Morris Ankrum
Acting
Born 1896-08-28
Died 1964-09-02
Danville, Illinois, USA
180 credits
Read biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Morris Ankrum (born Morris Nussbaum, August 28, 1896 – September 2, 1964) was an American radio, television and film character actor.
Before signing with Paramount Pictures in the 1930s, Nussbaum had already changed his last name to Ankrum. Upon signing with the studio, he chose to use the name "Stephen Morris" before changing it to Morris Ankrum in 1939.
Ankrum's stern visage and sharply defined features helped cast him in supporting roles as stalwart authority figures, including scientists, military men (particularly army officers), judges and even psychiatrists in more than 150 films, mostly B movies. One standout role was in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's production of Tennessee Johnson (1942), a biographical film about Andrew Johnson, the 17th U.S. president. As Sen. Jefferson Davis, Ankrum movingly addresses the United States Senate upon his resignation to lead the Confederate States of America as that republic's first—and only—president. Ankrum's film career was extensive and spanned 30 years. His credits were largely concentrated in the western and science-fiction genres.
Ankrum appeared in such westerns as Ride 'Em Cowboy in 1942, Vera Cruz opposite Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster, Apache (1954), and Cattle Queen of Montana with Barbara Stanwyck and Ronald Reagan.
In the sci-fi genre, he appeared in Rocketship X-M (1950), Flight to Mars (1951), as a Martian, Red Planet Mars (1952), playing the United States Secretary of Defense; the cult classic Invaders From Mars (1953), playing a United States Army officer; and as an Army general in Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956). In 1957 he played a psychiatrist in the cult sci-fi classic Kronos and had military-officer roles in Beginning of the End and The Giant Claw.
Not enough member ratings yet.
Sign in to rate.
Filmography
— top 60 of 180
Acting
54 credits
Perry Mason
Bonanza
Maverick
Cheyenne
Four Star Playhouse
Studio One
Gunsmoke
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Bronco
M Squad
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
Joan of Arc
On Trial
Vera Cruz
Dr. Fu Manchu
Apache
In a Lonely Place
The Fountainhead
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers
Guns of Diablo
The Movie Orgy
The Saga of Hemp Brown
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
Invaders from Mars
The Postman Always Rings Twice
Desire Me
Chain Lightning
The Harvey Girls
Tower of London
Chief Crazy Horse
Roxie Hart
Lady in the Lake
Swing Fever
Courage of Lassie
The Damned Don't Cry
Stand Up and Cheer!
Curse of the Faceless Man
Along the Great Divide
Cattle Queen of Montana
Reunion in France
Silver Lode
Tennessee's Partner
My Favorite Spy
The Redhead and the Cowboy
Son of Ali Baba
Phantoms, Inc.
Rocketship X-M
I Wake Up Screaming
Because of You
Fighting Coast Guard
Taza, Son of Cochise
Marriage Is a Private Affair
High Wall
Other credits
6 credits
The Rifleman
Sea Hunt
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
Cowboy G-Men
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
The Last Command
Track what you watch
DuckTrack members see which of these they have already watched,
right here on this page.
Create a free account
Comments
0 commentsNo comments yet. Sign in to be the first.