Editing James Parrott (section)

===Early years===
'''James Gibbons Parrott''' was born in [[Baltimore]], Maryland, to Charles and Blanche Thompson Parrott. In 1903, his father died from a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]], leaving the family in bad financial shape, which forced them to move in with a relative. Charley Jr. quit school, so he could go to work, in order to support his mother and brother. Eventually the call of the stage beckoned him, and Charley Jr. left home at age 16 to travel the [[vaudeville]] circuit as a [[Singing|singer]] and comedic performer. 

James was forced to leave school at a young age, in order to earn money to support the family. His first job was as a bellboy at the age of 10.Two years later, he was a driver of a horse-drawn carriage. He later became a prop man when his brother Charley was a director at [[Fox Film|Fox]]. 

Later, Charley's connections in the [[film industry]] helped his younger brother to become established in [[Film|movies]], and he would appear during the 1920s in a series of relatively successful [[Comedy film|comedies]] for producer [[Hal Roach]]. He was billed first as "Paul Parrott", then "Jimmie Parrott". Approximately 75 comedies were produced from 1921 to 1923, with titles continuing to be released through [[Pathé]] until 1926. Frequent co-stars included [[Marie Mosquini]], [[Jobyna Ralston]], [[Eddie Baker]], and [[Ernest Morrison|Sunshine Sammy]].

Parrott is probably best known as a comedy director. As "James Parrott", he specialized in the [[Short film|two-reel]] misadventures of [[Laurel and Hardy]], including ''[[Helpmates]]'' (1931) and the [[Academy Awards|Oscar]]-[[Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film|winning]] classic ''[[The Music Box]]'' (1932).