Russell Simpson
Known for Acting · 207 credits
- Born
- 1880-06-16
- Died
- 1959-12-12
- Place of birth
- Danville, California, USA
- Also known as
- Russell McCaskill Simpson · Russel 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).
Known For
TV Shows (9)
Wagon Train
1957
as Mr. Carr
The Lone Ranger
1949
as Jack Brewster
The Texan
1958
as Zeb Waters
The 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
as Old Man
Public Defender
1954
as Lundquist
Cavalcade of America
1952
as Quatermaster / Judge Grant
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
as Sam
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
1955
General Electric Theater
1953
Movies (198)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
as Kenneth Allen (uncredited)
The Grapes of Wrath
1940
as Pa Joad
Tobacco Road
1941
as Chief of Police
Lone Star
1952
as Maynard Cole
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
1954
as Fred Bixby
My Darling Clementine
1946
as John Simpson
The Horse Soldiers
1959
as Henry Goodbody
Swamp Water
1941
as Marty McCord
Friendly Persuasion
1956
as Brother Griffith - Elder (uncredited)
Joan of Arc
1948
as Old Man with Pipe (uncredited)
San Francisco
1936
as 'Red' Kelly
The Spoilers
1942
as Flapjack
Oklahoma!
1955
as The Minister (uncredited)
They Were Expendable
1945
as 'Dad' Knowland
Dodge City
1939
as Orth
The Tall Men
1955
as Emigrant (uncredited)
Broken Lance
1954
as Judge (uncredited)
The Tin Star
1957
as Clem Hall
Young Mr. Lincoln
1939
as Woolridge (uncredited)
The Outriders
1950
as Farmer (uncredited)
Virginia City
1940
as Gaylord
Meet John Doe
1941
as (uncredited)
Tall in the Saddle
1944
as Pat Foster (uncredited)
Snowblind
1921
as Hugh Garth
The Huntress
1923
as Big Jack Skinner
Wagon Master
1950
as Adam Perkins
Parnell
1937
as Dead Child's Father
Lovey Mary
1926
as Stubbins
Abraham Lincoln
1930
as Lincoln's Employer
Silver Dollar
1932
as Hamlin
Santa Fe Trail
1940
as Shubel Morgan
The Harvester
1936
as Abner Prewett
Green Light
1937
as Sheep Man
Tuna Clipper
1949
as Capt. Fergus MacLennan
Hello Trouble
1932
as Jonathan Kenyon
Drums Along the Mohawk
1939
as Dr. Petry
Paddy O'Day
1936
as Benton
Ramona
1936
as Scroggs
The Last Command
1955
as The Parson
Western Caravans
1939
as Winchester Thompson
Comin' Round the Mountain
1951
as Judge
Three Faces West
1940
as Minister
Nazi Agent
1942
as 2nd Captain (uncredited)
The Cabin in the Cotton
1932
as Uncle Joe
Mountain Justice
1937
as Matthew Turnbull
Brigham Young
1940
as U.S. Army Major
Secrets
1933
as Doctor (uncredited)
Law and Order
1932
as Judge R.W. Williams
Wild Bill Hickok Rides
1942
as Ned Nolan
Along Came Jones
1945
as Pop de Longpre
Tennessee Johnson
1942
as Kirby
Tap Roots
1948
as Big Sam Dabney
The Lonely Man
1957
Coroner Creek
1948
as Walt Hardison
The Power and the Glory
1933
as Professor (uncredited)
Desperate Trails
1939
as Sheriff Big Bill Tanner
Face in the Sky
1933
as Pa Nathan Brown
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
1947
as Dan Yeary
The Frontiersman
1927
as Andrew Jackson
Geronimo
1939
as Scout
Billy the Kid
1930
as Angus McSween
Bad Men of Missouri
1941
as Hank Younger
The Brass Legend
1956
as Deputy 'Pop' Jackson
Death Valley
1946
as Old Silas Bagley
The Great Meadow
1931
as Thomas Hall
Painted People
1924
as Fred Lane
Way Down East
1935
as Squire Amasa Bartlett
Wild Geese Calling
1941
as Marshal Len Baker
The Famous Ferguson Case
1932
as Banker Craig
My Dog Shep
1946
as Mathew Hodgkins
The World Moves On
1934
as Notary (1825)
The Brand
1919
as Dan McGill
Shut My Big Mouth
1942
as Mayor Potter
Gold Is Where You Find It
1938
as MacKenzie
Colt Comrades
1943
as Sheriff
The Sun Shines Bright
1953
as Lewt Lake
Saddle Tramp
1950
as Pop
The Ghost of Crossbone Canyon
1952
as Sam Stanton
The Hoosier Schoolmaster
1935
as Doc Small
Roughly Speaking
1945
as The Colonel - Drill Instructor (uncredited)
The Eagle
1925
as The Eagle's Lieutenant / Coach Driver (uncredited)
Feudin' Fools
1952
as Grandpa Smith
Call Her Savage
1932
as Old Man in Wagon Train
Carolina
1934
as Richards
Valley of the Giants
1938
as McKenzie
Maid of Salem
1937
as Village Marshal (Uncredited)
Innocents of Paris
1929
as Emile Leval
Lena Rivers
1932
as Grandfather Nichols
Human Hearts
1922
as Paul Logan
Heart of the North
1938
as Dave MacMillan
Riding High
1943
as Frenchy McGuire
Wild Geese
1927
as Caleb Gare
Meet Me at the Fair
1953
as Sheriff Evans
Man to Man
1930
as Uncle Cal
Annie Laurie
1927
as Sandy
Wyoming
1940
as Mr. Bronson
Roaring Guns
1944
as Farmer MacKenzie
The Gal Who Took the West
1949
as Bartender (as old Timer)
The Woman of the Town
1943
as Sime
Border Patrol
1943
as Orestes Krebs
Albuquerque
1948
as Abner Huggins
Frontier Marshal
1934
as Editor Pickett
Wild West Days
1937
as Matt Keeler
Desert Gold
1919
as Ladd
West of the Pecos
1934
as Roy Neal
Thunder Mountain
1925
as Si Pace
The Virginian
1923
as Trampas
Motive for Revenge
1935
as McAllister
The First Auto
1927
as Hank Armstrong
Old Shoes
1925
The Big Bonanza
1944
as Adam Parker
Citadel of Crime
1941
as Jess Meekins
The Girl of the Golden West
1938
as Fred - Outrider in Prologue
Texas Masquerade
1944
as J.K. Trimble
Back to Nature
1936
as Sheriff
The Lone Star Ranger
1930
as Colonel John Aldridge
Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair
1952
as Clem Johnson
Ever Since Eve
1934
as Jim Wood
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
1937
as Bayliss Baynum
Faint Perfume
1925
as Grandpa Crumb
About Russell Simpson
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 ma… With 207 credits spanning from 1914 to 1959, Russell Simpson has appeared in 198 films and 9 TV shows.
Fans searching for Russell Simpson movies, Russell Simpson filmography, or the latest projects starring Russell Simpson can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Russell Simpson Movies
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) — as Kenneth Allen (uncredited)
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940) — as Pa Joad
- Tobacco Road (1941) — as Chief of Police
- Lone Star (1952) — as Maynard Cole
- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) — as Fred Bixby
Where to Watch Russell Simpson Films
Most Russell Simpson movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Russell Simpson, check our movies catalogue and browse page.