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