James V. Kern Biography
James V. Kern (September 22, 1909, New York City, New York – November 9, 1966, Encino, California) was an American singer, songwriter, screenwriter, actor, and director.
Educated at the Fordham Law School, Kern worked for a while as an attorney. He sang with the George Olsen Trio, and appeared with the Olsen orchestra in the musical Good News. From 1927 to 1939, he sang with and wrote for the Yacht Club Boys quartet, with whom he appeared in several motion pictures.
He became a screenwriter and later a director. In film, he directed mainly "B" pictures. After he moved to television he directed hundreds of series episodes, and was one of the house directors on I Love Lucy in the 1950s. He directed My Three Sons for most of two seasons in the 1960s. When he died suddenly of a heart attack at age 57, several episodes of the show remained only partially completed for the 1966/67 season; they were completed by director James Sheldon.He joined ASCAP in 1955. His popular-song compositions include "Easy Street," "Lover, Lover," "Little Red Fox," and "Shut the Door."
Filmography
As director
- 1944: The Doughgirls
- 1946: Never Say Goodbye
- 1947: Stallion Road
- 1948: April Showers
- 1950: The Colgate Comedy Hour (television series)
- 1950: The Jack Benny Program (television series)
- 1950: The Second Woman
- 1951: Two Tickets to Broadway
- 1953: Topper (television series)
- 1955: The Millionaire (television series)
- 1956: Lum and Abner Abroad
- 1956: The Gale Storm Show (television series)
- 1956: I Love Lucy (television series)
- 1957: Date with the Angels (television series)
- 1957: Maverick (television series)
- 1958: The Ann Sothern Show (television series)
- 1958: 77 Sunset Strip (television series)
- 1958: The Donna Reed Show (television series)
- 1960: Pete and Gladys (television series)
- 1960: My Three Sons (television series)
- 1961: The Joey Bishop Show (television series)
- 1965: My Favorite Martian (television series)
As writer
- 1939: That's Right – You're Wrong
- 1940: If I Had My Way
- 1940: You'll Find Out
- 1941: Look Who's Laughing
- 1941: Playmates
- 1943: Thank Your Lucky Stars
- 1944: Shine On, Harvest Moon
- 1944: The Doughgirls
- 1945: The Horn Blows at Midnight
- 1946: Never Say Goodbye
As actor
- 1935: Thanks a Million – Member, The Yacht Club Boys (uncredited)
- 1936: The Singing Kid – Member – The Yacht Club Boys (uncredited)
- 1936: Stage Struck – Member – The Yacht Club Boys (uncredited)
- 1937: Artists & Models – Yacht Club Boys Member
- 1937: Thrill of a Lifetime – Jimmie
- 1938: Artists and Models Abroad – Member – The Yacht Club Boys (uncredited) (final film role)
As producer
- 1950: The Jack Benny Program (television series)
- 1956: Lum and Abner Abroad
References
External links
- James V. Kern at IMDb