Quick Facts
Biography
James Harlee Bell (December 1, 1891 – October 26, 1973) was an American film and stage actor.
Bell was born in Suffolk, Virginia, and attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute. In 1920, he made his theatrical debut as Venustiano in The Bad Man. He worked steadily on Broadway through 1941. His first film role was in I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang in 1932. He appeared in about 150 films and television shows through 1964. Among his television appearances were four guest roles on Perry Mason. In 1958 he played murder victim J.J. Stanley in "The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister," and murderer P.E. Overbrook in "The Case of the Lazy Lover." In 1960 he played murderer Zack Davis in "The Case of the Frantic Flyer," and murder victim Silas Vance in "The Case of the Lavender Lipstick." He was married to Joyce Arling.
Broadway roles
- The Bad Man (1920) as Venustiano
- A Free Soul (1928) as Bill Wilfong
- Jarnegan (1928) as Jimmy Fallon
- Your Uncle Dudley (1933) as Robert Kirby
- The Last Mile (1930) as Richard Walters
- Kill That Story (1934) as Duke Devlin
- Tobacco Row () as Lester
Partial filmography
- The King's Vacation (1933)
- Infernal Machine (1933)
- Private Detective 62 (1933)
- Day of Reckoning (1933)
- Holiday Inn (1942)
- The Leopard Man (1943)
- Gangway for Tomorrow (1943)
- Blood on the Sun (1945)
- My Friend Flicka (1943)
- Thunderhead, Son of Flicka (1945)
- Blind Spot (1947)
- Killer McCoy (1947)
- Sealed Verdict (1948)
- Streets of Laredo (1949)
- The Dakota Kid (1951)
- Japanese War Bride (1952)
- Riding Shotgun (1955)
- Texas Lady (1955)
- Lay That Rifle Down (1955)
- A Lawless Street (1955)
- Tribute to a Bad Man (1956)
- -30- (1959)
- Posse from Hell (1961)
- Twilight of Honor (1963)
