James W. Horne

Unable to find an actor he thought suitable to play an Arabian Riff chieftain in the Laurel & Hardy comedy Beau Hunks (1931), he played the part himself.

Best remembered for his direction of Charley Chase, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy comedies for Hal Roach, Horne helmed a single "Our Gang" feature, When the Wind Blows (1930). One of the children in the cast would have been Horne's son-in-law, had he lived: In 1944, two years after his death, Horne's daughter June Horne married Jackie Cooper.

Director of Big Business (1929), one of the first 100 films selected by the Library of Congress for the National Film Registry.

Joined Hal Roach Studios in 1928, directing his first film there the following year--Big Business (1929), which is regarded as a silent classic. He left Roach in 1932, returning in 1935 and the following year directed the Laurel & Hardy classic Way Out West (1937).

He worked at a number of studios in the early 1920s and directed Buster Keaton's successful 'College' in 1927 before arriving at Hal Roach studios in 1928 where the following year he directed Laurel and Hardy's 'Big Business'and the following year their sound film 'Chickens Come Home' In 1931 he directed 5 of their films including 'Beau Hunks' and not being able to find an actor to play an Arabian Riff played the part himself. While Hal Roach had other directors working on the English language versions of Stan and Ollie's films he preferred Janes to work on the German, French and Spanish versions.

Twin children: June Horne and James Horne Jr. (b. 28 March 1917).