Russell Simpson

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

196

Gender

Male

Birthday

1880-06-16

Day of death

1959-12-12 (79 years old)

Place of Birth

Danville, California, USA

Russell 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). 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.

Known For

  • Wagon Train

    Wagon Train

  • The Lone Ranger

    The Lone Ranger

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour

    The 20th Century Fox Hour

  • The Texan

    The Texan

  • The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

    The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

  • Public Defender

    Public Defender

  • Peg o' My Heart

    Peg o' My Heart

  • Cavalcade of America

    Cavalcade of America

  • Cavalcade of America

    Cavalcade of America

  • Cavalcade of America

    Cavalcade of America

  • Santa Fe Trail

    Santa Fe Trail

  • The Grapes of Wrath

    The Grapes of Wrath

  • The Tin Star

    The Tin Star

  • Abraham Lincoln

    Abraham Lincoln

  • The Sun Shines Bright

    The Sun Shines Bright

  • Moonlight in Vermont

    Moonlight in Vermont

  • The Branding Iron

    The Branding Iron

  • Sergeant Preston of the Yukon

    Sergeant Preston of the Yukon

  • Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

    Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

  • Lena Rivers

    Lena Rivers

  • The Horse Soldiers

    The Horse Soldiers

  • Motive for Revenge

    Motive for Revenge

  • Feudin' Fools

    Feudin' Fools

  • The Tall Men

    The Tall Men

  • Ridin' for Justice

    Ridin' for Justice

  • Wild Bill Hickok Rides

    Wild Bill Hickok Rides

  • Riders of the Night

    Riders of the Night

  • The Great Meadow

    The Great Meadow

  • Innocents of Paris

    Innocents of Paris

  • Three Faces West

    Three Faces West

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • Man Hunt

    Man Hunt

  • Tuna Clipper

    Tuna Clipper

  • Lone Star

    Lone Star

  • Joan of Arc

    Joan of Arc

  • Ship of Souls

    Ship of Souls

  • Oklahoma!

    Oklahoma!

  • Face in the Sky

    Face in the Sky

  • Paddy O'Day

    Paddy O'Day

  • The Huntress

    The Huntress

  • Green Light

    Green Light

  • Thunder Mountain

    Thunder Mountain

  • The Frontiersman

    The Frontiersman

  • San Francisco

    San Francisco

  • The Lonely Man

    The Lonely Man

  • Lovey Mary

    Lovey Mary

  • Wyoming

    Wyoming

  • The Kingdom Within

    The Kingdom Within

  • California Gold Rush

    California Gold Rush

  • Dodge City

    Dodge City

  • The Eagle

    The Eagle

  • The Fabulous Texan

    The Fabulous Texan

  • The Uphill Path

    The Uphill Path

  • The Old Homestead

    The Old Homestead

  • Virginia City

    Virginia City

  • Billy the Kid

    Billy the Kid

  • Annie Laurie

    Annie Laurie

  • The Honor of the Press

    The Honor of the Press

  • Texas Masquerade

    Texas Masquerade

  • Faint Perfume

    Faint Perfume

  • Meet John Doe

    Meet John Doe

  • Three on a Honeymoon

    Three on a Honeymoon

  • Bowery Buckaroos

    Bowery Buckaroos

  • Tropical Nights

    Tropical Nights

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • Young Mr. Lincoln

    Young Mr. Lincoln

  • Friendly Persuasion

    Friendly Persuasion

  • The Earth Woman

    The Earth Woman

  • Hearts Aflame

    Hearts Aflame

  • The Bill of Rights

    The Bill of Rights

  • The Brass Legend

    The Brass Legend

  • Heart of the North

    Heart of the North

  • Mountain Justice

    Mountain Justice

  • The Power and the Glory

    The Power and the Glory

  • Wild West Days

    Wild West Days

  • The Untamed Breed

    The Untamed Breed

  • Carolina

    Carolina

  • Riding High

    Riding High

  • The Spoilers

    The Spoilers

  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

  • My Darling Clementine

    My Darling Clementine

  • Bad Bascomb

    Bad Bascomb

  • Western Caravans

    Western Caravans

  • Man to Man

    Man to Man

  • Wild Geese

    Wild Geese

  • Colt Comrades

    Colt Comrades

  • Across the Dead-Line

    Across the Dead-Line

  • Along Came Jones

    Along Came Jones

  • Desert Gold

    Desert Gold

  • Law and Order

    Law and Order

  • My Lady's Past

    My Lady's Past

  • Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

    Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

  • Wild Geese Calling

    Wild Geese Calling

  • Tobacco Road

    Tobacco Road

  • Coroner Creek

    Coroner Creek

  • Broken Lance

    Broken Lance

  • Sixteen Fathoms Deep

    Sixteen Fathoms Deep

  • Human Hearts

    Human Hearts

  • The Cabin in the Cotton

    The Cabin in the Cotton

  • That I May Live

    That I May Live

  • Ever Since Eve

    Ever Since Eve

  • Drums Along the Mohawk

    Drums Along the Mohawk

  • Wagon Master

    Wagon Master

  • Roaring Guns

    Roaring Guns

  • Ramona

    Ramona

  • Tap Roots

    Tap Roots

  • Valley of the Giants

    Valley of the Giants

  • Tennessee Johnson

    Tennessee Johnson

  • Silver Dollar

    Silver Dollar

  • The Outriders

    The Outriders

  • Albuquerque

    Albuquerque

  • Border Patrol

    Border Patrol

  • The Harvester

    The Harvester

  • The Woman of the Town

    The Woman of the Town

  • The World Moves On

    The World Moves On

  • Blue Jeans

    Blue Jeans

  • Swamp Water

    Swamp Water

  • The Girl of the Golden West

    The Girl of the Golden West

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • The Girl of the Golden West

    The Girl of the Golden West

  • Flames

    Flames

  • The Lone Star Ranger

    The Lone Star Ranger

  • Rags to Riches

    Rags to Riches

  • Tall in the Saddle

    Tall in the Saddle

  • Now We're in the Air

    Now We're in the Air

  • Paradise Isle

    Paradise Isle

  • Death Valley

    Death Valley

  • Circus Days

    Circus Days

  • Why Women Love

    Why Women Love

  • Comin' Round the Mountain

    Comin' Round the Mountain

  • Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair

    Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair

  • Saddle Tramp

    Saddle Tramp

  • After the Fog

    After the Fog

  • Nazi Agent

    Nazi Agent

  • Desperate Trails

    Desperate Trails

  • Last of the Duanes

    Last of the Duanes

  • The First Auto

    The First Auto

  • Alexander Hamilton

    Alexander Hamilton

  • Godless Men

    Godless Men

  • Sundown in Santa Fe

    Sundown in Santa Fe

  • Bunty Pulls the Strings

    Bunty Pulls the Strings

  • Snowblind

    Snowblind

  • Shut My Big Mouth

    Shut My Big Mouth

  • The Brand

    The Brand

  • They Were Expendable

    They Were Expendable

  • Paint and Powder

    Paint and Powder

  • Painted People

    Painted People

  • Geronimo

    Geronimo

  • The Riding Tornado

    The Riding Tornado

  • The Sap

    The Sap

  • West of the Pecos

    West of the Pecos

  • The Ghost of Crossbone Canyon

    The Ghost of Crossbone Canyon

  • Gold Is Where You Find It

    Gold Is Where You Find It

  • Parnell

    Parnell

  • Meet Me at the Fair

    Meet Me at the Fair

  • Call of the Klondike

    Call of the Klondike

  • Free For All

    Free For All

  • Citadel of Crime

    Citadel of Crime

  • Bad Men of Missouri

    Bad Men of Missouri

  • Brigham Young

    Brigham Young

  • Stolen by Gypsies or Beer and Bicycles

    Stolen by Gypsies or Beer and Bicycles

  • Way Down East

    Way Down East

  • Roughly Speaking

    Roughly Speaking

  • A Boy and His Dog

    A Boy and His Dog

  • The Hoosier Schoolmaster

    The Hoosier Schoolmaster

  • Call Her Savage

    Call Her Savage

  • The Last Command

    The Last Command

  • The Big Bonanza

    The Big Bonanza

  • My Dog Shep

    My Dog Shep

  • Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)

    Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)

  • Frontier Marshal

    Frontier Marshal

  • Maid of Salem

    Maid of Salem

  • All Faces West

    All Faces West

  • The Gal Who Took the West

    The Gal Who Took the West

  • Breakers Ahead

    Breakers Ahead

  • The Romance of Rosy Ridge

    The Romance of Rosy Ridge

  • Lone Star Ranger

    Lone Star Ranger

  • Defying Destiny

    Defying Destiny

  • The Famous Ferguson Case

    The Famous Ferguson Case

  • The Deadlier Sex

    The Deadlier Sex

  • Under the Lash

    Under the Lash

  • The Border Legion

    The Border Legion

  • Lahoma

    Lahoma

  • Rustlin' for Cupid

    Rustlin' for Cupid

  • Radio Scout

    Radio Scout

  • The Narrow Street

    The Narrow Street

  • Girl of the Ozarks

    Girl of the Ozarks

  • The Splendid Road

    The Splendid Road

  • Hello Trouble

    Hello Trouble

  • The Re-Creation of Brian Kent

    The Re-Creation of Brian Kent

  • Back to Nature

    Back to Nature

  • The Challenge Accepted

    The Challenge Accepted

  • Old Shoes

    Old Shoes

  • Bill Apperson's Boy

    Bill Apperson's Boy

  • The Bushranger

    The Bushranger

  • A Weaver of Dreams

    A Weaver of Dreams