Russell Simpson
Acting
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
Acting207
movieThe Horse Soldiers
1959
Henry Goodbody
tvThe Texan
1958
Zeb Waters
movieThe Tin Star
1957
Clem Hall
tvWagon Train
1957
Mr. Carr
movieThe Brass Legend
1956
Deputy 'Pop' Jackson
movieFriendly Persuasion
1956
Brother Griffith - Elder (uncredited)
movieOklahoma!
1955
The Minister (uncredited)
movieThe Tall Men
1955
Emigrant (uncredited)
movieThe Last Command
1955
The Parson
movieBroken Lance
1954
Judge (uncredited)
movieSeven Brides for Seven Brothers
1954
Fred Bixby
tvPublic Defender
1954
Lundquist
movieThe Sun Shines Bright
1953
Lewt Lake
movieMeet Me at the Fair
1953
Sheriff Evans
movieThe Ghost of Crossbone Canyon
1952
Sam Stanton
movieLone Star
1952
Maynard Cole
tvCavalcade of America
1952
Quatermaster / Judge Grant
movieFeudin' Fools
1952
Grandpa Smith
movieMa and Pa Kettle at the Fair
1952
Clem Johnson
movieCall of the Klondike
1950
Andy McKay
movieWagon Master
1950
Adam Perkins
movieThe Outriders
1950
Farmer (uncredited)
movieFree For All
1949
Farmer
tvThe Lone Ranger
1949
Jack Brewster
movieThe Gal Who Took the West
1949
Bartender (as old Timer)
movieTuna Clipper
1949
Capt. Fergus MacLennan
movieJoan of Arc
1948
Old Man with Pipe (uncredited)
movieSundown in Santa Fe
1948
Sheriff Jim Wyatt
movieThe Untamed Breed
1948
Minister
movieTap Roots
1948
Big Sam Dabney
movieCoroner Creek
1948
Walt Hardison
movieAlbuquerque
1948
Abner Huggins
movieBowery Buckaroos
1947
Luke Barlow
movieThe Fabulous Texan
1947
Wade Clayton
movieThe Romance of Rosy Ridge
1947
Dan Yeary
movieA Boy and His Dog
1946
Mr. Thornycroft
movieMy Dog Shep
1946
Mathew Hodgkins
movieMy Darling Clementine
1946
John Simpson
movieDeath Valley
1946
Old Silas Bagley
movieBad Bascomb
1946
Elijah Walker
movieCalifornia Gold Rush
1946
Colonel Parker
movieThey Were Expendable
1945
'Dad' Knowland
movieAlong Came Jones
1945
Pop de Longpre
movieRoughly Speaking
1945
The Colonel - Drill Instructor (uncredited)
movieThe Big Bonanza
1944
Adam Parker
movieTall in the Saddle
1944
Pat Foster (uncredited)
movieRoaring Guns
1944
Farmer MacKenzie
movieTexas Masquerade
1944
J.K. Trimble
movieMoonlight in Vermont
1943
Uncle Rufus
movieRiding High
1943
Frenchy McGuire
movieColt Comrades
1943
Sheriff
movieBorder Patrol
1943
Orestes Krebs
movieThe Spoilers
1942
Flapjack
movieLone Star Ranger
1942
Tom Duane
movieNazi Agent
1942
2nd Captain (uncredited)
movieShut My Big Mouth
1942
Mayor Potter
movieWild Bill Hickok Rides
1942
Ned Nolan
movieSwamp Water
1941
Marty McCord
movieLast of the Duanes
1941
Tom Duane
movieWild Geese Calling
1941
Marshal Len Baker
movieBad Men of Missouri
1941
Hank Younger
movieCitadel of Crime
1941
Jess Meekins
movieMeet John Doe
1941
(uncredited)
movieTobacco Road
1941
Chief of Police
movieSanta Fe Trail
1940
Shubel Morgan
movieBrigham Young
1940
U.S. Army Major
movieWyoming
1940
Mr. Bronson
movieThree Faces West
1940
Minister
movieVirginia City
1940
Gaylord
movieThe Grapes of Wrath
1940
Pa Joad
movieGeronimo
1939
Scout
movieDrums Along the Mohawk
1939
Dr. Petry
movieMr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
Kenneth Allen (uncredited)
movieDesperate Trails
1939
Sheriff Big Bill Tanner
movieThe Bill of Rights
1939
Frontiersman
movieWestern Caravans
1939
Winchester Thompson
movieYoung Mr. Lincoln
1939
Woolridge (uncredited)
movieHeart of the North
1938
Dave MacMillan
movieValley of the Giants
1938
McKenzie
movieThe Girl of the Golden West
1938
Fred - Outrider in Prologue
movieGold Is Where You Find It
1938
MacKenzie
movieThat I May Live
1937
Bish Plivens
movieParadise Isle
1937
Baxter
movieWild West Days
1937
Matt Keeler
movieYodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
1937
Bayliss Baynum
movieParnell
1937
Dead Child's Father
movieMountain Justice
1937
Matthew Turnbull
movieGreen Light
1937
Sheep Man
movieMaid of Salem
1937
Village Marshal (Uncredited)
movieRamona
1936
Scroggs
movieBack to Nature
1936
Sheriff
movieSan Francisco
1936
'Red' Kelly
movieGirl of the Ozarks
1936
Bascomb Rogers
The Harvester
1936
Abner Prewett
movieMan Hunt
1936
Jeff Parkington
moviePaddy O'Day
1936
Benton
movieWay Down East
1935
Squire Amasa Bartlett
movieMotive for Revenge
1935
McAllister
movieThe Hoosier Schoolmaster
1935
Doc Small
movieWest of the Pecos
1934
Roy Neal
movieRadio Scout
1934
Pappy Tolliver
movieThe World Moves On
1934
Notary (1825)
movieEver Since Eve
1934
Jim Wood
movieThree on a Honeymoon
1934
Ezra MacDuff
movieCarolina
1934
Richards
movieFrontier Marshal
1934
Editor Pickett
movieSixteen Fathoms Deep
1934
A.B. Crockett
movieThe Power and the Glory
1933
Professor (uncredited)
movieSecrets
1933
Doctor (uncredited)
movieFace in the Sky
1933
Pa Nathan Brown
movieSilver Dollar
1932
Hamlin
movieCall Her Savage
1932
Old Man in Wagon Train
movieThe Cabin in the Cotton
1932
Uncle Joe
movieHello Trouble
1932
Jonathan Kenyon
movieThe Honor of the Press
1932
Dan Perkins
movieFlames
1932
Jake
movieThe Riding Tornado
1932
Sheriff
movieThe Famous Ferguson Case
1932
Banker Craig
movieLena Rivers
1932
Grandfather Nichols
movieLaw and Order
1932
Judge R.W. Williams
movieRidin' for Justice
1932
Marshal Joseph Slyde
movieSusan Lenox
1931
Doctor
movieAlexander Hamilton
1931
Harvey Taylor - First Ex-Soldier
movieThe Great Meadow
1931
Thomas Hall
movieMan to Man
1930
Uncle Cal
movieAbraham Lincoln
1930
Lincoln's Employer
movieBilly the Kid
1930
Angus McSween
movieThe Lone Star Ranger
1930
Colonel John Aldridge
movieAfter the Fog
1929
Joshua Barker
movieThe Sap
1929
The Banker
movieAll Faces West
1929
Gunner Bill
movieNoisy Neighbors
1929
Ebenezer
movieInnocents of Paris
1929
Emile Leval
movieTropical Nights
1928
Singapore Joe
Life's Mockery
1928
Wolf Miller
movieWild Geese
1927
Caleb Gare
movieNow We're in the Air
1927
Lord Abercrombie McTavish
movieThe First Auto
1927
Hank Armstrong
movieThe Frontiersman
1927
Andrew Jackson
movieLovey Mary
1926
Stubbins
movieThe Social Highwayman
1926
The Mayor's Partner
movieRustlin' for Cupid
1926
Hank Blatchford
movieThe Earth Woman
1926
Ezra Tilden
Ship of Souls
1925
Angus Garth
movieThe Splendid Road
1925
Capt. Lightfoot
movieThe Eagle
1925
The Eagle's Lieutenant / Coach Driver (uncredited)
movieWhy Women Love
1925
Silas Martin
movieThunder Mountain
1925
Si Pace
movieFaint Perfume
1925
Grandpa Crumb
movieBeauty and the Bad Man
1925
Chuckwalla Bill
movieThe Re-Creation of Brian Kent
1925
Jap Taylor
moviePainted People
1924
Fred Lane
movieDesire
1923
Patrick Ryan
Defying Destiny
1923
Mr. Wilkens
movieThe Virginian
1923
Trampas
movieThe Huntress
1923
Big Jack Skinner
movieCircus Days
1923
Eben Holt
movieThe Girl of the Golden West
1923
Jack Rance
movieHearts Aflame
1923
Black Joe
The Kingdom Within
1922
Caleb Deming
moviePeg o' My Heart
1922
Jim O'Connell
movieRags to Riches
1922
The Sheriff
movieHuman Hearts
1922
Paul Logan
movieAcross the Dead-Line
1922
Enoch Kidder
movieUnder the Lash
1921
Simeon Krillet
movieSnowblind
1921
Hugh Garth
movieBunty Pulls the Strings
1921
Tammas Biggar
movieGodless Men
1920
'Black' Pawl
movieThe Branding Iron
1920
John Carver
movieLahoma
1920
'Brick' Willock
movieThe Deadlier Sex
1920
Jim Willis
movieFighting Cressy
1919
Hiram McKinstry
movieThe Blue Bandanna
1919
Jim Yancy
movieBill Apperson's Boy
1919
Bill Apperson
movieThe Brand
1919
Dan McGill
movieThe Challenge Accepted
1918
Uncle Zeke Sawyer
movieOh, Johnny!
1918
Adele's Father
movieRiders of the Night
1918
Sally's Grandfather
The Uphill Path
1918
James Lawton
movieThe Border Legion
1918
Overland Bradley
Breakers Ahead
1918
Captain Scudder
movieA Weaver of Dreams
1918
Martin Chandler
movieBlue Jeans
1917
Jacob Tutwiler
movieThe Food Gamblers
1917
Samuel Sloane
movieThe Barrier
1917
John Gaylord / John Tale
movieLovely Mary
1916
Peter Nelson
movieThe Virginian
1914
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)