James Bell

Who was James Bell?

James Harlee Bell was an American film and stage actor.

Bell was born in Suffolk, Virginia, and attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute. In 1920, he made his theatrical debut as Venustiano in The Bad Man. He worked steadily on Broadway through 1941. His first film role was in I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang in 1932. He appeared in about 150 films and television shows through 1964. Among his television appearances were four guest roles on Perry Mason. In 1958 he played murder victim J.J. Stanley in "The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister," and murderer P.E. Overbrook in "The Case of the Lazy Lover." In 1960 he played murderer Zack Davis in "The Case of the Frantic Flyer," and murder victim Silas Vance in "The Case of the Lavender Lipstick."