Jimmy Hawkins (born November 13, 1941) is an American former actor, producer and writer. He is best-known for his TV roles in shows like Annie Oakley, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Leave It to Beaver, Petticoat Junction, and The Donna Reed Show; and as Tommy Bailey, son of George Bailey in the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life.
Early life Born on November 13, 1941 in Los Angeles, California,Goldrup, Tom; Goldrup, Jim (2002). Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Classic Film and Television. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 113. . "Jimmy Hawkins was born on November 13, 1941 in Los Angeles, California. He states, 'My grandfather, Rudy Unholtz [sic], was one of the original Keystone Cops. My mom was raised around studios and always wanted her kids in the picture business. So I just naturally followed in my brother Tim's footsteps. We would always go on interviews together. If they said, 'We need somebody a little older,' she would bring my brother in, and if they needed somebody younger, they's bring me in." Hawkins was the middle child of three born to Elizabeth K., née Unholz, and Thomas J. Hawkins,"United States, Census, 1950", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XG9-BRWV : Tue Mar 18 02:44:15 UTC 2025), Entry for Thomas J Hawkins and Elizabeth K Hawkins, April 8, 1950. and the grandson of German-born prizefighter and onetime Keystone Cop, Rudy Unholz.Angus, Howard (June 15, 1916). "UNHOLZ TAKES FINAL COUNT; Famous Little Lightweight Loses His Last; Checkered Career Ended by Long Sickness; Game Fighter has Lengthy String of Victories". The Los Angeles Times. p. . Retrieved May 7, 2025. "Rudy Unholz died at 8:30 o'clock last night at his residence, No. 1664 Glendale Avenue. [...] He was 34 years of age. [...] He was born at Mannhelm-on-the-Rhine, Germany, October 5, 1881. [...] He boxed all of the best lightweights until his fatal match with Stanley Yoakum in Boise, Idaho, in October of 1912. Yoakum hit Unholz in the throat and the Boer took the count. After that his throat hurt him and a cough began. [...] It was his bout with Ad Wolgast in 1914 that first told Rudy the truth. Wolgast knocked him out in the second round, or rather Rudy dropped from sheer weakness. He came West and tried farming and later joined the Keystone Moving Picture Company." Each of Hawkins' siblings—Thomas Jr., the eldest, and Susan, the youngest—was also a child actor of film and/or television, the former billed as either Tim, Timmy, or Timmie,"Timmy Hawkins Filmography". AFI Catalog. and the latter as either Susan or Susie.Terrace, Vincent (2024). Experimental Television, Test Films, Pilots and Trial Series, 1925 through 1995; Seven Decades of Small Screen Almosts. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 85. . "370. Carolyn Pilot, (Comedy), 30 min., NBC, 8/7/56. Carolyn Daniels is an actress who becomes the guardian to three children after the death of her best friend. Her efforts to raise the children (Elizabeth, Candy and Buster) was to be the focal point of the series. Cast: Celeste Holm (Carolyn Daniels), Patricia Morrow (Elizabeth), Susan Hawkins (Candy), Jimmy Hawkins (Buster), Parley Baer (Smattering, the butler)." See also: Hawkins attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, participating in sports activities, and he was a leader of the Junior Achievement group in Burbank.
In addition to Hawkins's acting, he made personal appearances that featured his roping and trick riding.
Personal life Hawkins is the author of five books about the film It's a Wonderful Life, served on The Jimmy Stewart Museum Advisory Board, and for 20 years served on the board of directors of the Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts.
In celebration of the Frank Capra film, Hawkins and other cast members appear annually at the "It's A Wonderful Life Festival" in Seneca Falls, New York, the town thought to be the inspiration for the movie's setting of Bedford Falls.
Filmography (selection) It's a Wonderful Life (1946) as Tommy Bailey The Ruggles (1949–1952) (TV series, 137 episodes) as Donald Ruggles Annie Oakley (1954–1957) (TV series, 81 episodes) as Tagg Oakley Dennis The Menace (1961) (TV series) (Season 2 Episode 33: "Dennis' Newspaper") as Chuck Long Leave It to Beaver (1961) (TV series) (Season 4 Episode 25: "Wally and Dudley") as Dudley McMillan Bringing Up Buddy (1961) (TV series, 3 episodes) (Season 1 Episode 17: "The Education of Nicky Marlo") as Fennimore (Season 1 Episode 24: "Buddy and Fennimore") as Fennimore Cooper (Season 1 Episode 34: "Buddy and the Teenager") Ichabod and Me (1961–1962) (TV series, 11 episodes) as Jonathan Baylor Zotz! (1962) as Jimmy Kellgore Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1962) (Season 7 Episode 15: "The Door Without a Key") as Dewey Sims My Three Sons (1963) (TV series) (Season 3 Episode 26: "High on the Hog") as George (Season 4 Episode 4: "Dear Robbie") as John Carter The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1962–1964) (TV series, 6 episodes) as Jimmy The Fugitive (1963) (TV series) (Season 1 Episode 8: "See Hollywood and Die") as Carl Emery Girl Happy (1965) as Doc The Donna Reed Show (1958–1965) (TV series, 20 episodes) Petticoat Junction (1963–1967) (TV series, 9 episodes) Spinout (1966) as Larry Gidget (1966) (TV series) (Season 1 Episode 19: "Gidget's Career") as Paul
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