James Cagney sketching
with artist friend John W. Hilton

James Cagney, 1899-1986

from our October 2010
Newsletter
James Cagney black and white portrait midsized Thumbnail
The story of James Cagney

Apart from his huge Hollywood fame, James Cagney had a quieter side. He enjoyed painting and sought out the company of artists, studying and painting with some of Southern California's best .

He claimed in his autobiography that he "may have been happier as a painter than a movie star, if somewhat poorer." Artist Sergei Bongart was one of Cagney's teachers, and came to own two of Cagney's paintings. Cagney never sought public acclaim for his paitings, and considered himself an amateur. He only sold one, and that was for a at a charity auction, and that painting was purchased by Johnny Carson.


Cagney was a regular visitor to the home of famed desert artist, John W. Hilton in Twentynine Palms, were he would relax and paint far from the hubbub of Hollywood life. Cagney owned a desert get away nearby and enjoyed spending time with his neighbor and friend, John Hilton.

Kathi Hilton, John Hilton's daughter, met James Cagney before her father. While living with her divorced mother, Kathi attended High School near Los Angeles. She accepted a birthday party invitation from her friend, Casey Cagney. The party was held aboard James Cagney's yacht, Swift of Ipswich. The yacht was most impressive, and Kathi recalls it as being like a pirate ship.

Several years later, she visited her father who lived in Twentynine Palms. She met her father while his was painting in his studio with his friend and neighbor, James Cagney. John did not know Kathi had met Cagney years earlier, and as John was proudly introducing Kathi to his famous guest, Jimmy interrupted and said while embracing Kathi, "Katy my dear!" The photo above was taken that same day, and show's Cagney sketching while observing John painting.

Kathi Hilton tells another story, this time some years later when she was thirty years old. By this time, she was an emerging artist in her own right. She was preparing for a joint exhibition with her father. She told "Uncle Jimmy" she was concerned that many people would say her work was too close to that of her father. Jimmy took young Kathi under his arm and supportively told her, "Katy my dear, don't you worry about that, you just paint what's in your heart." To this day, Kathi says that's the best advice she's ever received, and holds memories of Jimmy most dear.

James Cagney Self Portrait Sketch

Sketch of John W. Hilton
(from behind and to the left
of the the artist as John Hilton painted at his easel in his Twentynine Palms Studio)

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This painting is offered
from the private collection
of artist Kathi Hilton.