Russell Simpson

Russell Simpson

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.

Acting

1959

1957

1956

The Brass Legend
Movie

Deputy 'Pop' Jackson

1956

Friendly Persuasion
Movie

Brother Griffith - Elder (uncredited)

1955

Oklahoma!
Movie

The Minister (uncredited)

1955

The Tall Men
Movie

Emigrant (uncredited)

1955

1954

Broken Lance
Movie

Judge (uncredited)

1952

Lone Star
Movie

Maynard Cole

1952

Feudin' Fools
Movie

Grandpa Smith

1950

Wagon Master
Movie

Adam Perkins

1950

The Outriders
Movie

Farmer (uncredited)

1949

The Gal Who Took the West
Movie

Bartender (as old Timer)

1948

Joan of Arc
Movie

Old Man with Pipe (uncredited)

1948

Sundown in Santa Fe
Movie

Sheriff Jim Wyatt

1948

Tap Roots
Movie

Big Sam Dabney

1948

Coroner Creek
Movie

Walt Hardison

1948

Albuquerque
Movie

Abner Huggins

1947

1946

A Boy and His Dog
Movie

Mr. Thornycroft

1946

Bad Bascomb
Movie

Elijah Walker

1945

1945

Along Came Jones
Movie

Pop de Longpre

1945

Roughly Speaking
Movie

The Colonel - Drill Instructor (uncredited)

1944

Tall in the Saddle
Movie

Pat Foster (uncredited)

1944

Roaring Guns
Movie

Farmer MacKenzie

1943

Riding High
Movie

Frenchy McGuire

1942

1942

Nazi Agent
Movie

2nd Captain (uncredited)

1941

Swamp Water
Movie

Marty McCord

1941

Wild Geese Calling
Movie

Marshal Len Baker

1941

1941

Meet John Doe
Movie

(uncredited)

1941

Tobacco Road
Movie

Chief of Police

1940

Santa Fe Trail
Movie

Shubel Morgan

1940

Brigham Young
Movie

U.S. Army Major

1940

Wyoming
Movie

Mr. Bronson

1939

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Movie

Kenneth Allen (uncredited)

1939

1939

Young Mr. Lincoln
Movie

Woolridge (uncredited)

1938

1938

The Girl of the Golden West
Movie

Fred - Outrider in Prologue

1937

Mountain Justice
Movie

Matthew Turnbull

1937

1937

Maid of Salem
Movie

Village Marshal (Uncredited)

1936

1936

1936

The Harvester
Movie

Abner Prewett

1936

The Harvester
Movie

Abner Prewett

1936

The Harvester
Movie

Abner Prewett

1936

Man Hunt
Movie

Jeff Parkington

1936

Man Hunt
Movie

Jeff Parkington

1936

Man Hunt
Movie

Jeff Parkington

1934

1934

1933

The Power and the Glory
Movie

Professor (uncredited)

1933

Secrets
Movie

Doctor (uncredited)

1932

Call Her Savage
Movie

Old Man in Wagon Train

1932

Law and Order
Movie

Judge R.W. Williams

1931

Alexander Hamilton
Movie

Harvey Taylor - First Ex-Soldier

1931

1930

1930

Abraham Lincoln
Movie

Lincoln's Employer

1929

The Sap
Movie

The Banker

1928

1928

1928

1927

Now We're in the Air
Movie

Lord Abercrombie McTavish

1927

The First Auto
Movie

Hank Armstrong

1926

1926

1926

The Social Highwayman
Movie

The Mayor's Partner

1925

The Eagle
Movie

The Eagle's Lieutenant / Coach Driver (uncredited)

1925

1923

Desire
Movie

Patrick Ryan

1923

1923

1921

Under the Lash
Movie

Simeon Krillet

1920

1919

Fighting Cressy
Movie

Hiram McKinstry

1918

Oh, Johnny!
Movie

Adele's Father

1918

Oh, Johnny!
Movie

Adele's Father

1918

The Border Legion
Movie

Overland Bradley

1917

The Barrier
Movie

John Gaylord / John Tale

1916

Lovely Mary
Movie

Peter Nelson

1914

The Virginian
Movie

Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)

Infos

Full Name
Russell Simpson
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
6/16/1880
Date of Death
12/12/1959
Also Known As

Russell McCaskill Simpson

Russel Simpson