Trivia

On Christmas in 1935, Dunn fulfilled Shirley Temple's wish that Santa Claus visit her house by airplane, delivering presents to her via parachute.

In 1937, Dunn, an avid and accomplished pilot who owned his own plane, helped federal agents by flying them and their prisoner to New Orleans. He returned to Los Angeles before the studio executives knew he had even gone.

Dunn's mother, Jessie, took control of his finances throughout most of his early career, saving his money and investing it in real estate, stocks and bonds. She turned most of his assets over to him when he married Frances Gifford. However, as an extra security measure, she had established a trust fund for him which he would not be able to access until he turned 50. At that time, he would be eligible to receive a substantial monthly income, for the remainder of his life.

Despite his personal problems, Dunn was well liked by co-workers and others who knew him well. He was invariably described as having a very friendly, modest and good natured personality. Elia Kazan remarked "..he was an awfully sweet, nice man...When I met him I said 'this is it, this is Johnny Nolan, himself'.".

During the filming of Hold Me Tight, he offered to take the place of an extra, who had suddenly become ill, thereby assuring the man would receive his day's wages of $7.50.

Although he was very grateful for having won the Oscar, he later believed it to be a jinx, stating that after his wife, Edna had removed it from the mantel and hid it, his employment opportunities began to pick up.

Appeared on a postage stamp (with Anne Revere) commemorating winners of the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

After leaving his father's brokerage firm, Dunn worked as a lunch wagon salesman. He earned $10,000.00 within three months, but lost it all in the stock market within four weeks.

He suffered a multiple rib separation injury when caught off guard during a fight scene, during the filming of Society Girl.

In 1936, Dunn participated in the Ruth Chatterton Air Derby; the course of the race spanned from Cleveland to Los Angeles.

In 1951, Dunn filed for bankruptcy, which was in part due to the fact that he had invested a large amount of money in a Broadway show that flopped.

James Dunn played Shirley Temple's father in so many movies, a lot of 1930's moviegoers thought he really was her father.

Following a traditional funeral service, his remains were cremated and the ashes were scattered at sea.

In 1933, he was engaged to actress Lona Andre. She cancelled the wedding at the last minute, fearing marriage would hurt her career.

Son of a stockbroker.

Stepson named William Pick from marriage to Edna Rush.