James Bernard Fagan, the son of Sir John Fagan, a renowned consulting surgeon at the Belfast Royal Hospital, embarked on an illustrious career that spanned multiple creative fields. Initially, he pursued acting, making his stage debut on October 13, 1895, but he soon redirected his talents towards writing for the theatre in 1899.
Fagan's writing career flourished, and he premiered his first play, "The Rebels," a work that would later be adapted into films and find a permanent home in the IMDb filmography. Two of his plays, including "The Rebels," would even be released posthumously. In addition to his writing, Fagan was a prolific producer, working extensively in England and, in 1927, writing, producing, and starring in "And So to Bed" at the prestigious Shubert Theatre in New York City.
Fagan's Hollywood career began in 1929 with a film adaptation of his play, "The Wheel of Life" (1929). He is perhaps most famous for his adaptation of the highly successful "Smilin' Through" (1932),starring the legendary Norma Shearer. Fagan was married twice, first to Elizabeth Kirby, with whom he eventually divorced, and then to Mary Grey, with whom he had two sons.
