J. Farrell MacDonald
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- June 5, 1875
- Died
- August 2, 1952 (aged 77)
- Birthplace
- Waterbury, Connecticut, USA
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Farrell MacDonald (June 6, 1875 – August 2, 1952) was an American character actor and director. He played supporting roles and occasional leads. He appeared in over 325 films over a 41-year career from 1911 to 1951, and directed forty-four silent films from 1912 to 1917. MacDonald was the principal director of L. Frank Baum's Oz Film Manufacturing Company, and he can frequently be seen in the films of Frank Capra, Preston Sturges and, especially, John Ford. Early in his career, MacDonald was a singer in minstrel shows, and he toured the United States extensively for two years with stage productions. He made his first silent film in 1911, a dramatic short entitled The Scarlett Letter made by Carl Laemmle's Independent Moving Pictures Company (IMP), the forerunner of Universal Pictures,. He continued to act in numerous films each year from that time on, and by 1912 he was directing them as well. The first film he directed was The Worth of a Man, another dramatic short, again for IMP, and he was to direct 43 more films until his last in 1917, Over the Fence, which he co-directed with Harold Lloyd. MacDonald had crossed paths with Lloyd several years earlier, when Lloyd was an extra and MacDonald had given him much-needed work – and he did the same with Hal Roach, both of whom appearing in small roles in The Patchwork Girl of Oz, which MacDonald directed in 1914. When Roach set up his own studio, with Lloyd as his principal attraction, he hired MacDonald to direct. By 1918, MacDonald, who was to become one of the most beloved character men in Hollywood, had given up directing and was acting full-time, predominantly in Westerns and Irish comedies. He first worked under director John Ford in 1919's A Fight for Love. In all, Ford would use MacDonald on twenty-five films between 1919 and 1950. With a voice that matched his personality, MacDonald made the transition to sound films easily, with no noticeable drop in his acting output – if anything, it went up. In 1931, for instance, MacDonald appeared in 14 films – among them the first version of The Maltese Falcon, in which he played "Detective Tom Polhaus" – and in 22 of them in 1932. Although he played laborers, policemen, military men and priests, among many other characters, his roles were usually a cut above a "bit part". His characters usually had names, and he was most often credited for his performances. A highlight of this period was his performance as the hobo "Mr. Tramp" in Our Little Girl with Shirley Temple (1935). In the 1940s, MacDonald was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in seven films written and directed by Sturges. MacDonald appeared in Sullivan's Travels, The Palm Beach Story, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, The Great Moment, The Sin of Harold Diddlebock, Unfaithfully Yours and The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend, Sturges' last American film. Earlier, MacDonald had also appeared in The Power and the Glory, which Sturges wrote. His work on Sturges' films was generally uncredited. He was notable in 1946 in John Ford's My Darling Clementine in which he played "Mac," the bartender in the town saloon. MacDonald also had uncredited roles in It's a Wonderful Life and Here Comes The Groom.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Superman and the Mole Men
Movie · as Pop Shannon
Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell
Movie · as Mr. Kroeger
Here Comes the Groom
Movie · as Husband on Airplane (uncredited)
Woman on the Run
Movie · as Cap, the Retired Ferryboat Captain
Hostile Country
Movie · as Mr. Lane (uncredited)
When Willie Comes Marching Home
Movie · as Gilby - Pharmacist (uncredited)
The Daltons' Women
Movie · as Alvin
Dakota Lil
Movie · as Ellis
You're My Everything
Movie · as Doorman (uncredited)
Streets of San Francisco
Movie · as Pop Lockhart
The Dalton Gang
Movie · as Judge Price
Panhandle
Movie · as Doc Cooper
The Walls of Jericho
Movie · as Bailiff (uncredited)
Fury at Furnace Creek
Movie · as Pops Murphy (uncredited)
Whispering Smith
Movie · as Bill Baggs
Belle Starr's Daughter
Movie · as Doc Benson
Sitting Pretty
Movie · as Cop (uncredited)
If You Knew Susie
Movie · as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Shep Comes Home
Movie · as Sheriff Cap Weatherby
Trouble Preferred
Movie · as Apartment House Manager (uncredited)
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Movie · as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Movie · as Mac (uncredited)
Thunder in the Valley
Movie · as McPherson - Innkeeper
Keeper of the Bees
Movie · as Postmaster
Christmas Eve
Movie · as Policeman (uncredited)
Web of Danger
Movie · as Scotty MacKronish - Bus Driver
It's a Wonderful Life
Movie · as Man Whose Grandfather Planted Tree (uncredited)
My Darling Clementine
Movie · as Mac the barman
Smoky
Movie · as Jim
Goodbye, Weeds
Movie · as Gardener
Joe Palooka, Champ
Movie · as Long-Count Bowman
Johnny Angel
Movie · as Capt. Angel
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Movie · as Mr. Carney The Junkman (uncredited)
Fallen Angel
Movie · as Bank Guard (uncredited)
Circumstantial Evidence
Movie · as Jury Foreman
Hangover Square
Movie · as Street Vendor (uncredited)
Pillow of Death
Movie
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
Movie · as Sheriff (uncredited)
Greenwich Village
Movie · as O'Shea, policeman
Texas Masquerade
Movie · as John Martindale
The Great Moment
Movie · as The Priest
The Ape Man
Movie · as Captain O'Brien
Harrigan's Kid
Movie · as Frank (uncredited)
Tiger Fangs
Movie · as Geoffrey MacCardle
True to Life
Movie · as Man (uncredited)
The Palm Beach Story
Movie · as Officer O'Donnell (uncredited)
Captains of the Clouds
Movie · as Dr. Neville
The Living Ghost
Movie · as Police Lt. 'Pete' Peterson
Bowery at Midnight
Movie · as Capt. Mitchell
Reap the Wild Wind
Movie · as Port Captain
Phantom Killer
Movie · as Police Captain
Private Snuffy Smith
Movie · as Gen. Rosewater
One Thrilling Night
Movie · as Police Sergeant Haggerty
Wild Bill Hickok Rides
Movie · as Henry Hathaway
The McGuerins from Brooklyn
Movie · as Cop
Riders of the Timberline
Movie · as Jim Kerrigan
In Old Cheyenne
Movie · as Tim Casey
The Great Lie
Movie · as Dr. Ferguson
Law of the Timber
Movie · as Adams
Meet John Doe
Movie · as 'Sourpuss'
Broadway Limited
Movie · as Mulcahey
The Last Alarm
Movie · as Jim Hadley
I Take This Oath
Movie · as Insp. Tim Ryan
Stagecoach War
Movie · as Jeff Chapman
Untamed
Movie · as Dr. Billar
The Light of Western Stars
Movie · as Bill Stillwell
Dark Command
Movie · as Dave
Knights of the Range
Movie · as Cappy
Pony Express Days
Movie · as Nevada Jim
Friendly Neighbors
Movie · as Sheiff Potts
Prairie Law
Movie · as Sheriff Jim Austin
Full Confession
Movie · as Joe, Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Zenobia
Movie · as Judge
Conspiracy
Movie · as Captain of the Falcon
Susannah of the Mounties
Movie · as Pat O'Hannegan
The Lone Ranger Rides Again
Movie · as Craig Dolan
East Side of Heaven
Movie · as Doorman (uncredited)
They Shall Have Music
Movie · as Police Chief (uncredited)
Coast Guard
Movie · as Capt. Hansen (uncredited)
The Housekeeper's Daughter
Movie · as Captain
The Gentleman from Arizona
Movie · as Wild Bill Coburn
Mickey the Kid
Movie · as Sheriff J.J. Willoughby
Barefoot Boy
Movie · as Warden
Come On, Rangers
Movie · as Colonel Forbes
Submarine Patrol
Movie · as CWO 'Sails' Quincannon
White Banners
Movie · as Dr. Thompson
Gang Bullets
Movie · as Chief Reardon
The Crowd Roars
Movie · as Father Patrick Ryan
There Goes My Heart
Movie · as Officer
My Old Kentucky Home
Movie · as Mayor Jim Hopkins
The Last Express
Movie · as William Barton (Detective Agency Head)
Numbered Woman
Movie · as Capt. Mike Ryan
Little Orphan Annie
Movie · as 'Pop' Corrigan
State Police
Movie · as Charlie Wheeler
Extortion
Movie · as Coach Pearson
Topper
Movie · as Policeman
The Hit Parade
Movie · as Sgt. O'Hara
Flying Fists
Movie · as Bill 'One-Punch' Fagin
Slave Ship
Movie · as Proprietor
My Dear Miss Aldrich
Movie · as 'Doc' Howe
County Fair
Movie · as Calvin Williams
Maid of Salem
Movie · as Captain of Ship
The Game That Kills
Movie · as Joe Holland
Slim
Movie · as Pop
Roaring Timber
Movie · as Andrew MacKinley
Parnell
Movie · as Irish Laborer (uncredited)
Courage of the West
Movie · as Buck Saunders
The Great Barrier
Movie · as Major Rogers
Riffraff
Movie · as 'Brains'
Exclusive Story
Movie · as Michael Devlin
Mysterious Crossing
Movie · as Police Chief Bullock
Florida Special
Movie · as Harrigan
Show Boat
Movie · as Windy MacLaine
Stormy
Movie · as Trinidad Dorn
The Whole Town's Talking
Movie · as Prison Warden (uncredited)
Swellhead
Movie · as Umpire
The Healer
Movie · as Applejack
Danger Ahead
Movie · as Harry Cromwell
Shadows of the Orient
Movie · as Inspector Sullivan
Waterfront Lady
Movie · as Capt. O'Brien
The Best Man Wins
Movie · as Captain--Harbor Patrol
Hitch Hike Lady
Movie · as Judge Hale
Let 'em Have It
Movie · as Mr. Keefer
Our Little Girl
Movie · as Mr. Tramp
Maybe It's Love
Movie · as The Cop
Northern Frontier
Movie · as Inspector
Square Shooter
Movie · as Sheriff
Star of Midnight
Movie · as Inspector Doremus
Front Page Woman
Movie · as Hallohan
The Irish in Us
Movie · as Capt. Jackson
The Arizonian
Movie · as Marshal Andy Jordan
Fighting Youth
Movie · as Coach Parker
The Crime Doctor
Movie · as Kemp
Romance in Manhattan
Movie · as Murphy
Man of Two Worlds
Movie · as Michael
Beggar's Holiday
Movie · as Pop Malloy
Once to Every Woman
Movie · as Flannigan
The Crosby Case
Movie · as The Doorman--Mike Costello
The Cat's-Paw
Movie · as Shigley
The Vanishing Frontier
Movie · as Waco
The Working Man
Movie · as Henry 'Hank' Davis
The Power and the Glory
Movie · as Mulligan
I Loved a Woman
Movie · as Shuster
Peg o' My Heart
Movie · as Patrick Shamus 'Pat' O'Connell
Murder on the Campus
Movie · as Police Capt. Ed Kyne
Laughing at Life
Movie · as Prison Warden
Myrt and Marge
Movie · as Grady
Under Secret Orders
Movie · as John Burke
The Iron Master
Movie · as J.C. Stillman
How to Break 90 #6: Fine Points
Movie · as Himself
This Sporting Age
Movie · as Jerry O'Day
No Man of Her Own
Movie · as "Dickie" Collins
Steady Company
Movie · as Hogan
The Thirteenth Guest
Movie · as Captain Ryan
The Phantom Express
Movie · as D.J. 'Smokey' Nolan
Under Eighteen
Movie · as Pop Evans
Heritage of the Desert
Movie · as Adam Naab
Hotel Continental
Movie · as Detective Martin
Scandal for Sale
Movie · as Treadway
Discarded Lovers
Movie · as Sommers
Hearts of Humanity
Movie · as Tom O'Hara
The Pride of the Legion
Movie · as Chief Scott
Probation
Movie · as George Holman
Men Are Such Fools
Movie · as Prison Warden Randolph
The Racing Strain
Movie · as Mr. Martin
Week-End Marriage
Movie · as Mr. Davis
Me and My Gal
Movie · as Pop Riley
Madame Racketeer
Movie · as John Adams
The Hurricane Express
Movie · as Jim Baker
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
Movie · as Police Sgt. J.B. Antrim (uncredited)
70,000 Witnesses
Movie · as State Coach
Stranger in Town
Movie · as Scout
The Maltese Falcon
Movie · as Det. Sgt. Tom Polhaus
The Stolen Jools
Movie · as Policeman
The Easiest Way
Movie · as Ben Murdock
The Squaw Man
Movie · as Big Bill
The Millionaire
Movie · as Dan Lewis
Sporting Blood
Movie · as MacGuire
Other Men's Women
Movie · as Peg-Leg
The Painted Desert
Movie · as Jeff Cameron
The Brat
Movie · as Timson, the butler
Too Young to Marry
Movie · as Rev. Stump
How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 9: 'The Driver'
Movie
Woman Hungry
Movie · as Buzzard
The Spirit of Notre Dame
Movie · as The Coach
Touchdown!
Movie · as Pop Stewart
The Truth About Youth
Movie · as Colonel Graham
River's End
Movie · as O'Toole
Men Without Women
Movie · as Costello
Song o' My Heart
Movie · as Rafferty
The Girl of the Golden West
Movie · as Sonora Slim
Masquerade
Movie · as Joe Hickey
South Sea Rose
Movie · as Hackett
Happy Days
Movie · as Train Conductor
Masked Emotions
Movie · as Will Whitten
Strong Boy
Movie · as Angus McGregor
The Painted Angel
Movie · as Pa Hudler
4 Devils
Movie · as The Clown
Riley the Cop
Movie · as James 'Aloysius' Riley
None But the Brave
Movie · as John Craig
Bringing Up Father
Movie · as Jiggs
The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris
Movie · as Patrick Kelly
Abie's Irish Rose
Movie · as Patrick Murphy
In Old Arizona
Movie · as Stage Passenger (uncredited)
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
Movie · as The Photographer
Paid to Love
Movie · as Peter Roberts
East Side, West Side
Movie · as Pug Malone
Cradle Snatchers
Movie · as George Martin
Ankles Preferred
Movie · as McGuire
3 Bad Men
Movie · as Mike Costigan
A Trip to Chinatown
Movie · as Benjamin Strong
Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl
Movie · as Sloan
The Shamrock Handicap
Movie · as Con O'Shea
The First Year
Movie · as Mr. Barstow
The Dixie Merchant
Movie · as Jean Paul Fippany
The Family Upstairs
Movie · as Joe Heller
The Country Beyond
Movie · as Sgt. Cassidy
The Last Frontier
Movie · as Wild Bill Hickok
Let Women Alone
Movie · as Commodore John Gordon
The Iron Horse
Movie · as Corporal Casey
Lightnin'
Movie · as Lemuel Townsend
Kentucky Pride
Movie · as Donavan
Thank You
Movie · as Andy
The Fighting Heart
Movie · as Jerry
The Lucky Horseshoe
Movie · as Mack
The Brass Bowl
Movie · as Hickey
The Signal Tower
Movie · as Pete
Mademoiselle Midnight
Movie · as Duc de Moing (Prologue)
Western Luck
Movie · as 'Chuck' Campbell
Those Who Dare
Movie
Gerald Cranston's Lady
Movie · as Rennie
The Storm Daughter
Movie · as Con Mullaney
Drifting
Movie · as Murphy
Quicksands
Movie · as Col. Patterson
Racing Hearts
Movie · as Silas Martin
While Paris Sleeps
Movie
The Age of Desire
Movie · as Dan Reagan
Fashionable Fakers
Movie · as Pat O'Donnell
Over the Border
Movie · as Peter Galbraith
Manslaughter
Movie · as (uncredited)
Sky High
Movie · as Jim Frazer (as J. Farrel MacDonald)
Come on Over
Movie · as Michael Morahan
The Young Rajah
Movie · as Amhad Beg - Prime Minister
The Ghost Breaker
Movie · as Sam Marcum
The Bonded Woman
Movie · as Captain Gaskell
The Bachelor Daddy
Movie · as Joe Pelton
Tracks
Movie · as Jack Bess
The Wallop
Movie · as Neuces River
The Freeze-Out
Movie · as Bobtail McGuire
Riding with Death
Movie · as Sheriff Pat Garrity
Desperate Youth
Movie
Trailin'
Movie · as Joseph Piotto
Action
Movie · as Mormon Peters
Bullet Proof
Movie · as Jim Boone
Hitchin' Posts
Movie · as Joe Alabam (as J. Farrell McDonald)
The Path She Chose
Movie · as Father
Roped
Movie · as Butler
A Fight For Love
Movie · as The Priest
Riders of Vengeance
Movie · as Buell
A Sporting Chance
Movie · as Luther Ripley aka Kennedy
Marked Men
Movie · as Tom Placer McGraw
The Outcasts of Poker Flat
Movie
This Hero Stuff
Movie · as Softnose Smith
Molly of the Follies
Movie · as Swannick
Trixie from Broadway
Movie · as Slim Hayes
$5,000 Reward
Movie · as Norcross
Fair Enough
Movie · as Chief of Police Morgan
Rags
Movie · as Paul Ferguson (as Joseph Farrell MacDonald)
The Calling of Louis Mona
Movie
A Timely Repentance
Movie · as Louis Nordell
The Scarlet Letter
Movie
The Dream
Movie · as Secondary Role (uncredited)
The Lighthouse Keeper
Movie · as The Lighthouse Keeper
'Tween Two Loves
Movie · as Farmer Howard
The Time-Lock Safe
Movie · as Office Worker