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Russell Simpson

Russell Simpson

Known for: Acting

Born 16/06/1880
Died 1959-12-12
Place of birth Danville, California, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Russell McCaskill Simpson (June 17, 1880, Danville, California – December 12, 1959, Woodland Hills, California) was an American character actor who appeared in over 500 movies. He is best known for his "grizzled old man" appearances. Gaunt, lanky, and rustic-sounding, Simpson was a familiar character actor for almost forty-five years, particularly as a member of the John Ford Stock Company. At age 18 Simpson prospected for gold in Alaska. He began taking acting classes in Seattle, Washington. In 1910 he married Gertrude Alter from New York City. By 1909, he had gone into the theatre. He appeared in at least two plays on Broadway between 1909 and 1912, and made his motion picture debut in Cecil B. DeMille's 1914 original film version of The Virginian in a bit part. By 1923, when the film was remade, Simpson had progressed to playing the lead villain. Throughout his career, Simpson worked for 12 years in road shows, stock companies, and on Broadway. He didn't usually perform lead roles, but he did star in many movies throughout the silent movie era. He performed a lead role as the grandfather in Out of the Dust (1920). Simpson is best known for his work in the films of John Ford and, in particular, for his portrayal of Pa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940). His final film was The Horse Soldiers, his tenth film for Ford. Simpson worked up to 1959, the year of his death. He was the president of the Overseas Phonograph Accessories Corporation.

Filmography

Wagon Train Series ★ 6,6

Wagon Train

Mr. Carr

1957

The Lone Ranger Series ★ 6,8

The Lone Ranger

Jack Brewster

1949

The Texan Series ★ 6,0

The Texan

Zeb Waters

1958

The 20th Century Fox Hour Series ★ 6,0

The 20th Century Fox Hour

Old Man

1955

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok Series ★ 5,3

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

Sam

1951

Public Defender Series ★ 6,3

Public Defender

Lundquist

1954

Cavalcade of America Series ★ 4,6

Cavalcade of America

Quatermaster

1952

Cavalcade of America Series ★ 4,6

Cavalcade of America

1952

Cavalcade of America Series ★ 4,6

Cavalcade of America

Judge Grant

1952

Sergeant Preston of the Yukon Series ★ 6,8

Sergeant Preston of the Yukon

1955

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Film ★ 7,8

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Kenneth Allen (uncredited)

1939

The Grapes of Wrath Film ★ 7,8

The Grapes of Wrath

Pa Joad

1940

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Film ★ 7,1

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Fred Bixby

1954

The Tin Star Film ★ 7,0

The Tin Star

Clem Hall

1957

The Tall Men Film ★ 6,5

The Tall Men

Emigrant (uncredited)

1955

My Darling Clementine Film ★ 7,5

My Darling Clementine

John Simpson

1946

Joan of Arc Film ★ 6,2

Joan of Arc

Old Man with Pipe (uncredited)

1948

Oklahoma! Film ★ 6,6

Oklahoma!

The Minister (uncredited)

1955

The Horse Soldiers Film ★ 6,9

The Horse Soldiers

Henry Goodbody

1959

Friendly Persuasion Film ★ 6,6

Friendly Persuasion

Brother Griffith - Elder (uncredited)

1956

Tall in the Saddle Film ★ 6,6

Tall in the Saddle

Pat Foster (uncredited)

1944

Tap Roots Film ★ 6,9

Tap Roots

Big Sam Dabney

1948

The Barrier Film

The Barrier

John Gaylord / John Tale

1917

Wagon Master Film ★ 6,7

Wagon Master

Adam Perkins

1950

Susan Lenox Film ★ 6,1

Susan Lenox

Doctor

1931

Meet John Doe Film ★ 7,3

Meet John Doe

(uncredited)

1941

Dodge City Film ★ 6,9

Dodge City

Orth

1939

Young Mr. Lincoln Film ★ 7,2

Young Mr. Lincoln

Woolridge (uncredited)

1939

Lovely Mary Film

Lovely Mary

Peter Nelson

1916

The Spoilers Film ★ 6,2

The Spoilers

Flapjack

1942

Santa Fe Trail Film ★ 5,8

Santa Fe Trail

Shubel Morgan

1940

General Electric Theater Series ★ 6,8

General Electric Theater

1953

Broken Lance Film ★ 6,5

Broken Lance

Judge (uncredited)

1954

They Were Expendable Film ★ 6,5

They Were Expendable

'Dad' Knowland

1945

Lone Star Film ★ 5,7

Lone Star

Maynard Cole

1952

Hello Trouble Film ★ 7,0

Hello Trouble

Jonathan Kenyon

1932

San Francisco Film ★ 6,6

San Francisco

'Red' Kelly

1936

Brigham Young Film ★ 4,6

Brigham Young

U.S. Army Major

1940

Along Came Jones Film ★ 5,8

Along Came Jones

Pop de Longpre

1945

Carolina Film ★ 6,7

Carolina

Richards

1934

The Sun Shines Bright Film ★ 6,5

The Sun Shines Bright

Lewt Lake

1953

The Gal Who Took the West Film ★ 6,0

The Gal Who Took the West

Bartender (as old Timer)

1949

The Ghost of Crossbone Canyon Film ★ 9,0

The Ghost of Crossbone Canyon

Sam Stanton

1952

Drums Along the Mohawk Film ★ 6,5

Drums Along the Mohawk

Dr. Petry

1939

Film

Breakers Ahead

Captain Scudder

1918

Snowblind Film ★ 9,0

Snowblind

Hugh Garth

1921

The Lonely Man Film ★ 6,1

The Lonely Man

1957

Swamp Water Film ★ 6,4

Swamp Water

Marty McCord

1941

Film ★ 6,7

Defying Destiny

Mr. Wilkens

1923

Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair Film ★ 6,6

Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair

Clem Johnson

1952

The Outriders Film ★ 7,3

The Outriders

Farmer (uncredited)

1950

The Last Command Film ★ 6,7

The Last Command

The Parson

1955

Desire Film ★ 7,0

Desire

Patrick Ryan

1923

Tobacco Road Film ★ 6,8

Tobacco Road

Chief of Police

1941

Parnell Film ★ 4,6

Parnell

Dead Child's Father

1937

Painted People Film ★ 10,0

Painted People

Fred Lane

1924

Virginia City Film ★ 6,3

Virginia City

Gaylord

1940

Fighting Cressy Film ★ 10,0

Fighting Cressy

Hiram McKinstry

1919

Abraham Lincoln Film ★ 5,5

Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln's Employer

1930

Coroner Creek Film ★ 6,2

Coroner Creek

Walt Hardison

1948

Lahoma Film ★ 10,0

Lahoma

'Brick' Willock

1920

Gold Is Where You Find It Film ★ 7,0

Gold Is Where You Find It

MacKenzie

1938

Call Her Savage Film ★ 5,8

Call Her Savage

Old Man in Wagon Train

1932

Saddle Tramp Film ★ 6,5

Saddle Tramp

Pop

1950

Comin' Round the Mountain Film ★ 6,1

Comin' Round the Mountain

Judge

1951

Death Valley Film ★ 5,7

Death Valley

Old Silas Bagley

1946

Geronimo Film ★ 5,3

Geronimo

Scout

1939

Noisy Neighbors Film ★ 9,0

Noisy Neighbors

Ebenezer

1929

The Girl of the Golden West Film ★ 5,3

The Girl of the Golden West

Fred - Outrider in Prologue

1938

Law and Order Film ★ 5,0

Law and Order

Judge R.W. Williams

1932

Valley of the Giants Film ★ 6,7

Valley of the Giants

McKenzie

1938

Wild Bill Hickok Rides Film ★ 5,5

Wild Bill Hickok Rides

Ned Nolan

1942

Oh, Johnny! Film ★ 8,0

Oh, Johnny!

Adele's Father

1918

Wild Geese Calling Film ★ 6,5

Wild Geese Calling

Marshal Len Baker

1941

The Brand Film

The Brand

Dan McGill

1919

The Eagle Film ★ 6,3

The Eagle

The Eagle's Lieutenant / Coach Driver (uncredited)

1925

Maid of Salem Film ★ 6,2

Maid of Salem

Village Marshal (Uncredited)

1937

The Romance of Rosy Ridge Film ★ 6,7

The Romance of Rosy Ridge

Dan Yeary

1947

Shut My Big Mouth Film ★ 8,3

Shut My Big Mouth

Mayor Potter

1942

Meet Me at the Fair Film ★ 8,5

Meet Me at the Fair

Sheriff Evans

1953

The Lone Star Ranger Film ★ 7,0

The Lone Star Ranger

Colonel John Aldridge

1930

Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge Film ★ 6,7

Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

Bayliss Baynum

1937

Albuquerque Film ★ 6,8

Albuquerque

Abner Huggins

1948

Nazi Agent Film ★ 6,6

Nazi Agent

2nd Captain (uncredited)

1942

Way Down East Film ★ 4,3

Way Down East

Squire Amasa Bartlett

1935

The Narrow Street Film ★ 8,0

The Narrow Street

Garvey

1925

The World Moves On Film ★ 5,9

The World Moves On

Notary (1825)

1934

Sundown in Santa Fe Film ★ 10,0

Sundown in Santa Fe

Sheriff Jim Wyatt

1948

Man Hunt Film ★ 10,0

Man Hunt

Jeff Parkington

1936

Secrets Film ★ 5,2

Secrets

Doctor (uncredited)

1933

Green Light Film ★ 6,7

Green Light

Sheep Man

1937

Film ★ 9,0

Old Shoes

1925

Colt Comrades Film ★ 5,9

Colt Comrades

Sheriff

1943

Three on a Honeymoon Film ★ 7,0

Three on a Honeymoon

Ezra MacDuff

1934

Wild West Days Film ★ 8,0

Wild West Days

Matt Keeler

1937

Mountain Justice Film ★ 6,3

Mountain Justice

Matthew Turnbull

1937

Annie Laurie Film ★ 6,8

Annie Laurie

Sandy

1927

Peg o' My Heart Film ★ 7,3

Peg o' My Heart

Jim O'Connell

1922

A Boy and His Dog Film ★ 5,9

A Boy and His Dog

Mr. Thornycroft

1946

The Social Highwayman Film ★ 8,0

The Social Highwayman

The Mayor's Partner

1926

Bad Bascomb Film ★ 7,3

Bad Bascomb

Elijah Walker

1946

Border Patrol Film ★ 6,2

Border Patrol

Orestes Krebs

1943

Three Faces West Film ★ 5,7

Three Faces West

Minister

1940

Sixteen Fathoms Deep Film ★ 4,0

Sixteen Fathoms Deep

A.B. Crockett

1934

Tennessee Johnson Film ★ 6,4

Tennessee Johnson

Kirby

1942

Riding High Film ★ 5,6

Riding High

Frenchy McGuire

1943

Man to Man Film ★ 6,2

Man to Man

Uncle Cal

1930

The Woman of the Town Film ★ 6,4

The Woman of the Town

Sime

1943

The Branding Iron Film ★ 7,0

The Branding Iron

John Carver

1920

The Untamed Breed Film ★ 6,5

The Untamed Breed

Minister

1948

Bad Men of Missouri Film ★ 6,2

Bad Men of Missouri

Hank Younger

1941

Paddy O'Day Film ★ 7,0

Paddy O'Day

Benton

1936

Feudin' Fools Film ★ 5,5

Feudin' Fools

Grandpa Smith

1952

Under the Lash Film ★ 9,0

Under the Lash

Simeon Krillet

1921

Wyoming Film ★ 6,7

Wyoming

Mr. Bronson

1940

The Frontiersman Film ★ 9,0

The Frontiersman

Andrew Jackson

1927

Motive for Revenge Film ★ 6,3

Motive for Revenge

McAllister

1935

Citadel of Crime Film ★ 9,0

Citadel of Crime

Jess Meekins

1941

Billy the Kid Film ★ 4,7

Billy the Kid

Angus McSween

1930

Flames Film ★ 4,3

Flames

Jake

1932

Godless Men Film ★ 4,0

Godless Men

'Black' Pawl

1920

The Great Meadow Film ★ 6,0

The Great Meadow

Thomas Hall

1931

Blue Jeans Film ★ 5,9

Blue Jeans

Jacob Tutwiler

1917

Film ★ 10,0

The Kingdom Within

Caleb Deming

1922

The Bill of Rights Film ★ 6,5

The Bill of Rights

Frontiersman

1939

Now We're in the Air Film ★ 7,5

Now We're in the Air

Lord Abercrombie McTavish

1927

Texas Masquerade Film ★ 6,5

Texas Masquerade

J.K. Trimble

1944

Girl of the Ozarks Film ★ 6,5

Girl of the Ozarks

Bascomb Rogers

1936

The Brass Legend Film ★ 6,3

The Brass Legend

Deputy 'Pop' Jackson

1956

The Virginian Film ★ 5,6

The Virginian

Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)

1914

Face in the Sky Film ★ 5,8

Face in the Sky

Pa Nathan Brown

1933

Desperate Trails Film ★ 5,7

Desperate Trails

Sheriff Big Bill Tanner

1939

Heart of the North Film ★ 5,2

Heart of the North

Dave MacMillan

1938

The Big Bonanza Film ★ 6,3

The Big Bonanza

Adam Parker

1944

Bowery Buckaroos Film ★ 6,6

Bowery Buckaroos

Luke Barlow

1947

The Huntress Film ★ 8,0

The Huntress

Big Jack Skinner

1923

Beauty and the Bad Man Film ★ 7,0

Beauty and the Bad Man

Chuckwalla Bill

1925

The Cabin in the Cotton Film ★ 6,3

The Cabin in the Cotton

Uncle Joe

1932

Bill Apperson's Boy Film

Bill Apperson's Boy

Bill Apperson

1919

Free For All Film ★ 6,3

Free For All

Farmer

1949

Lena Rivers Film ★ 7,0

Lena Rivers

Grandfather Nichols

1932

Ramona Film ★ 5,8

Ramona

Scroggs

1936

Roughly Speaking Film ★ 6,8

Roughly Speaking

The Colonel - Drill Instructor (uncredited)

1945

Roaring Guns Film ★ 8,0

Roaring Guns

Farmer MacKenzie

1944

Moonlight in Vermont Film ★ 6,5

Moonlight in Vermont

Uncle Rufus

1943

The Earth Woman Film ★ 8,0

The Earth Woman

Ezra Tilden

1926

The Honor of the Press Film ★ 8,0

The Honor of the Press

Dan Perkins

1932

The Deadlier Sex Film ★ 7,5

The Deadlier Sex

Jim Willis

1920

The Famous Ferguson Case Film ★ 6,6

The Famous Ferguson Case

Banker Craig

1932

Film ★ 7,0

The Heart of the Yukon

'Cash' Cynon

1927

Film

The Old Homestead

Sheriff

1915

Paint and Powder Film ★ 7,0

Paint and Powder

Riley

1925

After the Fog Film ★ 8,0

After the Fog

Joshua Barker

1929

My Dog Shep Film ★ 6,3

My Dog Shep

Mathew Hodgkins

1946

Alexander Hamilton Film ★ 4,4

Alexander Hamilton

Harvey Taylor - First Ex-Soldier

1931

The Challenge Accepted Film ★ 8,0

The Challenge Accepted

Uncle Zeke Sawyer

1918

Call of the Klondike Film ★ 7,3

Call of the Klondike

Andy McKay

1950

Film ★ 7,0

Life's Mockery

Wolf Miller

1928

Back to Nature Film ★ 9,0

Back to Nature

Sheriff

1936

The Sap Film ★ 10,0

The Sap

The Banker

1929

The Girl of the Golden West Film ★ 8,0

The Girl of the Golden West

Jack Rance

1923

Rags to Riches Film ★ 10,0

Rags to Riches

The Sheriff

1922

Human Hearts Film ★ 10,0

Human Hearts

Paul Logan

1922

Tuna Clipper Film ★ 7,8

Tuna Clipper

Capt. Fergus MacLennan

1949

Tropical Nights Film ★ 8,0

Tropical Nights

Singapore Joe

1928

The Power and the Glory Film ★ 5,9

The Power and the Glory

Professor (uncredited)

1933

The Fabulous Texan Film ★ 6,5

The Fabulous Texan

Wade Clayton

1947

Wild Geese Film ★ 10,0

Wild Geese

Caleb Gare

1927

West of the Pecos Film ★ 7,0

West of the Pecos

Roy Neal

1934

Innocents of Paris Film ★ 8,0

Innocents of Paris

Emile Leval

1929

The Hoosier Schoolmaster Film ★ 4,3

The Hoosier Schoolmaster

Doc Small

1935

Circus Days Film ★ 7,3

Circus Days

Eben Holt

1923

The First Auto Film ★ 5,8

The First Auto

Hank Armstrong

1927

The Border Legion Film

The Border Legion

Overland Bradley

1918

Silver Dollar Film ★ 6,2

Silver Dollar

Hamlin

1932

Stolen by Gypsies or Beer and Bicycles Film ★ 1,0

Stolen by Gypsies or Beer and Bicycles

Speaker

1933

Thunder Mountain Film ★ 7,0

Thunder Mountain

Si Pace

1925

Faint Perfume Film ★ 7,0

Faint Perfume

Grandpa Crumb

1925

Film ★ 9,0

The Harvester

Abner Prewett

1936

Frontier Marshal Film ★ 7,0

Frontier Marshal

Editor Pickett

1934

California Gold Rush Film ★ 7,5

California Gold Rush

Colonel Parker

1946

My Lady's Past Film ★ 7,0

My Lady's Past

1929

Lone Star Ranger Film ★ 5,3

Lone Star Ranger

Tom Duane

1942

Bunty Pulls the Strings Film ★ 8,0

Bunty Pulls the Strings

Tammas Biggar

1921

Western Caravans Film ★ 7,0

Western Caravans

Winchester Thompson

1939

Last of the Duanes Film ★ 6,5

Last of the Duanes

Tom Duane

1941

Why Women Love Film ★ 9,0

Why Women Love

Silas Martin

1925

Desert Gold Film ★ 9,0

Desert Gold

Ladd

1919

Ever Since Eve Film ★ 9,0

Ever Since Eve

Jim Wood

1934

The Food Gamblers Film

The Food Gamblers

Samuel Sloane

1917

Film ★ 10,0

The Bushranger

Sir Eric

1928

The Blue Bandanna Film

The Blue Bandanna

Jim Yancy

1919

That I May Live Film ★ 7,3

That I May Live

Bish Plivens

1937

The Riding Tornado Film ★ 7,0

The Riding Tornado

Sheriff

1932

The Re-Creation of Brian Kent Film ★ 7,0

The Re-Creation of Brian Kent

Jap Taylor

1925

Across the Dead-Line Film ★ 8,0

Across the Dead-Line

Enoch Kidder

1922

Ridin' for Justice Film ★ 10,0

Ridin' for Justice

Marshal Joseph Slyde

1932

A Weaver of Dreams Film

A Weaver of Dreams

Martin Chandler

1918

Rustlin' for Cupid Film ★ 9,0

Rustlin' for Cupid

Hank Blatchford

1926

The Virginian Film ★ 6,5

The Virginian

Trampas

1923

Paradise Isle Film ★ 6,0

Paradise Isle

Baxter

1937

Lovey Mary Film ★ 8,0

Lovey Mary

Stubbins

1926

All Faces West Film ★ 9,0

All Faces West

Gunner Bill

1929

Riders of the Night Film ★ 7,0

Riders of the Night

Sally's Grandfather

1918

The Splendid Road Film ★ 7,0

The Splendid Road

Capt. Lightfoot

1925

Radio Scout Film

Radio Scout

Pappy Tolliver

1934

Film ★ 7,0

The Uphill Path

James Lawton

1918

Hearts Aflame Film ★ 9,0

Hearts Aflame

Black Joe

1923

Film ★ 5,0

Ship of Souls

Angus Garth

1925