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.^[3][1]

McGuiness died in New York on December 4, 1950, from a heart attack.^{[citation needed]}

• J. M. (February 28, 1925). "A slogan haunts the bishop". Behind the News. The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 2. p. 4.
• McGuinness, James Kevin (February 28, 1925). "Beginning at the bottom". Behind the News. The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 2. p. 5.
• — (February 28, 1925). "The laud will provide". The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 2. p. 22.
• J. M. (March 7, 1925). "Call 'Beekman 2,000'". Behind the News. The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 3. pp. 2–3.
• McGuinness, James Kevin (March 14, 1925). "A symbol in pugilism". Profiles. The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 4. pp. 15–16. Jack Dempsey.
• — (April 18, 1925). "Modom". The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 9. pp. 7–8.
• — (April 25, 1925). "A process of law". The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 10. p. 7.

• James Kevin McGuinness at IMDb