Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Jimmy James

A comedian born in South Bank, Middlesbrough who from the age of seven was brought up in Stockton at Portrack.  He made his stage debut aged 10 at the Stockton Hippodrome and at the age of 12 he had joined 'Casey's Court' a music hall act made up predominately of children. Here he met and made lifelong friends with Charlie Chaplin.

Originally a singer he became a comedian by accident when he had to step in for a comedian who was unable to perform in a show called 'Movie Maid'. He was an instant success and by 1931 he was a national star appearing at the London palladium.  

Playing comic sketches with a number of stooges notably his Stockton born nephew Jackie Casey (who had the stage name Eli Woods), Jimmy was an established name in the world of British entertainment.

Jimmy worked with Eli Woods for 14 years until ill health forced him to retire.

Jimmy is buried at Oxbridge cemetery in Stockton