James Bacon

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James Bacon
Born	May 12, 1914 (1914-05-12) (age 94) Buffalo, New York
Occupation	Film, television actor, journalist
Years active	1954 – 1986

James Bacon (born May 12, 1914) is an American journalist.

Bacon 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.^[1]

Although a columnist by trade, Bacon appeared in numerous films, generally in walk-on cameos. For example, Bacon 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. The first book, Hollywood is a Four Letter Town, was published in 1977; its sequel, Made in Hollywood, in 1978. Of note in these books were his close friendships with, among others, Jackie Gleason, Humphrey Bogart, Bob Hope, Milton Berle, and Desi Arnaz. Bacon also discusses his brief affair with Marylin Monroe.^[2]^[3]

Bacon also wrote a biography on Jackie Gleason, which was published in 1985, titled, How Sweet It Is: The Jackie Gleason Story.

In 1999, Bacon was the subject of an E! True Hollywood Story episode.

He received star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 2007-04-06.^[4]

[edit] Filmography

Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter (1986) .... Vet
The Longshot (1986) .... Track Usher
The Day the Bubble Burst (1982) (TV)
The Patricia Neal Story (1981) (TV) .... Reporter
- ... aka An Act of Love: The Patricia Neal Story
Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981) .... Reporter at Clinic
Underground Aces (1981) .... Bussinessman #2
More Wild Wild West (1980) (TV) .... The Wheelman
The Man with Bogart's Face (1980) .... Reporter
- ... aka Sam Marlowe, Private Eye
Meteor (1979) .... News Reporter
Half a House (1979) .... Jordan's client
- ... aka House Divided (USA)
Flying High .... Reporter (1 episode, 1978)
South by Southwest (1978) TV episode .... Reporter
The One Man Jury (1978) .... Reporter
- ... aka Dead on Arrival
Good Guys Wear Black (1978) .... Senator
Capricorn One (1978) .... Reporter #4
Mean Dog Blues (1978) .... Court Clerk
Sextette (1978) .... Reporter
Cat in the Cage (1978) .... Police Captain
The Legend of Frank Woods (1977) .... Cowboy
High Velocity (1976) .... Monroe
The Last Hard Men (1976) .... Deputy Jetfore
Tunnel Vision (1976) .... Gene Scallion
- ... aka Tunnelvision
Planet Earth (1974) (TV) .... Partha
The Outfit (1973) .... Bookie
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) (uncredited) .... Ape
- ... aka Colonization of the Planet of the Apes
Night Gallery .... Reporter (1 episode, 1972)
- ... aka Rod Serling's Night Gallery (USA)
The Ring with the Red Velvet Ropes (1972) TV episode .... Reporter
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) (uncredited) .... Ape
Adam-12 .... Newsman / ... (2 episodes, 1971)
The Ferret (1971) TV episode .... William Spence
Log 76: The Militants (1971) TV episode .... Newsman
The Seven Minutes (1971) (as Jim Bacon) .... Reporter
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) .... General Faulkner
The Virginian.... 2nd Reporter (1 episode, 1970)
- ... aka The Men from Shiloh (USA: new title)
- With Love, Bullets and Valentines (1970) TV episode .... 2nd Reporter
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) (uncredited) .... Ape
Skullduggery (1970) .... Commentator
80 Steps to Jonah (1969) .... Hobo
The Big Valley .... Hotel Clerk (1 episode, 1969)
- The 25 Graves of Midas (1969) TV episode .... Hotel Clerk
Planet of the Apes (1968) (uncredited) .... Ape
- ... aka Monkey Planet
Way... Way Out (1966) (uncredited) .... Reporter
Underworld U.S.A. (1961) (uncredited) .... Newspaperman
Cry for Happy (1961) (uncredited) .... Press Correspondent
Pepe (1960) (uncredited) .... Bartender
The Roaring 20's .... Jim (1 episode, 1960)
- Bold Edition (1960) TV episode .... Jim
Pay or Die (1960) (uncredited) .... Subway Guard
The Rebel .... Dude (1 episode, 1960)
- He's Only a Boy (1960) TV episode (as Jim Bacon) .... Dude
Al Capone (1959) (uncredited) .... Reporter
Black Tuesday (1954) (uncredited) .... Reporter at Electrocution