James Parnell

James Daniel Parnell (October 9, 1923 – December 27, 1961) was an American actor whose career spanned Broadway, film, and television. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, he was the son of Effie and Emory Parnell, the latter a vaudeville performer, and grew up with a brother named Charles.

Parnell's screen career began in 1950 with an uncredited appearance in California Passage. He subsequently took roles in Apache Drums and G.I. Jane, establishing a presence in Hollywood productions. Over the course of his career he accumulated credits in more than 100 film and television projects, among them Yukon Gold (1952), War Paint (1953), The Yellow Mountain (1954), Crime Against Joe (1956), The Delicate Delinquent (1957), Hell's Five Hours (1958), The Walking Target (1960), and Gun Fight (1961). One of his notable film appearances came in the 1956 feature Star in the Dust, in which he portrayed the character Marv Tremain. His final screen credit was the 1962 film Incident in an Alley, released posthumously.

On the stage, Parnell was a cast member of the New York production of the musical Oklahoma!, a credit dating to 1943, in which he performed for five years. The production represented his primary Broadway association.

Television also formed a significant part of his output. His small-screen appearances included roles on Bonanza, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, 77 Sunset Strip, Tombstone Territory, Mr. Lucky, The Real McCoys, Leave It to Beaver, Have Gun Will Travel, and Bat Masterson.

Parnell died on December 27, 1961, in North Hollywood, California, at the age of 38.