Screen great James Francis Cagney, Jr. (1899–1986) was born on this day in the gritty Lower East Side of New York City. Raised in poverty, he followed in his father’s footsteps, learning to box with streetwise fierceness.

“He was the embodiment of big-city scrappiness, a mean-streets survivor who got ahead on a good grin, good moves, and better hustle,” wrote Richard Lacayo.

After performing in vaudeville and on Broadway as a singer and dancer, the 5'8" powerhouse broke into film in 1931. That same year, his gangster role in The Public Enemy became legendary for the iconic grapefruit-in-the-face moment with Mae Clarke.

“Frankly, I always felt I was doing what was fashionable at the moment,” Cagney said. “I was giving them what they wanted but trying to keep it pleasant, at least for me.”

Between 1930 and 1941, he starred in 38 films, ultimately winning an Oscar for his electrifying portrayal of George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942).

Will Rogers once quipped, “Every time I see him work, it looks to me like a bunch of firecrackers going off all at once.”

A talent of endless range, Cagney also wrote poetry, played classical guitar, and painted. Contrary to Hollywood myth, he never said “you dirty rat” in any of his movies. His timeless advice on acting? “Plant your feet, look them in the eye, and tell the truth.”