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