Russell Simpson
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- June 16, 1880
- Died
- December 12, 1959 (aged 79)
- Birthplace
- Danville, California, USA
Biography
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.
Known For
Filmography
The Horse Soldiers
Movie · as Henry Goodbody
The Texan
TV · as Zeb Waters · 1 ep
The Tin Star
Movie · as Clem Hall
The Lonely Man
Movie
Wagon Train
TV · as Mr. Carr · 1 ep
Friendly Persuasion
Movie · as Brother Griffith - Elder (uncredited)
The Brass Legend
Movie · as Deputy 'Pop' Jackson
The Last Command
Movie · as The Parson
The Tall Men
Movie · as Emigrant (uncredited)
Oklahoma!
Movie · as The Minister (uncredited)
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
TV · 1 ep
The 20th Century Fox Hour
TV · as Old Man · 1 ep
Broken Lance
Movie · as Judge (uncredited)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Movie · as Fred Bixby
Public Defender
TV · as Lundquist · 1 ep
The Sun Shines Bright
Movie · as Lewt Lake
Meet Me at the Fair
Movie · as Sheriff Evans
General Electric Theater
TV · 1 ep
Feudin' Fools
Movie · as Grandpa Smith
Lone Star
Movie · as Maynard Cole
The Ghost of Crossbone Canyon
Movie · as Sam Stanton
Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair
Movie · as Clem Johnson
Cavalcade of America
TV · as Quatermaster, Judge Grant · 1 ep
Comin' Round the Mountain
Movie · as Judge
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
TV · as Sam · 1 ep
Wagon Master
Movie · as Adam Perkins
Saddle Tramp
Movie · as Pop
Call of the Klondike
Movie · as Andy McKay
The Outriders
Movie · as Farmer (uncredited)
Tuna Clipper
Movie · as Capt. Fergus MacLennan
Free For All
Movie · as Farmer
The Gal Who Took the West
Movie · as Bartender (as old Timer)
The Lone Ranger
TV · as Jack Brewster · 1 ep
Coroner Creek
Movie · as Walt Hardison
Joan of Arc
Movie · as Old Man with Pipe (uncredited)
Sundown in Santa Fe
Movie · as Sheriff Jim Wyatt
The Untamed Breed
Movie · as Minister
Albuquerque
Movie · as Abner Huggins
Tap Roots
Movie · as Big Sam Dabney
The Fabulous Texan
Movie · as Wade Clayton
Bowery Buckaroos
Movie · as Luke Barlow
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
Movie · as Dan Yeary
My Darling Clementine
Movie · as John Simpson
Death Valley
Movie · as Old Silas Bagley
Bad Bascomb
Movie · as Elijah Walker
California Gold Rush
Movie · as Colonel Parker
My Dog Shep
Movie · as Mathew Hodgkins
A Boy and His Dog
Movie · as Mr. Thornycroft
Along Came Jones
Movie · as Pop de Longpre
Roughly Speaking
Movie · as The Colonel - Drill Instructor (uncredited)
They Were Expendable
Movie · as 'Dad' Knowland
The Big Bonanza
Movie · as Adam Parker
Texas Masquerade
Movie · as J.K. Trimble
Roaring Guns
Movie · as Farmer MacKenzie
Tall in the Saddle
Movie · as Pat Foster (uncredited)
Border Patrol
Movie · as Orestes Krebs
The Woman of the Town
Movie · as Sime
Colt Comrades
Movie · as Sheriff
Riding High
Movie · as Frenchy McGuire
Moonlight in Vermont
Movie · as Uncle Rufus
Nazi Agent
Movie · as 2nd Captain (uncredited)
Shut My Big Mouth
Movie · as Mayor Potter
Lone Star Ranger
Movie · as Tom Duane
Wild Bill Hickok Rides
Movie · as Ned Nolan
The Spoilers
Movie · as Flapjack
Tennessee Johnson
Movie · as Kirby
Tobacco Road
Movie · as Chief of Police
Wild Geese Calling
Movie · as Marshal Len Baker
Last of the Duanes
Movie · as Tom Duane
Citadel of Crime
Movie · as Jess Meekins
Swamp Water
Movie · as Marty McCord
Meet John Doe
Movie · as (uncredited)
Bad Men of Missouri
Movie · as Hank Younger
The Grapes of Wrath
Movie · as Pa Joad
Santa Fe Trail
Movie · as Shubel Morgan
Virginia City
Movie · as Gaylord
Wyoming
Movie · as Mr. Bronson
Brigham Young
Movie · as U.S. Army Major
Three Faces West
Movie · as Minister
Dodge City
Movie · as Orth
Young Mr. Lincoln
Movie · as Woolridge (uncredited)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Movie · as Kenneth Allen (uncredited)
Drums Along the Mohawk
Movie · as Dr. Petry
Western Caravans
Movie · as Winchester Thompson
Desperate Trails
Movie · as Sheriff Big Bill Tanner
Geronimo
Movie · as Scout
The Bill of Rights
Movie · as Frontiersman
The Girl of the Golden West
Movie · as Fred - Outrider in Prologue
Gold Is Where You Find It
Movie · as MacKenzie
Heart of the North
Movie · as Dave MacMillan
Valley of the Giants
Movie · as McKenzie
Paradise Isle
Movie · as Baxter
That I May Live
Movie · as Bish Plivens
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
Movie · as Bayliss Baynum
Mountain Justice
Movie · as Matthew Turnbull
Wild West Days
Movie · as Matt Keeler
Green Light
Movie · as Sheep Man
Maid of Salem
Movie · as Village Marshal (Uncredited)
Parnell
Movie · as Dead Child's Father
Ramona
Movie · as Scroggs
The Harvester
Movie · as Abner Prewett
Paddy O'Day
Movie · as Benton
Man Hunt
Movie · as Jeff Parkington
San Francisco
Movie · as 'Red' Kelly
Back to Nature
Movie · as Sheriff
Girl of the Ozarks
Movie · as Bascomb Rogers
The Hoosier Schoolmaster
Movie · as Doc Small
Motive for Revenge
Movie · as McAllister
Way Down East
Movie · as Squire Amasa Bartlett
Carolina
Movie · as Richards
Ever Since Eve
Movie · as Jim Wood
Frontier Marshal
Movie · as Editor Pickett
West of the Pecos
Movie · as Roy Neal
Three on a Honeymoon
Movie · as Ezra MacDuff
The World Moves On
Movie · as Notary (1825)
Sixteen Fathoms Deep
Movie · as A.B. Crockett
Radio Scout
Movie · as Pappy Tolliver
The Power and the Glory
Movie · as Professor (uncredited)
Face in the Sky
Movie · as Pa Nathan Brown
Stolen by Gypsies or Beer and Bicycles
Movie · as Speaker
Secrets
Movie · as Doctor (uncredited)
Hello Trouble
Movie · as Jonathan Kenyon
Silver Dollar
Movie · as Hamlin
Law and Order
Movie · as Judge R.W. Williams
Lena Rivers
Movie · as Grandfather Nichols
The Cabin in the Cotton
Movie · as Uncle Joe
The Honor of the Press
Movie · as Dan Perkins
The Famous Ferguson Case
Movie · as Banker Craig
Call Her Savage
Movie · as Old Man in Wagon Train
Ridin' for Justice
Movie · as Marshal Joseph Slyde
The Riding Tornado
Movie · as Sheriff
Flames
Movie · as Jake
The Great Meadow
Movie · as Thomas Hall
Susan Lenox
Movie · as Doctor
Alexander Hamilton
Movie · as Harvey Taylor - First Ex-Soldier
Billy the Kid
Movie · as Angus McSween
Man to Man
Movie · as Uncle Cal
Abraham Lincoln
Movie · as Lincoln's Employer
The Lone Star Ranger
Movie · as Colonel John Aldridge
After the Fog
Movie · as Joshua Barker
Innocents of Paris
Movie · as Emile Leval
The Sap
Movie · as The Banker
My Lady's Past
Movie
All Faces West
Movie · as Gunner Bill
Noisy Neighbors
Movie · as Ebenezer
Tropical Nights
Movie · as Singapore Joe
The Bushranger
Movie · as Sir Eric
Life's Mockery
Movie · as Wolf Miller
Now We're in the Air
Movie · as Lord Abercrombie McTavish
The First Auto
Movie · as Hank Armstrong
The Frontiersman
Movie · as Andrew Jackson
Annie Laurie
Movie · as Sandy
Wild Geese
Movie · as Caleb Gare
The Heart of the Yukon
Movie · as 'Cash' Cynon
The Earth Woman
Movie · as Ezra Tilden
Rustlin' for Cupid
Movie · as Hank Blatchford
Lovey Mary
Movie · as Stubbins
The Social Highwayman
Movie · as The Mayor's Partner
The Splendid Road
Movie · as Capt. Lightfoot
Thunder Mountain
Movie · as Si Pace
The Eagle
Movie · as The Eagle's Lieutenant / Coach Driver (uncredited)
Faint Perfume
Movie · as Grandpa Crumb
Why Women Love
Movie · as Silas Martin
Old Shoes
Movie
The Narrow Street
Movie · as Garvey
Paint and Powder
Movie · as Riley
Ship of Souls
Movie · as Angus Garth
The Re-Creation of Brian Kent
Movie · as Jap Taylor
Beauty and the Bad Man
Movie · as Chuckwalla Bill
Painted People
Movie · as Fred Lane
Defying Destiny
Movie · as Mr. Wilkens
The Virginian
Movie · as Trampas
The Huntress
Movie · as Big Jack Skinner
Circus Days
Movie · as Eben Holt
The Girl of the Golden West
Movie · as Jack Rance
Hearts Aflame
Movie · as Black Joe
Desire
Movie · as Patrick Ryan
The Kingdom Within
Movie · as Caleb Deming
Human Hearts
Movie · as Paul Logan
Rags to Riches
Movie · as The Sheriff
Peg o' My Heart
Movie · as Jim O'Connell
Across the Dead-Line
Movie · as Enoch Kidder
Bunty Pulls the Strings
Movie · as Tammas Biggar
Snowblind
Movie · as Hugh Garth
Under the Lash
Movie · as Simeon Krillet
The Branding Iron
Movie · as John Carver
Lahoma
Movie · as 'Brick' Willock
Godless Men
Movie · as 'Black' Pawl
The Deadlier Sex
Movie · as Jim Willis
Desert Gold
Movie · as Ladd
The Brand
Movie · as Dan McGill
Bill Apperson's Boy
Movie · as Bill Apperson
The Blue Bandanna
Movie · as Jim Yancy
Fighting Cressy
Movie · as Hiram McKinstry
The Border Legion
Movie · as Overland Bradley
Breakers Ahead
Movie · as Captain Scudder
Riders of the Night
Movie · as Sally's Grandfather
A Weaver of Dreams
Movie · as Martin Chandler
The Uphill Path
Movie · as James Lawton
The Challenge Accepted
Movie · as Uncle Zeke Sawyer
Oh, Johnny!
Movie · as Adele's Father
Blue Jeans
Movie · as Jacob Tutwiler
The Barrier
Movie · as John Gaylord / John Tale
The Food Gamblers
Movie · as Samuel Sloane
Salt of the Earth
Movie · as Sinful John
Lovely Mary
Movie · as Peter Nelson
The Old Homestead
Movie · as Sheriff
The Virginian
Movie · as Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)