Russell Simpson
Known For: Acting
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: June 16, 1880
Day of Death: December 12, 1959 (80 years old)
Place of Birth: Danville, California, USA
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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Actor Orth
Dodge City
Actor Woolridge (uncredited)
Young Mr. Lincoln
Actor Kenneth Allen (uncredited)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Actor Dr. Petry
Drums Along the Mohawk
Actor Winchester Thompson
Western Caravans
Actor Sheriff Big Bill Tanner
Desperate Trails
Actor Scout
Geronimo
Actor Frontiersman
The Bill of Rights
1938
1937
1936
1935
1934
1933
1932
Actor Jonathan Kenyon
Hello Trouble
Actor Hamlin
Silver Dollar
Actor Judge R.W. Williams
Law and Order
Actor Grandfather Nichols
Lena Rivers
Actor Uncle Joe
The Cabin in the Cotton
Actor Dan Perkins
The Honor of the Press
Actor Banker Craig
The Famous Ferguson Case
Actor Old Man in Wagon Train
Call Her Savage
Actor Marshal Joseph Slyde
Ridin' for Justice
Actor Sheriff
The Riding Tornado
Actor Jake
Flames
