South by Southwest (1978, TV Series) .... Reporter Cat in the Cage (1978) .... Police Captain Meteor (1979) .... News Reporter The Man with Bogart's Face (1980) .... Reporter Underground Aces (1981) .... Businessman #2 Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981) .... Reporter at Clinic The Longshot (1986) .... Track Usher Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter (1986) .... Vet (final film role)
References
External links
Notre Dame Magazine Spring 2003 Issue