Known For
Acting
Born
Jun 16, 1880
Died
Dec 12, 1959
Place of Birth
Danville, California, USA
Credits
207 titles
Russell Simpson
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.
Known For
Filmography
The Horse Soldiers
Henry Goodbody
The Texan
Zeb Waters
The Tin Star
Clem Hall
Wagon Train
Mr. Carr
The Lonely Man
The Brass Legend
Deputy 'Pop' Jackson
Friendly Persuasion
Brother Griffith - Elder (uncredited)
Oklahoma!
The Minister (uncredited)
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Old Man
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
The Tall Men
Emigrant (uncredited)
The Last Command
The Parson
Broken Lance
Judge (uncredited)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Fred Bixby
Public Defender
Lundquist
The Sun Shines Bright
Lewt Lake
General Electric Theater
Meet Me at the Fair
Sheriff Evans
The Ghost of Crossbone Canyon
Sam Stanton
Lone Star
Maynard Cole
Cavalcade of America
Quatermaster
Feudin' Fools
Grandpa Smith
Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair
Clem Johnson
Comin' Round the Mountain
Judge
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
Sam
Call of the Klondike
Andy McKay
Saddle Tramp
Pop
Wagon Master
Adam Perkins
The Outriders
Farmer (uncredited)
Free For All
Farmer
The Lone Ranger
Jack Brewster
The Gal Who Took the West
Bartender (as old Timer)
Tuna Clipper
Capt. Fergus MacLennan
Joan of Arc
Old Man with Pipe (uncredited)
Sundown in Santa Fe
Sheriff Jim Wyatt
The Untamed Breed
Minister
Tap Roots
Big Sam Dabney
Coroner Creek
Walt Hardison
Albuquerque
Abner Huggins
Bowery Buckaroos
Luke Barlow
The Fabulous Texan
Wade Clayton
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
Dan Yeary
A Boy and His Dog
Mr. Thornycroft
My Dog Shep
Mathew Hodgkins
My Darling Clementine
John Simpson
Death Valley
Old Silas Bagley
Bad Bascomb
Elijah Walker
California Gold Rush
Colonel Parker
They Were Expendable
'Dad' Knowland
Along Came Jones
Pop de Longpre