James Francis Cagney, Jr., was born July 17, 1904, in New York City. James Cagney began his career as an actor on stage in 1924, and moved to motion pictures in 1931. He was better known as playing a gangster or hoodlum in the movies, but he changed that with his playing an agent in G-Men. Mr. Cagney was accused of being a communist sympathizer during the House on Un-American Activities Committee hearings. He was investigated by Martin Dies and the Dies Committee. He was the victim in extortion attempts and the victim of an impersonation investigation.