Russell Simpson
Acting
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.
Born: June 16, 1880
Place of Birth: Danville, California, USA
Known For
Filmography
as Henry Goodbody
as Zeb Waters
as Clem Hall
as Mr. Carr
as Deputy 'Pop' Jackson
as Brother Griffith - Elder (uncredited)
as The Minister (uncredited)
as Old Man
as Emigrant (uncredited)
as The Parson
as Judge (uncredited)
as Fred Bixby
as Lundquist
as Lewt Lake
as Sheriff Evans
as Sam Stanton
as Maynard Cole
as Quatermaster
as Judge Grant
as Grandpa Smith
as Clem Johnson
as Judge
as Andy McKay
as Pop
as Adam Perkins
as Farmer (uncredited)
as Farmer
as Jack Brewster
as Bartender (as old Timer)
as Capt. Fergus MacLennan
as Old Man with Pipe (uncredited)
as Sheriff Jim Wyatt
as Minister
as Big Sam Dabney
as Walt Hardison
as Abner Huggins
as Luke Barlow
as Wade Clayton
as Dan Yeary
as Mr. Thornycroft
as Mathew Hodgkins
as John Simpson
as Old Silas Bagley
as Elijah Walker
as Colonel Parker
as 'Dad' Knowland
as Pop de Longpre
as The Colonel - Drill Instructor (uncredited)
as Adam Parker
as Pat Foster (uncredited)
as Farmer MacKenzie
as J.K. Trimble
as Sime
as Uncle Rufus
as Frenchy McGuire
as Sheriff
as Orestes Krebs
as Kirby
as Flapjack
as Tom Duane
as 2nd Captain (uncredited)
as Mayor Potter
as Ned Nolan
as Marty McCord
as Tom Duane
as Marshal Len Baker
as Hank Younger
as (uncredited)
as Chief of Police
as Shubel Morgan
as U.S. Army Major
as Mr. Bronson
as Minister
as Gaylord
as Pa Joad
as Scout
as Dr. Petry
as Kenneth Allen (uncredited)
as Sheriff Big Bill Tanner
as Frontiersman
as Winchester Thompson
as Woolridge (uncredited)
as Orth
as Dave MacMillan
as McKenzie
as Fred - Outrider in Prologue
as MacKenzie
as Bish Plivens
as Baxter
as Matt Keeler
as Bayliss Baynum
as Dead Child's Father
as Matthew Turnbull
as Sheep Man
as Village Marshal (Uncredited)
as Scroggs
as Sheriff
as 'Red' Kelly
as Bascomb Rogers
as Jeff Parkington
as Benton
as Squire Amasa Bartlett
as McAllister
as Doc Small
as Roy Neal
as Pappy Tolliver
as Notary (1825)
as Jim Wood
as Ezra MacDuff
as Richards
as Editor Pickett
as A.B. Crockett
as Professor (uncredited)
as Speaker
as Pa Nathan Brown
as Hamlin
as Old Man in Wagon Train
as Uncle Joe
as Jonathan Kenyon
as Dan Perkins
as Jake
as Sheriff
as Banker Craig
as Grandfather Nichols
as Judge R.W. Williams
as Marshal Joseph Slyde
as Doctor
as Harvey Taylor - First Ex-Soldier
as Thomas Hall
as Uncle Cal
as Lincoln's Employer
as Angus McSween
as Colonel John Aldridge
as Joshua Barker
as The Banker
as Gunner Bill
as Emile Leval
as Singapore Joe
as Caleb Gare
as Lord Abercrombie McTavish
as Hank Armstrong
as Andrew Jackson
as Sandy
as Hank Blatchford
as Ezra Tilden
as Capt. Lightfoot
as The Eagle's Lieutenant / Coach Driver (uncredited)
as Silas Martin
as Si Pace
as Riley
as Grandpa Crumb
as Jap Taylor
as Garvey
as Fred Lane
as Trampas
as Big Jack Skinner
as Eben Holt
as Jack Rance
as Black Joe
as Jim O'Connell
as The Sheriff
as Paul Logan
as Enoch Kidder
as Simeon Krillet
as Hugh Garth
as Tammas Biggar
as 'Black' Pawl
as John Carver
as 'Brick' Willock
as Jim Willis
as Ladd
as Bill Apperson
as Dan McGill
as Uncle Zeke Sawyer
as Sally's Grandfather
as Overland Bradley
as Captain Scudder
as Martin Chandler
as Jacob Tutwiler
as Peter Nelson
as Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)