James Kevin McGuinness

James Kevin McGuinness (December 20, 1894 – December 4, 1950) was an American screenwriter and film producer. He provided testimony to the House Un-American Activities Committee which led to the Hollywood blacklist in 1947.

McGuinness was born on December 20, 1894, in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland,[ 1] and immigrated to New York in 1904.[citation needed ]

McGuinness was one of the earliest editors and contributors at The New Yorker magazine; in the March 14, 1925, issue, he profiled the boxer Jack Dempsey and continued to contribute pieces (nonfiction, fiction, and poetry) until 1927.[ 2] He relocated to Los Angeles in the late 1920s, at the dawn of the "talkies" era, and thereafter worked in the film industry as a writer and producer.[citation needed ] He wrote for 36 films between 1927 and 1950.[citation needed ] He eventually became chief supervisor and executive producer at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[citation needed ]

In 1947, along with fellow screenwriter Jack Moffitt, he testified against others suspected of Communist leanings in Hollywood for hearings associated with the House Un-American Activities Committee, which led to the Hollywood blacklist.[ 1] [ 3]

McGuiness died in New York on December 4, 1950, from a heart ailment.[ 4]