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J.M. Kerrigan

J.M. Kerrigan

Actor, also writer · Died April 29, 1964, aged 79 · Dublin, Ireland

Joseph Michael Kerrigan (16 December 1884 – 29 April 1964), better known as J.M. Kerrigan, was an Irish character actor. Kerrigan was born in Dublin, Ireland. He worked as a newspaper reporter until 1907 when he joined the famous Abbey Players. There he became a stalwart, appearing in plays by Lady Gregory, William Butler Yeats and John Millington Synge (for whom he played the role of Shawn Keogh in The Playboy of the Western World. His first screen appearance was in the silent film Food of Love in 1916. By the 1920s he was appearing on Broadway, often in plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, and Sheridan. He settled permanently in Hollywood in 1935, having been recruited along with several other Abbey performers, to appear in John Ford's The Informer. In that film and in Ford's The Long Voyage Home, he plays similar roles, that of a leech who attaches himself to men until they run out of money. Perhaps his best known role was in The General Died at Dawn, where he plays a character actually named Leach, in which he steals scenes from Gary Cooper, Madeleine Carroll and William Frawley. In it he plays a sinister little petty thief who, holding a gun on Cooper, says, "I may be fat, but I'm agile." He had little screen time in films which he starred as minor roles, such as the "First Drayman" in Merely Mary Ann (1931) with Janet Gaynor. One of his most recognizable minor roles was in Gone with the Wind (1939), in which he played John Gallegher, the seemly jovial mill owner who whips his convict labour in to "co-operation". He appeared in Walt Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), the famous film version of Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea in a minor role at the beginning of the film. In 1946, he tried breaking into Broadway shows, playing the discombobulated leprechaun Jackeen J. O'Malley in the show "Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley", based on the Crockett Johnson comic strip. J. M. Kerrigan died in Hollywood on 29 April 1964, aged 79. Kerrigan has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6621 Hollywood Blvd.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 16, 1884
Died
April 29, 1964 (aged 79)
From
Dublin, Ireland
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
44 on MovieCove · 103 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 22% in 30 days

What are J.M. Kerrigan's films like?

Across their 23 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
28%
Morality
26%
Self
15%
Survival
15%
Power
9%
Ideas
4%
Society
3%
Romantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 12 · Intense 7

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 14 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 13 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 10 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 22 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Dread
7
Romantic
8
Melancholic
7
Warm
6
Other
16

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch J.M. Kerrigan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 44 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for J.M. Kerrigan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

103 credits, 44 with a MovieCove page.

  • Shirley Temple's Storybook(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Pickles

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Fastest Gun Alive(1956)

    as Kevin McGovern

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • It's a Dog's Life(1955)

    as Paddy Corbin

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Frontier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea(1954)

    as Billy

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Thomas J. Flaherty

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Silver Whip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Riley

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Dennis Malloy · as Jimmy

  • My Cousin Rachel(1952)

    as Reverend Pascoe

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Park Row(1952)

    as Dan O'Rourke

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Wild North(1952)

    as Callahan

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Two of a Kind(1951)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Sealed Cargo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Skipper Ben

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Makery

  • Mrs. Mike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Uncle John

  • The Fighting O'Flynn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Timothy

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Pether Flynn

  • The Luck of the Irish(1948)

    Writer · as Tatie the Innkeeper

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Call Northside 777(1948)

    as Sullivan - Court Bailiff (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Abie's Irish Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Patrick Murphy

  • Black Beauty(1946)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • She Went to the Races (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Jeff Habbard

  • The Spanish Main(1945)

    as Pillery Gow

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Crime Doctor's Warning(1945)

    as Robert MacPherson (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Great John L. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Father O'Malley

  • Tarzan and the Amazons(1945)

    as Splivens

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Big Bonanza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as 'Judge' Jasper Kincaid

  • Wilson(1944)

    as Edward Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Fighting Seabees(1944)

    as Sawyer Collins

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Mr. Lucky(1943)

    as Mr. McDougal (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Action in the North Atlantic(1943)

    as Caviar Jinks (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Captains of the Clouds(1942)

    as Foster

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Vanishing Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as John Phelps

  • The Wolf Man(1941)

    as Charles Conliffe

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Appointment for Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Timothy

  • The Long Voyage Home(1940)

    as Crimp

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • No Time for Comedy(1940)

    as Jim

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Sea Hawk(1940)

    as Eli Matson

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • One Crowded Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Brother 'Doc' Joseph

  • Untamed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mr. Angus McGavity

  • Curtain Call (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mr. Middleton

  • Young Tom Edison(1940)

    as Mr. McCarney

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Congo Maisie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Captain Finch

  • Gone with the Wind(1939)

    as Johnny Gallagher

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Two Thoroughbreds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Jack Lenihan

  • Sabotage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mel

  • The Witness Vanishes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Flinters

  • Two Bright Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mike Casey

  • 6,000 Enemies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Dan Barrett

  • The Zero Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Timothy

  • Sorority House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Lew Fisher

  • Union Pacific(1939)

    as Monahan

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Undercover Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Tom 'Pop' Madison

  • The Kid from Texas(1939)

    as Farr

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Flying Irishman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mr. Clyde Corrigan Sr.

  • The Great Man Votes(1939)

    as Hot Shot Gillings

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Ride a Crooked Mile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Sgt. Flynn

  • Little Orphan Annie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Tom Jennings

  • Spring Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Mr. Maloney (uncredited)

  • Vacation from Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Danny Dolan, Hansom Cabbie

  • The Barrier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Sgt. Thomas

  • London by Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Tims

  • Motor Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Henry John 'Cap' McNeil

  • The Plough and the Stars(1936)

    as Uncle Peter

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Lloyd's of London(1936)

    as Brook Watson

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The General Died at Dawn(1936)

    as Leach

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Let's Make a Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Sam Smith

  • Spendthrift (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Pop O'Connell

  • Special Investigator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Judge Plumgate

  • Colleen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Pop Reilly

  • Laughing Irish Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Tim

  • The Prisoner of Shark Island(1936)

    as Judge Maiben

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Timothy's Quest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dr. Cudd

  • Hearts in Bondage(1936)

    as Paddy Callahan

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • A Feather in Her Hat(1935)

    as Pobjoy

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Barbary Coast(1935)

    as Judge Harper

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Hot Tip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Matt

  • Werewolf of London(1935)

    as Hawkins

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Informer(1935)

    as Terry

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Vanessa, Her Love Story(1935)

    as Perkins (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Mystery of Edwin Drood(1935)

    as Chief Verger Tope

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Fountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Shordley

  • The Key (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as O'Duffy

  • A Modern Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Mr. Ryan

  • The Lost Patrol(1934)

    as Quincannon

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Lone Cowboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Mr. Curran

  • Paddy the Next Best Thing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Collins

  • A Study in Scarlet(1933)

    as Jabez Wilson

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Air Hostess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Pop Kearny

  • Rockabye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Fagin

  • Vanity Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Dan - Irish Cop (uncredited)

  • Careless Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Trowbridge

  • The Rainbow Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Paddy Harrigan

  • Merely Mary Ann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as First Drayman

  • The Black Camel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Thomas MacMasters

  • Don't Bet on Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Chipley Duff

  • Under Suspicion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Doyle

  • Lightnin' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Judge Lemuel Townsend

  • New Movietone Follies of 1930 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Gateman in Show

  • Song o' My Heart(1930)

    as Peter

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Lucky In Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Connors

  • Little Old New York(1923)

    as John O'Day

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 102 titles from 1923 to 1958.

Biggest box office

The Wolf Man (1941)

$1.7K worldwide

Highest rated

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)

Midcredits 88th

Film career

Top draw in 1 MovieCove title.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting102 of 102: 102 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score67th

By decade

1920s2 · acting1930s56 · acting1940s29 · acting1950s15 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 22 roles
31364146

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do J.M. Kerrigan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 42; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Midcredits score across 44 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

32 of their 44 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Crowd Pleaser32
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Hearts in Bondage (1936)

58th percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does J.M. Kerrigan work with?

People who share at least 2 of J.M. Kerrigan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Henry Koster shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers