James C. Morton
James Carmody Lankton, known professionally as James C. Morton, was an American character actor, specializing in short-tempered judges, police officers and officials. He appeared in more than 180 films between 1922 and 1942, often in "straight man" roles against legendary comedy troupes.
Career
Born in Helena, Montana, Morton is best known to modern audiences as the hapless soul whose toupée was often removed at the most inopportune times. Perhaps the best known example of this embarrassment is in the Three Stooges film Disorder in the Court, in which Larry Fine's violin bow yanks Morton's hairpiece off. The Stooges then misinterpret the toupée as a wild tarantula, leading Moe Howard to grab a pistol from a court bailiff and shoot it.
Another example is in the 1935 Our Gang short Beginner's Luck where Morton is a piano accompanist to the amateur talent in a neighborhood kids' show, and the Rascals—causing all kinds of raucous disarray in the front row—knock off his toupée with a gust of air; Morton turns to them saying, "You kids are beginning to get into my hair!" Morton also appeared as the bartender who provides Oliver Hardy with a wooden mallet to shut up Stan Laurel singing "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" in the film Way Out West.
Morton appeared in many Hal Roach productions, playing supporting roles with Our Gang and Laurel and Hardy, and also played a small role in Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times. Approaching 50 he performed a difficult backwards fall and lifted himself into a headstand using only his neck muscles for the Pitts and Todd 1932 short The Soilers, directed by George Marshall.
On the Los Angeles stage Morton played the title role of Tik-Tok in The Tik-Tok Man of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, Louis F. Gottschalk, Victor Schertzinger and Oliver Morosco.
In the early 1910s Morton appeared in a vaudeville and burlesque duo, Morton & Moore, with actor Frank Moore, playing at the Alhambra Theatre in Harlem and in The Merry Whirl on Broadway.
Death
Morton died of chronic myocarditis on October 24, 1942, in Reseda, California at age 58. He had suffered from the condition for approximately 11 years.
Selected filmography
The Barnstormers Follow the Leader - MickiePack Up Your Troubles - Policeman A Lad an' a Lamp - OfficerThe Devil's Brother - WoodchopperThe Nuisance - Motorist Me and My Pal - Traffic Cop The Midnight Patrol - Policeman House of Mystery - Englishman You're Telling Me! - George Smith - Gossip Sing and Like It - Tied Up Mug Wild Gold - Mine Owner Operator 13 - Secret Service Man Another Wild Idea - Milkman Mike Fright - Mr. Morton - Station ManagerDeath on the Diamond - Husband Tit for Tat - Policeman The Fixer Uppers - Policeman Beginner's Luck - Piano playerNaughty Marietta - Herald Times Square Lady - Bartender Uncivil Warriors - Union General Public Hero ﹟1 - Road House Patron Pardon My Scotch - J.T. WaltonO'Shaughnessy's Boy - Man on Train Who Wants to Sleep Hoi Polloi - Party Guest wearing toupée Hot Off the Press Oh, My Nerves The Payoff - Bartender The Timid Young Man - Helen's Father A Night at the Opera - Opera Spectator Thanks a Million - Frank Slocum Frisco Kid - Minor Role King of Burlesque - Jim - the Bartender Modern Times - Assembly Line Relief Man Ants in the Pantry - Guest w / toupee in piano scene The Bohemian Girl - Constable It Had to Happen - Bartender Song of the Saddle - Settler The Lucky Corner - OfficerDisorder in the Court - Court Clerk Ticket to Paradise - Bartender A Pain in the Pullman - Paul Payne Kelly the Second - Policeman Mike Our Relations - Beer Garden Bartender Two in a Crowd - Policeman Easy to Take - Police Sergeant The Accusing Finger - Bill Poster Arizona Mahoney - Bald-Headed Man She's Dangerous - Lunch Room ProprietorJoin the Marines - Policeman Two Wise Maids - Sergeant AbbotDizzy Doctors - Man on Street Way Out West - Bartender Pick a Star - Bartender Slave Ship - Waiter Rhythm in the Clouds - CopBrothers of the West - Mitchell - Cattleman's Protective Assoc. ChiefFlying Fists - Referee The Lady Escapes - Doorman Public Cowboy No. 1 - Eustace P. QuackenbushThe Shadow Strikes - KellyMerry-Go-Round of 1938 - Waiter The Sitter Downers - Mr. Bell Every Day's a Holiday - Bartender Mama Runs Wild - AdamsInternational Settlement - Bartender International Crime - Radio Listener Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb - Hotel Manager Alexander's Ragtime Band - Bartender at Scarbie's Josette - Bartender Speed to Burn - Bartender City Streets - Drunk Three Missing Links - B.O. Botswaddle Letter of Introduction - Cop at Fire Block-Heads - James - the Porter Straight Place and Show - Bald Man Prairie Moon - Bald Chicago Tenement Man Stablemates - Bartender His Exciting Night - Policeman Secrets of a Nurse - Bartender Up the River - Hap California Frontier - Bartender Hank Kentucky - Bartender Topper Takes a Trip - First Bailiff Three Little Sew and Sews - Admiral H.S. Taylor Four Girls in White - Policeman at Drug Store You Can't Cheat an Honest Man - Judge We Want Our Mummy - Prof. Wilson Sergeant Madden - Fight Announcer Rose of Washington Square - Speakeasy Bartender Tell No Tales - Crowd Control Policeman It Could Happen to You - Detective News Is Made at Night - Bartender Mutiny on the Blackhawk - Ship's Cook Miracles for Sale - Blackie the Electrician When Tomorrow Comes - Bill, the Chef Blackmail - Second Policeman Arresting John The Arizona Kid - Bartender Joe The Housekeeper's Daughter - Policeman Call a Messenger - Policeman Meet Dr. Christian - City Council Member Swanee River - Bartender The Fatal Hour - Policeman Clancy Danger on Wheels - Police Sergeant My Little Chickadee - Train Conductor The Courageous Dr. Christian - BaileyFree, Blonde and 21 - Proprietor Saps at Sea - Lillian Russell - Bartender Those Were the Days! - Conductor I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby - Policeman Bad Man from Red Butte - Baldy Black Diamonds - Joseph Aloysius StaceyWhen the Daltons Rode - Ed Pickett - Juror The Return of Frank James - Liberty Bartender Earl of Puddlestone - Officer BranniganColorado - Stagecoach Station Manager Lucky Devils - Exposition GuardRoad Show - Sheriff Mr. Dynamite - Cop Dutiful But Dumb Lady from Louisiana - LittlefieldWild Geese Calling - MackThe Iron Claw - CaseyBad Man of Deadwood - Store Owner Public Enemies - DetectiveAppointment for Love - Doorman Johnny Eager - Card Player Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case - Conductor Bedtime Story - Conventioneer Pardon My Stripes - Jake A Tragedy at Midnight - Chubby Detective Yokel Boy - Sign PainterButch Minds the Baby - Policeman To the Shores of Tripoli - Bartender Westward Ho - Stagecoach Agent In Old California - Red - Sacramento Bartender Lucky Legs - PatStreet of Chance - Bartender The Boogie Man Will Get You - Trooper Fred Quincy Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood - Al - Police Operator My Heart Belongs to Daddy - Policeman at Intersection Laugh Your Blues Away - Actor Let's Have Fun - Murder in Times Square'' - Policeman