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(193)
Mr. Carr
1957
Zeb Waters
1958
Sam
1951
Old Man
1955
Lundquist
1954
1955
Jack Brewster
1949
Quatermaster
1952
1952
Judge Grant
1952
1953
Henry Goodbody
1959
Old Man with Pipe (uncredited)
1948
Brother Griffith - Elder (uncredited)
1956
Kenneth Allen (uncredited)
1939
(uncredited)
1941
Pa Joad
1940
Fred Bixby
1954
The Minister (uncredited)
1955
John Simpson
1946
Clem Hall
1957
Shubel Morgan
1940
Lincoln's Employer
1930
Orth
1939
'Dad' Knowland
1945
Judge (uncredited)
1954
Woolridge (uncredited)
1939
Dr. Petry
1939
'Red' Kelly
1936
Gaylord
1940
Emigrant (uncredited)
1955
2nd Captain (uncredited)
1942
U.S. Army Major
1940
Adam Perkins
1950
Flapjack
1942
Big Sam Dabney
1948
Scout
1939
Walt Hardison
1948
Pop
1950
Pop de Longpre
1945
Judge
1951
1957
Deputy 'Pop' Jackson
1956
Chief of Police
1941
Marty McCord
1941
The Parson
1955
Kirby
1942
Farmer (uncredited)
1950
The Eagle's Lieutenant / Coach Driver (uncredited)
1925
Maynard Cole
1952
Lewt Lake
1953
Ned Nolan
1942
Village Marshal (Uncredited)
1937
Sheriff
1943
Riley
1925
Old Man in Wagon Train
1932
Dan Yeary
1947
Richards
1934
MacKenzie
1938
Frenchy McGuire
1943
Adam Parker
1944
Farmer
1949
Abner Huggins
1948
Bartender (as old Timer)
1949
Minister
1940
Orestes Krebs
1943
Lord Abercrombie McTavish
1927
The Colonel - Drill Instructor (uncredited)
1945
Sime
1943
Angus McSween
1930
Mayor Potter
1942
Abner Prewett
1936
Banker Craig
1932
Sheriff Jim Wyatt
1948
Doctor
1931
Editor Pickett
1934
A.B. Crockett
1934
Hank Younger
1941
Elijah Walker
1946
Old Silas Bagley
1946
Professor (uncredited)
1933
McAllister
1935
Scroggs
1936
Sheriff
1936
Harvey Taylor - First Ex-Soldier
1931
Dead Child's Father
1937
Notary (1825)
1934
Mathew Hodgkins
1946
Sheriff Evans
1953
Dan Perkins
1932
Jacob Tutwiler
1917
Mr. Bronson
1940
'Black' Pawl
1920
Luke Barlow
1947
Sheep Man
1937
Overland Bradley
1918
Grandfather Nichols
1932
Winchester Thompson
1939
Fred - Outrider in Prologue
1938
Judge R.W. Williams
1932
Uncle Rufus
1943
Sam Stanton
1952
Doc Small
1935
Matthew Turnbull
1937
Mr. Thornycroft
1946
Eben Holt
1923
Grandpa Smith
1952
Hamlin
1932
McKenzie
1938
Simeon Krillet
1921
Uncle Joe
1932
Andy McKay
1950
Jeff Parkington
1936
Grandpa Crumb
1925
Trampas
1923
Roy Neal
1934
Sandy
1927
Capt. Fergus MacLennan
1949
Ezra MacDuff
1934
Thomas Hall
1931
Minister
1948
Wade Clayton
1947
Matt Keeler
1937
Squire Amasa Bartlett
1935
Silas Martin
1925
Colonel John Aldridge
1930
Uncle Zeke Sawyer
1918
Pa Nathan Brown
1933
Andrew Jackson
1927
Benton
1936
J.K. Trimble
1944
Capt. Lightfoot
1925
Frontiersman
1939
Speaker
1933
Caleb Gare
1927
Big Jack Skinner
1923
Hank Armstrong
1927
Marshal Len Baker
1941
Sheriff Big Bill Tanner
1939
Clem Johnson
1952
Ezra Tilden
1926
Dave MacMillan
1938
Jonathan Kenyon
1932
Jess Meekins
1941
John Carver
1920
Tammas Biggar
1921
Enoch Kidder
1922
Fred Lane
1924
Jim Wood
1934
Bayliss Baynum
1937
Captain Scudder
1918
Sally's Grandfather
1918
Uncle Cal
1930
Tom Duane
1941
Baxter
1937
Mr. Wilkens
1923
Martin Chandler
1918
Si Pace
1925
Dan McGill
1919
Caleb Deming
1922
Farmer MacKenzie
1944
Emile Leval
1929
Bascomb Rogers
1936
Jim O'Connell
1922
Stubbins
1926
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
1914
Marshal Joseph Slyde
1932
Singapore Joe
1928
Garvey
1925
Ladd
1919
The Banker
1929
Jack Rance
1923
Sheriff
1932
Sheriff
1915
1929
Pappy Tolliver
1934
Paul Logan
1922
The Sheriff
1922
Bill Apperson
1919
1925
Jim Willis
1920
James Lawton
1918
Jake
1932
Angus Garth
1925
Tom Duane
1942
Colonel Parker
1946
Hank Blatchford
1926
'Brick' Willock
1920
Joshua Barker
1929
Bish Plivens
1937
Gunner Bill
1929
Hugh Garth
1921
Jap Taylor
1925