Russell Simpson (actor)
Russell McCaskill Simpson was an American character actor.
Early life
Russell Simpson was born on June 17, 1880 in Danville, California. He attended grammar school in the Danville District in Contra Costa County, California; he graduated on July 2, 1892. At age 18, Simpson prospected for gold in Alaska. He began taking acting classes in Seattle, Washington. He was married to Gertrude Aller from New York City on January 19, 1910.
Career
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. Simpson didn't usually perform lead roles, but he did star in many movies throughout the silent movie era. He did perform a lead role as the grandfather in Out of the Dust and the father in The First Auto.
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 in 1940. He was 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. He worked up to 1959, the year of his death. His final film was The Horse Soldiers, his tenth film for Ford. Simpson was the president of the Overseas Phonograph Accessories Corporation. He died on December 12, 1959, in Woodland Hills, California. Simpson had appeared in over 500 movies throughout his life.
Selected filmography
The Old Homestead as SheriffLovely Mary as Peter NelsonThe Feud Girl as Zeb BassettThe Barrier as John Gaylord / John TaleThe Food Gamblers as Samuel SloaneBlue Jeans as Jacob TutwilerA Weaver of Dreams as Martin ChandlerBreakers Ahead as Captain ScudderRiders of the Night as Sally's GrandfatherThe Uphill Path as James LawtonThe Border Legion as Overland BradleyOh, Johnny! as Adele's fatherThe Challenge Accepted as Uncle Zeke SawyerFighting Cressy as Hiram McKinstryDesert Gold as LaddThe Deadlier Sex as Jim WillisLahoma as Brick WillockThe Branding Iron as John CarverGodless Men as 'Black' PawlBunty Pulls the Strings as Tammas BiggarUnder the Lash as Simeon KrilletShadows of Conscience as Jim LoganAcross the Dead-Line as Enoch KidderFools of Fortune as Magpie SimpkinsHuman Hearts as Paul LoganRags to Riches as The SheriffPeg o' My Heart as Jim O'ConnellThe Kingdom Within as Caleb DemingHearts Aflame as Black JoeThe Girl of the Golden West as Jack RanceCircus Days as Eben HoltThe Huntress as Big Jack SkinnerDefying Destiny as Mr. WilkensThe Virginian as TrampasDesire Painted People as Fred LaneThe Narrow Street as GaarveyBeauty and the Bad Man as Chuckwalla BillOld Shoes Paint and Powder as RileyThunder Mountain as Si PaceThe Splendid Road as Capt. LightfootThe Ship of Souls as Angus GarthThe Earth Woman as Ezra TildenRustling for Cupid as Hank BlatchfordThe Social Highwayman as The Mayor's PartnerLovey Mary as StubbinsGod's Great Wilderness as Richard StonerAnnie Laurie as SandyThe Heart of the Yukon as 'Cash' CynonThe Frontiersman as Andrew JacksonThe First Auto as Hank ArmstrongNow We're in the Air as Lord Abercrombie McTavishWild Geese as Caleb GareThe Trail of '98 as Old Swede Life's Mockery as Wolf MillerThe Bushranger as Sir EricTropical Nights as Singapore JoeNoisy Neighbors as EbenezerAll Faces West as Gunner BillInnocents of Paris as Emile LevalAfter the Fog as Joshua BarkerThe Lone Star Ranger as Colonel John AldridgeAbraham Lincoln as Lincoln's EmployerBilly the Kid as Angus McSweenMan to Man as Uncle CalThe Great Meadow as Thomas HallSusan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) as DoctorRidin' for Justice as Marshal Joseph SlydeLaw and Order as Judge R.W. WilliamsLena Rivers as Grandfather NicholsThe Riding Tornado as SheriffThe Famous Ferguson Case as Banker CraigThe Honor of the Press as City Editor Dan PerkinsHello Trouble as Jonathan KenyonCabin in the Cotton as Uncle JoeCall Her Savage as Old Man in Wagon TrainSilver Dollar as HamlinFace in the Sky as Pa Nathan BrownSixteen Fathoms Deep as A.B. CrockettFrontier Marshal as Editor PickettCarolina as RichardsThree on a Honeymoon as Ezra MacDuffEver Since Eve as Jim WoodThe World Moves On as Notary West of the Pecos as Roy NealThe County Chairman as Vance JimmisonThe Hoosier Schoolmaster as Doc SmallMotive for Revenge as McAllisterWay Down East as Squire Amasa BartlettPaddy O'Day as BentonMan Hunt as Jeff ParkingtonThe Harvester as Abner PrewettGirl of the Ozarks as Bascomb RogersSan Francisco as Red KellyThe Crime of Dr. Forbes as Sheriff NeilBack to Nature as Sheriff Ramona as ScroggsWild Brian Kent as Race Judge Green Light as Sheep ManMaid of Salem as Village Marshal Mountain Justice as Mr. Matthew TurnbullThat I May Live as Bish PlivensParnell as Dead Child's Father Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge as Bayliss BaynumWild West Days as Matt KeelerParadise Isle as BaxterGold is Where You Find It as MacKenzieValley of the Giants as McKenzieHeart of the North as Dave MacMillanDodge City as Jack OrthDesperate Trails as Sheriff Big Bill TannerDrums Along the Mohawk as Dr. PetryThe Grapes of Wrath as Pa JoadVirginia City as Frank GaylordThree Faces West as MinisterBrigham Young as U.S. Army MajorTobacco Road as Chief of PoliceCitadel of Crime as Jess MeekinsBad Men of Missouri as Hank YoungerWild Geese Calling as Marshal Len BakerLast of the Duanes as Tom DuaneSwamp Water as Marty McCordNazi Agent as 2nd Captain Wild Bill Hickok Rides as Edward 'Ned' NolanShut My Big Mouth as Mayor PotterThe Lone Star Ranger as Tom DuaneThe Spoilers as Flapjack SimsTennessee Johnson as KirbyBorder Patrol as Orestes KrebsColt Comrades as Sheriff Moonlight in Vermont as Uncle RufusThe Woman of the Town as SimeTexas Masquerade as J.K. TrimbleMan from Frisco as Dr. HersheyThe Big Bonanza as Adam ParkerAlong Came Jones as Pop de LongpreIncendiary Blonde as Jenkins They Were Expendable as 'Dad' KnowlandCalifornia Gold Rush as Colonel ParkerBad Bascomb as Elijah WalkerDeath Valley as Old Silas BagleyMy Darling Clementine as John SimpsonMy Dog Shep as Matt HodgkinsA Boy and His Dog as Mr. ThornycroftThe Romance of Rosy Ridge as Dan YearyBowery Buckaroos as Sheriff Luke BarlowThe Fabulous Texan as Wade ClaytonAlbuquerque as Abner HugginsCoroner Creek as Walt HardisonTap Roots as Big Sam DabneySundown in Santa Fe as Sheriff Jim WyattTuna Clipper as Capt. Fergus MacLennanThe Gal Who Took the West as Bartender Free for All as FarmerWagon Master as Adam PerkinsSaddle Tramp as PopCall of the Klondike as Andy McKayComin' Round the Mountain as JudgeLone Star as Senator Maynard ColeMa and Pa Kettle at the Fair as Clem JohnsonFeudin' Fools as Grandpa SmithMeet Me at the Fair as Sheriff EvansThe Sun Shines Bright as Dr. Lewt LakeSeven Brides for Seven Brothers as Mr. BixbyBroken Lance as Judge The Last Command as The ParsonThe Brass Legend as Deputy 'Pop' JacksonWagon Train as Mr CarrThe Tin Star as Clem HallThe Horse Soldiers as Sheriff Goodbody