Russell Simpson

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

202

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 Texan

    The Texan

  • Abraham Lincoln

    Abraham Lincoln

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour

    The 20th Century Fox Hour

  • Lone Star

    Lone Star

  • Cavalcade of America

    Cavalcade of America

  • Cavalcade of America

    Cavalcade of America

  • Cavalcade of America

    Cavalcade of America

  • The Harvester

    The Harvester

  • Annie Laurie

    Annie Laurie

  • Lena Rivers

    Lena Rivers

  • The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

    The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

  • The Frontiersman

    The Frontiersman

  • Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

    Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

  • All Faces West

    All Faces West

  • San Francisco

    San Francisco

  • Circus Days

    Circus Days

  • Silver Dollar

    Silver Dollar

  • Snowblind

    Snowblind

  • Public Defender

    Public Defender

  • Dodge City

    Dodge City

  • Texas Masquerade

    Texas Masquerade

  • Tap Roots

    Tap Roots

  • Bad Bascomb

    Bad Bascomb

  • Desire

    Desire

  • Tropical Nights

    Tropical Nights

  • Tobacco Road

    Tobacco Road

  • Desert Gold

    Desert Gold

  • The Spoilers

    The Spoilers

  • Virginia City

    Virginia City

  • Wagon Master

    Wagon Master

  • The Brand

    The Brand

  • Riding High

    Riding High

  • Ridin' for Justice

    Ridin' for Justice

  • The Huntress

    The Huntress

  • Coroner Creek

    Coroner Creek

  • Wyoming

    Wyoming

  • Border Patrol

    Border Patrol

  • The Grapes of Wrath

    The Grapes of Wrath

  • Colt Comrades

    Colt Comrades

  • Ramona

    Ramona

  • Tennessee Johnson

    Tennessee Johnson

  • Death Valley

    Death Valley

  • Hearts Aflame

    Hearts Aflame

  • Green Light

    Green Light

  • Thunder Mountain

    Thunder Mountain

  • Broken Lance

    Broken Lance

  • Carolina

    Carolina

  • Swamp Water

    Swamp Water

  • Human Hearts

    Human Hearts

  • Gold Is Where You Find It

    Gold Is Where You Find It

  • The Outriders

    The Outriders

  • Saddle Tramp

    Saddle Tramp

  • Bowery Buckaroos

    Bowery Buckaroos

  • The World Moves On

    The World Moves On

  • Sergeant Preston of the Yukon

    Sergeant Preston of the Yukon

  • Roaring Guns

    Roaring Guns

  • Mountain Justice

    Mountain Justice

  • Nazi Agent

    Nazi Agent

  • The Horse Soldiers

    The Horse Soldiers

  • Albuquerque

    Albuquerque

  • The Tall Men

    The Tall Men

  • Feudin' Fools

    Feudin' Fools

  • The Sap

    The Sap

  • The Tin Star

    The Tin Star

  • The Bill of Rights

    The Bill of Rights

  • Joan of Arc

    Joan of Arc

  • My Darling Clementine

    My Darling Clementine

  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

  • Lovely Mary

    Lovely Mary

  • Brigham Young

    Brigham Young

  • Oklahoma!

    Oklahoma!

  • Meet John Doe

    Meet John Doe

  • Tuna Clipper

    Tuna Clipper

  • Alexander Hamilton

    Alexander Hamilton

  • Parnell

    Parnell

  • Young Mr. Lincoln

    Young Mr. Lincoln

  • Lovey Mary

    Lovey Mary

  • Geronimo

    Geronimo

  • Flames

    Flames

  • They Were Expendable

    They Were Expendable

  • Roughly Speaking

    Roughly Speaking

  • Paradise Isle

    Paradise Isle

  • Friendly Persuasion

    Friendly Persuasion

  • The Woman of the Town

    The Woman of the Town

  • The Last Command

    The Last Command

  • Riders of the Night

    Riders of the Night

  • Drums Along the Mohawk

    Drums Along the Mohawk

  • Tall in the Saddle

    Tall in the Saddle

  • Faint Perfume

    Faint Perfume

  • After the Fog

    After the Fog

  • Western Caravans

    Western Caravans

  • The Cabin in the Cotton

    The Cabin in the Cotton

  • Along Came Jones

    Along Came Jones

  • Meet Me at the Fair

    Meet Me at the Fair

  • Motive for Revenge

    Motive for Revenge

  • Paint and Powder

    Paint and Powder

  • Bunty Pulls the Strings

    Bunty Pulls the Strings

  • The Sun Shines Bright

    The Sun Shines Bright

  • The Branding Iron

    The Branding Iron

  • The Lonely Man

    The Lonely Man

  • Frontier Marshal

    Frontier Marshal

  • The Girl of the Golden West

    The Girl of the Golden West

  • My Lady's Past

    My Lady's Past

  • Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair

    Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair

  • Valley of the Giants

    Valley of the Giants

  • Now We're in the Air

    Now We're in the Air

  • Three Faces West

    Three Faces West

  • Lahoma

    Lahoma

  • Rags to Riches

    Rags to Riches

  • The Brass Legend

    The Brass Legend

  • The First Auto

    The First Auto

  • Comin' Round the Mountain

    Comin' Round the Mountain

  • Man to Man

    Man to Man

  • Moonlight in Vermont

    Moonlight in Vermont

  • Sundown in Santa Fe

    Sundown in Santa Fe

  • Face in the Sky

    Face in the Sky

  • The Fabulous Texan

    The Fabulous Texan

  • Wild Bill Hickok Rides

    Wild Bill Hickok Rides

  • Paddy O'Day

    Paddy O'Day

  • Citadel of Crime

    Citadel of Crime

  • The Riding Tornado

    The Riding Tornado

  • Wild West Days

    Wild West Days

  • Beauty and the Bad Man

    Beauty and the Bad Man

  • A Boy and His Dog

    A Boy and His Dog

  • The Honor of the Press

    The Honor of the Press

  • Law and Order

    Law and Order

  • Painted People

    Painted People

  • Three on a Honeymoon

    Three on a Honeymoon

  • Breakers Ahead

    Breakers Ahead

  • The Hoosier Schoolmaster

    The Hoosier Schoolmaster

  • Way Down East

    Way Down East

  • Heart of the North

    Heart of the North

  • Ever Since Eve

    Ever Since Eve

  • Wild Geese Calling

    Wild Geese Calling

  • Innocents of Paris

    Innocents of Paris

  • Sixteen Fathoms Deep

    Sixteen Fathoms Deep

  • Shut My Big Mouth

    Shut My Big Mouth

  • Why Women Love

    Why Women Love

  • California Gold Rush

    California Gold Rush

  • Call of the Klondike

    Call of the Klondike

  • Maid of Salem

    Maid of Salem

  • Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

    Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

  • Billy the Kid

    Billy the Kid

  • Blue Jeans

    Blue Jeans

  • The Untamed Breed

    The Untamed Breed

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • The Great Meadow

    The Great Meadow

  • The Earth Woman

    The Earth Woman

  • The Power and the Glory

    The Power and the Glory

  • The Ghost of Crossbone Canyon

    The Ghost of Crossbone Canyon

  • Call Her Savage

    Call Her Savage

  • The Uphill Path

    The Uphill Path

  • Last of the Duanes

    Last of the Duanes

  • The Old Homestead

    The Old Homestead

  • The Gal Who Took the West

    The Gal Who Took the West

  • Peg o' My Heart

    Peg o' My Heart

  • Ship of Souls

    Ship of Souls

  • Across the Dead-Line

    Across the Dead-Line

  • Free For All

    Free For All

  • West of the Pecos

    West of the Pecos

  • That I May Live

    That I May Live

  • Girl of the Ozarks

    Girl of the Ozarks

  • The Eagle

    The Eagle

  • The Narrow Street

    The Narrow Street

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • The Big Bonanza

    The Big Bonanza

  • Man Hunt

    Man Hunt

  • Santa Fe Trail

    Santa Fe Trail

  • Fighting Cressy

    Fighting Cressy

  • Lone Star Ranger

    Lone Star Ranger

  • The Girl of the Golden West

    The Girl of the Golden West

  • My Dog Shep

    My Dog Shep

  • The Border Legion

    The Border Legion

  • Defying Destiny

    Defying Destiny

  • Rustlin' for Cupid

    Rustlin' for Cupid

  • Godless Men

    Godless Men

  • Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)

    Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)

  • Bad Men of Missouri

    Bad Men of Missouri

  • Desperate Trails

    Desperate Trails

  • The Famous Ferguson Case

    The Famous Ferguson Case

  • The Lone Star Ranger

    The Lone Star Ranger

  • Wild Geese

    Wild Geese

  • Hello Trouble

    Hello Trouble

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • The Romance of Rosy Ridge

    The Romance of Rosy Ridge

  • The Deadlier Sex

    The Deadlier Sex

  • Under the Lash

    Under the Lash

  • Back to Nature

    Back to Nature

  • The Re-Creation of Brian Kent

    The Re-Creation of Brian Kent

  • The Splendid Road

    The Splendid Road

  • Old Shoes

    Old Shoes

  • Bill Apperson's Boy

    Bill Apperson's Boy

  • The Kingdom Within

    The Kingdom Within

  • Stolen by Gypsies or Beer and Bicycles

    Stolen by Gypsies or Beer and Bicycles

  • A Weaver of Dreams

    A Weaver of Dreams

  • Radio Scout

    Radio Scout

  • The Challenge Accepted

    The Challenge Accepted

  • The Bushranger

    The Bushranger

  • The Blue Bandanna

    The Blue Bandanna

  • The Barrier

    The Barrier