Russell Simpson
Acting
🎂 1880-06-16
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.
Cast credits(194)
Mr. Carr
1957
Jack Brewster
1949
Old Man
1955
Zeb Waters
1958
Lundquist
1954
Quatermaster
1952
1952
Judge Grant
1952
1955
Sam
1951
'Dad' Knowland
1945
Fred Bixby
1954
John Simpson
1946
Henry Goodbody
1959
Capt. Fergus MacLennan
1949
Pa Joad
1940
Orth
1939
Kenneth Allen (uncredited)
1939
The Minister (uncredited)
1955
Brother Griffith - Elder (uncredited)
1956
Old Man with Pipe (uncredited)
1948
Clem Hall
1957
(uncredited)
1941
Judge
1951
Bayliss Baynum
1937
Emigrant (uncredited)
1955
Adam Perkins
1950
Maynard Cole
1952
Dr. Petry
1939
Farmer (uncredited)
1950
Luke Barlow
1947
Lincoln's Employer
1930
Judge (uncredited)
1954
1953
1957
Flapjack
1942
Farmer
1949
Shubel Morgan
1940
Pop de Longpre
1945
Woolridge (uncredited)
1939
Deputy 'Pop' Jackson
1956
Ezra MacDuff
1934
Sheriff Evans
1953
Eben Holt
1923
Chief of Police
1941
Tom Duane
1942
Walt Hardison
1948
Gaylord
1940
Big Sam Dabney
1948
Old Man in Wagon Train
1932
Uncle Rufus
1943
'Red' Kelly
1936
Minister
1948
Farmer MacKenzie
1944
Village Marshal (Uncredited)
1937
Tom Duane
1941
Pop
1950
Colonel John Aldridge
1930
Sam Stanton
1952
The Parson
1955
Hank Armstrong
1927
Bartender (as old Timer)
1949
MacKenzie
1938
Grandfather Nichols
1932
Sheriff
1943
Marshal Len Baker
1941
McKenzie
1938
Matthew Turnbull
1937
J.K. Trimble
1944
Minister
1940
Banker Craig
1932
Wade Clayton
1947
Frenchy McGuire
1943
Jap Taylor
1925
Sandy
1927
Grandpa Smith
1952
Scroggs
1936
Sime
1943
Editor Pickett
1934
Simeon Krillet
1921
Dave MacMillan
1938
Sheriff
1936
Capt. Lightfoot
1925
Adam Parker
1944
2nd Captain (uncredited)
1942
Jim Wood
1934
Scout
1939
Abner Huggins
1948
Ned Nolan
1942
Fred - Outrider in Prologue
1938
Squire Amasa Bartlett
1935
Mr. Bronson
1940
Dan Yeary
1947
Paul Logan
1922
Sheriff Jim Wyatt
1948
U.S. Army Major
1940
Ezra Tilden
1926
Clem Johnson
1952
Sheep Man
1937
Old Silas Bagley
1946
Abner Prewett
1936
Mr. Thornycroft
1946
Orestes Krebs
1943
The Eagle's Lieutenant / Coach Driver (uncredited)
1925
Marty McCord
1941
Caleb Gare
1927
Jonathan Kenyon
1932
Angus McSween
1930
Lewt Lake
1953
Uncle Cal
1930
Trampas
1923
Hank Younger
1941
Doctor
1931
Baxter
1937
Pa Nathan Brown
1933
Doc Small
1935
'Black' Pawl
1920
Colonel Parker
1946
Dead Child's Father
1937
Kirby
1942
Benton
1936
Frontiersman
1939
Pappy Tolliver
1934
Silas Martin
1925
Uncle Joe
1932
Overland Bradley
1918
A.B. Crockett
1934
Jake
1932
Bascomb Rogers
1936
Mayor Potter
1942
Elijah Walker
1946
Stubbins
1926
Andy McKay
1950
Hamlin
1932
The Colonel - Drill Instructor (uncredited)
1945
Caleb Deming
1922
Jeff Parkington
1936
Jim O'Connell
1922
Si Pace
1925
Black Joe
1923
Harvey Taylor - First Ex-Soldier
1931
Bish Plivens
1937
Riley
1925
Joshua Barker
1929
Matt Keeler
1937
Notary (1825)
1934
Uncle Zeke Sawyer
1918
Marshal Joseph Slyde
1932
Singapore Joe
1928
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
1914
McAllister
1935
Fred Lane
1924
Grandpa Crumb
1925
Professor (uncredited)
1933
Emile Leval
1929
1929
Hugh Garth
1921
The Banker
1929
Gunner Bill
1929
Judge R.W. Williams
1932
Mr. Wilkens
1923
'Brick' Willock
1920
Tammas Biggar
1921
Thomas Hall
1931
Garvey
1925
Ladd
1919
Speaker
1933
Angus Garth
1925
Dan Perkins
1932
Roy Neal
1934
Andrew Jackson
1927
Jess Meekins
1941
Hank Blatchford
1926
Sheriff Big Bill Tanner
1939
Richards
1934
Lord Abercrombie McTavish
1927
Jim Willis
1920
Sheriff
1932
John Carver
1920
James Lawton
1918
Big Jack Skinner
1923
Winchester Thompson
1939
Dan McGill
1919
Sheriff
1915
The Sheriff
1922
Bill Apperson
1919
Captain Scudder
1918
Jacob Tutwiler
1917
Mathew Hodgkins
1946
Jack Rance
1923
Enoch Kidder
1922
Martin Chandler
1918
Sally's Grandfather
1918
1925