J. Farrell MacDonald

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

269

Gender

Male

Birthday

1875-06-05

Day of death

1952-08-02 (77 years old)

Place of Birth

Waterbury, Connecticut, USA

J. Farrell MacDonald

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Farrell MacDonald (June 6, 1875 – August 2, 1952) was an American character actor and director. He played supporting roles and occasional leads. He appeared in over 325 films over a 41-year career from 1911 to 1951, and directed forty-four silent films from 1912 to 1917. MacDonald was the principal director of L. Frank Baum's Oz Film Manufacturing Company, and he can frequently be seen in the films of Frank Capra, Preston Sturges and, especially, John Ford. Early in his career, MacDonald was a singer in minstrel shows, and he toured the United States extensively for two years with stage productions. He made his first silent film in 1911, a dramatic short entitled The Scarlett Letter made by Carl Laemmle's Independent Moving Pictures Company (IMP), the forerunner of Universal Pictures,. He continued to act in numerous films each year from that time on, and by 1912 he was directing them as well. The first film he directed was The Worth of a Man, another dramatic short, again for IMP, and he was to direct 43 more films until his last in 1917, Over the Fence, which he co-directed with Harold Lloyd. MacDonald had crossed paths with Lloyd several years earlier, when Lloyd was an extra and MacDonald had given him much-needed work – and he did the same with Hal Roach, both of whom appearing in small roles in The Patchwork Girl of Oz, which MacDonald directed in 1914. When Roach set up his own studio, with Lloyd as his principal attraction, he hired MacDonald to direct. By 1918, MacDonald, who was to become one of the most beloved character men in Hollywood, had given up directing and was acting full-time, predominantly in Westerns and Irish comedies. He first worked under director John Ford in 1919's A Fight for Love. In all, Ford would use MacDonald on twenty-five films between 1919 and 1950. With a voice that matched his personality, MacDonald made the transition to sound films easily, with no noticeable drop in his acting output – if anything, it went up. In 1931, for instance, MacDonald appeared in 14 films – among them the first version of The Maltese Falcon, in which he played "Detective Tom Polhaus" – and in 22 of them in 1932. Although he played laborers, policemen, military men and priests, among many other characters, his roles were usually a cut above a "bit part". His characters usually had names, and he was most often credited for his performances. A highlight of this period was his performance as the hobo "Mr. Tramp" in Our Little Girl with Shirley Temple (1935). In the 1940s, MacDonald was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in seven films written and directed by Sturges. MacDonald appeared in Sullivan's Travels, The Palm Beach Story, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, The Great Moment, The Sin of Harold Diddlebock, Unfaithfully Yours and The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend, Sturges' last American film. Earlier, MacDonald had also appeared in The Power and the Glory, which Sturges wrote. His work on Sturges' films was generally uncredited. He was notable in 1946 in John Ford's My Darling Clementine in which he played "Mac," the bartender in the town saloon. MacDonald also had uncredited roles in It's a Wonderful Life and Here Comes The Groom.

Known For

  • It's a Wonderful Life

    It's a Wonderful Life

  • Bullet Proof

    Bullet Proof

  • The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

    The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

  • The Easiest Way

    The Easiest Way

  • The Strange Love of Molly Louvain

    The Strange Love of Molly Louvain

  • A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

    A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

  • The Wallop

    The Wallop

  • Shadows of the Orient

    Shadows of the Orient

  • The Spirit of Notre Dame

    The Spirit of Notre Dame

  • Topper

    Topper

  • Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans

    Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans

  • Reap the Wild Wind

    Reap the Wild Wind

  • East Side of Heaven

    East Side of Heaven

  • The Walls of Jericho

    The Walls of Jericho

  • River's End

    River's End

  • Here Comes the Groom

    Here Comes the Groom

  • Come On, Rangers

    Come On, Rangers

  • The First Year

    The First Year

  • Murder on the Campus

    Murder on the Campus

  • How to Break 90 #6: Fine Points

    How to Break 90 #6: Fine Points

  • Exclusive Story

    Exclusive Story

  • The Dream

    The Dream

  • Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell

    Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell

  • Mickey the Kid

    Mickey the Kid

  • Let Women Alone

    Let Women Alone

  • In Old Arizona

    In Old Arizona

  • Wild Bill Hickok Rides

    Wild Bill Hickok Rides

  • The Great Lie

    The Great Lie

  • Bowery at Midnight

    Bowery at Midnight

  • My Old Kentucky Home

    My Old Kentucky Home

  • Manslaughter

    Manslaughter

  • None But the Brave

    None But the Brave

  • Riders of Vengeance

    Riders of Vengeance

  • Superman and the Mole Men

    Superman and the Mole Men

  • The Time-Lock Safe

    The Time-Lock Safe

  • The Painted Desert

    The Painted Desert

  • The Truth About Youth

    The Truth About Youth

  • The Iron Horse

    The Iron Horse

  • Marked Men

    Marked Men

  • Streets of San Francisco

    Streets of San Francisco

  • Phantom Killer

    Phantom Killer

  • The Country Beyond

    The Country Beyond

  • Over the Border

    Over the Border

  • Riley the Cop

    Riley the Cop

  • Slave Ship

    Slave Ship

  • Keeper of the Bees

    Keeper of the Bees

  • Tiger Fangs

    Tiger Fangs

  • The Vanishing Frontier

    The Vanishing Frontier

  • Star of Midnight

    Star of Midnight

  • County Fair

    County Fair

  • Trailin'

    Trailin'

  • The Last Express

    The Last Express

  • The Best Man Wins

    The Best Man Wins

  • Barefoot Boy

    Barefoot Boy

  • 'Tween Two Loves

    'Tween Two Loves

  • The Game That Kills

    The Game That Kills

  • Conspiracy

    Conspiracy

  • The Pride of the Legion

    The Pride of the Legion

  • The Crowd Roars

    The Crowd Roars

  • Discarded Lovers

    Discarded Lovers

  • Riders of the Timberline

    Riders of the Timberline

  • Shep Comes Home

    Shep Comes Home

  • Sky High

    Sky High

  • Strong Boy

    Strong Boy

  • The Maltese Falcon

    The Maltese Falcon

  • Hearts of Humanity

    Hearts of Humanity

  • Flying Fists

    Flying Fists

  • Texas Masquerade

    Texas Masquerade

  • Trouble Preferred

    Trouble Preferred

  • Meet John Doe

    Meet John Doe

  • Steady Company

    Steady Company

  • Roaring Timber

    Roaring Timber

  • State Police

    State Police

  • Quicksands

    Quicksands

  • Pillow of Death

    Pillow of Death

  • The Scarlet Letter

    The Scarlet Letter

  • Woman on the Run

    Woman on the Run

  • Whispering Smith

    Whispering Smith

  • Panhandle

    Panhandle

  • Hitchin' Posts

    Hitchin' Posts

  • Fury at Furnace Creek

    Fury at Furnace Creek

  • Stormy

    Stormy

  • Madame Racketeer

    Madame Racketeer

  • The Thirteenth Guest

    The Thirteenth Guest

  • The Lone Ranger Rides Again

    The Lone Ranger Rides Again

  • Stranger in Town

    Stranger in Town

  • The Living Ghost

    The Living Ghost

  • Smoky

    Smoky

  • Paid to Love

    Paid to Love

  • The Signal Tower

    The Signal Tower

  • Those Who Dare

    Those Who Dare

  • The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek

    The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek

  • In Old Cheyenne

    In Old Cheyenne

  • The McGuerins from Brooklyn

    The McGuerins from Brooklyn

  • The Brass Bowl

    The Brass Bowl

  • Slim

    Slim

  • Mysterious Crossing

    Mysterious Crossing

  • The Power and the Glory

    The Power and the Glory

  • The Iron Master

    The Iron Master

  • The Crosby Case

    The Crosby Case

  • East Side, West Side

    East Side, West Side

  • Hangover Square

    Hangover Square

  • Numbered Woman

    Numbered Woman

  • South Sea Rose

    South Sea Rose

  • One Thrilling Night

    One Thrilling Night

  • If You Knew Susie

    If You Knew Susie

  • Pony Express Days

    Pony Express Days

  • My Darling Clementine

    My Darling Clementine

  • Christmas Eve

    Christmas Eve

  • Law of the Timber

    Law of the Timber

  • Florida Special

    Florida Special

  • The Healer

    The Healer

  • Web of Danger

    Web of Danger

  • Me and My Gal

    Me and My Gal

  • Once to Every Woman

    Once to Every Woman

  • Coast Guard

    Coast Guard

  • The Arizonian

    The Arizonian

  • Fallen Angel

    Fallen Angel

  • Fighting Youth

    Fighting Youth

  • Heritage of the Desert

    Heritage of the Desert

  • The Hurricane Express

    The Hurricane Express

  • True to Life

    True to Life

  • This Hero Stuff

    This Hero Stuff

  • Full Confession

    Full Confession

  • Danger Ahead

    Danger Ahead

  • Lightnin'

    Lightnin'

  • The Last Alarm

    The Last Alarm

  • Light of Western Stars

    Light of Western Stars

  • They Shall Have Music

    They Shall Have Music

  • Sitting Pretty

    Sitting Pretty

  • 3 Bad Men

    3 Bad Men

  • The Daltons' Women

    The Daltons' Women

  • Extortion

    Extortion

  • The Squaw Man

    The Squaw Man

  • The Calling of Louis Mona

    The Calling of Louis Mona

  • Riffraff

    Riffraff

  • Fair Enough

    Fair Enough

  • Hotel Continental

    Hotel Continental

  • The Working Man

    The Working Man

  • Show Boat

    Show Boat

  • Northern Frontier

    Northern Frontier

  • The Ape Man

    The Ape Man

  • Drifting

    Drifting

  • The Palm Beach Story

    The Palm Beach Story

  • You're My Everything

    You're My Everything

  • $5,000 Reward

    $5,000 Reward

  • I Loved a Woman

    I Loved a Woman

  • The Millionaire

    The Millionaire

  • 70,000 Witnesses

    70,000 Witnesses

  • White Banners

    White Banners

  • Susannah of the Mounties

    Susannah of the Mounties

  • Touchdown!

    Touchdown!

  • Stagecoach War

    Stagecoach War

  • The Stolen Jools

    The Stolen Jools

  • Cradle Snatchers

    Cradle Snatchers

  • Johnny Angel

    Johnny Angel

  • Week-End Marriage

    Week-End Marriage

  • The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris

    The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris

  • Under Secret Orders

    Under Secret Orders

  • The Bonded Woman

    The Bonded Woman

  • Gang Bullets

    Gang Bullets

  • Zenobia

    Zenobia

  • Maybe It's Love

    Maybe It's Love

  • Abie's Irish Rose

    Abie's Irish Rose

  • Sporting Blood

    Sporting Blood

  • Thank You

    Thank You

  • Swellhead

    Swellhead

  • Submarine Patrol

    Submarine Patrol

  • I Take This Oath

    I Take This Oath

  • The Fighting Heart

    The Fighting Heart

  • Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl

    Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl

  • The Great Moment

    The Great Moment

  • Thunder in the Valley

    Thunder in the Valley

  • Woman Hungry

    Woman Hungry

  • Masquerade

    Masquerade

  • A Trip to Chinatown

    A Trip to Chinatown

  • The Girl of the Golden West

    The Girl of the Golden West

  • Greenwich Village

    Greenwich Village

  • The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

    The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

  • When Willie Comes Marching Home

    When Willie Comes Marching Home

  • My Dear Miss Aldrich

    My Dear Miss Aldrich

  • Friendly Neighbors

    Friendly Neighbors

  • Men Are Such Fools

    Men Are Such Fools

  • Dakota Lil

    Dakota Lil

  • Kentucky Pride

    Kentucky Pride

  • The Age of Desire

    The Age of Desire

  • Circumstantial Evidence

    Circumstantial Evidence

  • Private Snuffy Smith

    Private Snuffy Smith

  • Our Little Girl

    Our Little Girl

  • The Path She Chose

    The Path She Chose

  • The Housekeeper's Daughter

    The Housekeeper's Daughter

  • The Crime Doctor

    The Crime Doctor

  • The Brat

    The Brat

  • The Bachelor Daddy

    The Bachelor Daddy

  • Romance in Manhattan

    Romance in Manhattan

  • The Dalton Gang

    The Dalton Gang

  • Beggar's Holiday

    Beggar's Holiday

  • The Lucky Horseshoe

    The Lucky Horseshoe

  • While Paris Sleeps

    While Paris Sleeps

  • Belle Starr's Daughter

    Belle Starr's Daughter

  • Knights of the Range

    Knights of the Range

  • The Outcasts of Poker Flat

    The Outcasts of Poker Flat

  • The Young Rajah

    The Young Rajah

  • Untamed

    Untamed

  • Hostile Country

    Hostile Country

  • Riding with Death

    Riding with Death

  • Captains of the Clouds

    Captains of the Clouds

  • Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line

    Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line

  • Parnell

    Parnell

  • Parnell

    Parnell

  • Men Without Women

    Men Without Women

  • The Irish in Us

    The Irish in Us

  • Goodbye, Weeds

    Goodbye, Weeds

  • Under Eighteen

    Under Eighteen

  • No Man of Her Own

    No Man of Her Own

  • Rags

    Rags

  • The Family Upstairs

    The Family Upstairs

  • Hitch Hike Lady

    Hitch Hike Lady

  • Waterfront Lady

    Waterfront Lady

  • Front Page Woman

    Front Page Woman

  • Action

    Action

  • Happy Days

    Happy Days

  • Courage of the West

    Courage of the West

  • Ankles Preferred

    Ankles Preferred

  • Scandal for Sale

    Scandal for Sale

  • Maid of Salem

    Maid of Salem

  • 4 Devils

    4 Devils

  • Harrigan's Kid

    Harrigan's Kid

  • Myrt and Marge

    Myrt and Marge

  • Peg o' My Heart

    Peg o' My Heart

  • Laughing at Life

    Laughing at Life

  • The Shamrock Handicap

    The Shamrock Handicap

  • Man of Two Worlds

    Man of Two Worlds

  • Come on Over

    Come on Over

  • Dark Command

    Dark Command

  • The Freeze-Out

    The Freeze-Out

  • Broadway Limited

    Broadway Limited

  • How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 9: 'The Driver'

    How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 9: 'The Driver'

  • The Whole Town's Talking

    The Whole Town's Talking

  • The Ghost Breaker

    The Ghost Breaker

  • The Phantom Express

    The Phantom Express

  • Let 'em Have It

    Let 'em Have It

  • Other Men's Women

    Other Men's Women

  • Desperate Youth

    Desperate Youth

  • Bringing Up Father

    Bringing Up Father

  • Probation

    Probation

  • There Goes My Heart

    There Goes My Heart

  • Mademoiselle Midnight

    Mademoiselle Midnight

  • The Painted Angel

    The Painted Angel

  • The Hit Parade

    The Hit Parade

  • Joe Palooka, Champ

    Joe Palooka, Champ

  • Roped

    Roped

  • Too Young to Marry

    Too Young to Marry

  • The Gentleman from Arizona

    The Gentleman from Arizona

  • This Sporting Age

    This Sporting Age

  • The Racing Strain

    The Racing Strain

  • Little Orphan Annie

    Little Orphan Annie

  • A Sporting Chance

    A Sporting Chance

  • The Great Barrier

    The Great Barrier

  • Prairie Law

    Prairie Law

  • Racing Hearts

    Racing Hearts

  • Song o' My Heart

    Song o' My Heart

  • Masked Emotions

    Masked Emotions

  • Western Luck

    Western Luck

  • A Fight For Love

    A Fight For Love

  • A Timely Repentance

    A Timely Repentance

  • Square Shooter

    Square Shooter

  • The Lighthouse Keeper

    The Lighthouse Keeper

  • The Dixie Merchant

    The Dixie Merchant