Birth Day: 1880-06-16
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.
Credits
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As Henry Goodbody -
As Clem Hall -
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As Brother Griffith - Elder (uncredited) -
As Deputy 'Pop' Jackson -
As The Parson -
As The Minister (uncredited) -
As Emigrant (uncredited) -
As Judge (uncredited) -
As Fred Bixby -
As Sheriff Evans -
As Lewt Lake -
As Grandpa Smith -
As Clem Johnson -
As Maynard Cole -
As Sam Stanton -
As Judge -
As Pop -
As Andy McKay -
As Adam Perkins -
As Farmer (uncredited) -
As Capt. Fergus MacLennan -
As Bartender (as old Timer) -
As Farmer -
As Abner Huggins -
As Sheriff Jim Wyatt -
As Minister -
As Big Sam Dabney -
As Walt Hardison -
As Old Man with Pipe (uncredited) -
As Wade Clayton -
As Luke Barlow -
As Dan Yeary -
As Colonel Parker -
As John Simpson -
As Old Silas Bagley -
As Elijah Walker -
As Mathew Hodgkins -
As Mr. Thornycroft -
As 'Dad' Knowland -
As The Colonel - Drill Instructor (uncredited) -
As Pop de Longpre -
As J.K. Trimble -
As Adam Parker -
As Farmer MacKenzie -
As Pat Foster (uncredited) -
As Uncle Rufus -
As Sheriff -
As Sime -
As Frenchy McGuire -
As Orestes Krebs -
As Mayor Potter -
As 2nd Captain (uncredited) -
As Flapjack -
As Kirby -
As Ned Nolan -
As Tom Duane -
As Marty McCord -
As (uncredited) -
As Tom Duane -
As Hank Younger -
As Jess Meekins
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As Chief of Police -
As Marshal Len Baker -
As Pa Joad -
As Mr. Bronson -
As Shubel Morgan -
As Minister -
As Gaylord -
As U.S. Army Major -
As Dr. Petry -
As Scout -
As Frontiersman -
As Winchester Thompson -
As Orth -
As Woolridge (uncredited) -
As Kenneth Allen (uncredited) -
As Sheriff Big Bill Tanner -
As McKenzie -
As Dave MacMillan -
As Fred - Outrider in Prologue -
As MacKenzie -
As Matt Keeler -
As Bayliss Baynum -
As Sheep Man -
As Village Marshal (Uncredited) -
As Matthew Turnbull -
As Bish Plivens -
As Dead Child's Father -
As Baxter -
As Scroggs -
As 'Red' Kelly -
As Jeff Parkington -
As Sheriff -
As Benton -
As Abner Prewett
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As Bascomb Rogers -
As Squire Amasa Bartlett -
As McAllister -
As Doc Small -
As Ezra MacDuff -
As Editor Pickett -
As Notary (1825) -
As A.B. Crockett -
As Jim Wood -
As Richards -
As Pappy Tolliver -
As Roy Neal -
As Professor (uncredited) -
As Pa Nathan Brown -
As Doctor (uncredited) -
As Speaker -
As Old Man in Wagon Train -
As Marshal Joseph Slyde -
As Hamlin -
As Grandfather Nichols -
As Dan Perkins -
As Jonathan Kenyon -
As Jake -
As Banker Craig -
As Judge R.W. Williams -
As Uncle Joe -
As Sheriff -
As Thomas Hall -
As Harvey Taylor - First Ex-Soldier -
As Doctor -
As Uncle Cal -
As Lincoln's Employer -
As Colonel John Aldridge -
As Angus McSween -
As Gunner Bill -
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As Joshua Barker -
As Emile Leval -
As The Banker -
As Ebenezer -
As Sir Eric
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As Singapore Joe -
As Sandy -
As Lord Abercrombie McTavish -
As 'Cash' Cynon
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As Hank Armstrong -
As Caleb Gare -
As Andrew Jackson -
As Hank Blatchford -
As The Mayor's Partner -
As Ezra Tilden -
As Stubbins -
As The Eagle's Lieutenant / Coach Driver (uncredited) -
As Angus Garth
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As Jap Taylor -
As Riley -
As Chuckwalla Bill -
As Garvey -
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As Silas Martin -
As Si Pace -
As Capt. Lightfoot -
As Grandpa Crumb -
As Fred Lane -
As Eben Holt -
As Jack Rance -
As Trampas -
As Black Joe -
As Patrick Ryan -
As Mr. Wilkens
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As Big Jack Skinner -
As Caleb Deming
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As The Sheriff -
As Enoch Kidder -
As Paul Logan -
As Jim O'Connell -
As Simeon Krillet -
As Tammas Biggar -
As Hugh Garth -
As 'Brick' Willock -
As 'Black' Pawl -
As Jim Willis -
As John Carver -
As Hiram McKinstry -
As Dan McGill -
As Jim Yancy -
As Bill Apperson -
As Ladd -
As Adele's Father -
As James Lawton
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As Martin Chandler -
As Uncle Zeke Sawyer -
As Overland Bradley -
As Sally's Grandfather -
As Captain Scudder -
As Jacob Tutwiler -
As John Gaylord / John Tale -
As Peter Nelson -
As Sheriff
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As Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)