James Bernard Fagan was born the son of Sir John Fagan, consulting surgeon to the Belfast Royal Hospital. Though he started his career as an actor, debuting on 13 October 1895, he changed direction in 1899, when he turned to writing for the theatre and premiered his first play, "The Rebels". Many of his plays were later made into films and are so noted in the IMDb filmography, two of them appearing posthumously. In addition to writing, he produced extensively in England and, in 1927, wrote, produced, and appeared in "And So to Bed" at the Shubert Theatre in New York City. His Hollywood career began in 1929 with a film version of his play, The Wheel of Life (1929). He is perhaps best known for his adaptation of the highly successful, Smilin' Through (1932), starring Norma Shearer. His first marriage to Elizabeth Kirby ended in divorce. He was survived by his second wife, Mary Grey, and two sons.

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James B. Fagan

Writer