Russell Simpson
Acting
Born 1880-06-16
Died 1959-12-12
Danville, California, USA
207 credits
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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.
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Filmography
— top 60 of 207
Acting
56 credits
Wagon Train
The Lone Ranger
The Texan
The 20th Century Fox Hour
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
Public Defender
Cavalcade of America
The Tall Men
The Tin Star
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
The Grapes of Wrath
Joan of Arc
My Darling Clementine
Friendly Persuasion
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Oklahoma!
Broken Lance
The Horse Soldiers
Tap Roots
San Francisco
Young Mr. Lincoln
Brigham Young
Meet John Doe
Susan Lenox
Tall in the Saddle
Santa Fe Trail
The Spoilers
They Were Expendable
Wagon Master
The Barrier
Dodge City
Hello Trouble
Lone Star
Virginia City
Swamp Water
The Sun Shines Bright
Lovely Mary
Abraham Lincoln
Along Came Jones
Snowblind
Drums Along the Mohawk
Carolina
The Outriders
The Ghost of Crossbone Canyon
Tobacco Road
Painted People
Parnell
The Last Command
Desire
Nazi Agent
Saddle Tramp
Way Down East
Defying Destiny
Lahoma
Albuquerque
Death Valley
Other credits
4 credits
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