Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

193

Gender

Male

Birthday

1880-06-16

Day of Death

1959-12-12 (79 years old)

Place of Birth

Danville, California, USA

Also Known As

Russell McCaskill Simpson

Russel Simpson

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

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath

My Darling Clementine

My Darling Clementine

Young Mr. Lincoln

Young Mr. Lincoln

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Shut My Big Mouth

Shut My Big Mouth

Rags to Riches

Rags to Riches

Meet John Doe

Meet John Doe

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Acting

The Grapes of Wrath

1940

The Grapes of Wrath

as

Pa Joad

Santa Fe Trail

1940

Santa Fe Trail

as

Shubel Morgan

My Darling Clementine

1946

My Darling Clementine

as

John Simpson

1957

The Tin Star

as

Clem Hall

The Earth Woman

1926

The Earth Woman

as

Ezra Tilden

Bunty Pulls the Strings

1921

Bunty Pulls the Strings

as

Tammas Biggar

Carolina

1934

Carolina

as

Richards

Desert Gold

1919

Desert Gold

as

Ladd

Now We're in the Air

1927

Now We're in the Air

as

Lord Abercrombie McTavish

Wagon Master

1950

Wagon Master

as

Adam Perkins

Coroner Creek

1948

Coroner Creek

as

Walt Hardison

The Girl of the Golden West

1938

The Girl of the Golden West

as

Fred - Outrider in Prologue

The Border Legion

1918

The Border Legion

as

Overland Bradley

The Hoosier Schoolmaster

1935

The Hoosier Schoolmaster

as

Doc Small

Hello Trouble

1932

Hello Trouble

as

Jonathan Kenyon

Border Patrol

1943

Border Patrol

as

Orestes Krebs

Along Came Jones

1945

Along Came Jones

as

Pop de Longpre

Silver Dollar

1932

Silver Dollar

as

Hamlin

Joan of Arc

1948

Joan of Arc

as

Old Man with Pipe (uncredited)

The Power and the Glory

1933

The Power and the Glory

as

Professor (uncredited)

Broken Lance

1954

Broken Lance

as

Judge (uncredited)

Law and Order

1932

Law and Order

as

Judge R.W. Williams

The Sun Shines Bright

1953

The Sun Shines Bright

as

Lewt Lake

Feudin' Fools

1952

Feudin' Fools

as

Grandpa Smith

The Big Bonanza

1944

The Big Bonanza

as

Adam Parker

Friendly Persuasion

1956

Friendly Persuasion

as

Brother Griffith - Elder (uncredited)

Saddle Tramp

1950

Saddle Tramp

as

Pop

Ramona

1936

Ramona

as

Scroggs

Paradise Isle

1937

Paradise Isle

as

Baxter

Motive for Revenge

1935

Motive for Revenge

as

McAllister

Lena Rivers

1932

Lena Rivers

as

Grandfather Nichols

The Splendid Road

1925

The Splendid Road

as

Capt. Lightfoot

Blue Jeans

1917

Blue Jeans

as

Jacob Tutwiler

That I May Live

1937

That I May Live

as

Bish Plivens

Billy the Kid

1930

Billy the Kid

as

Angus McSween

Sundown in Santa Fe

1948

Sundown in Santa Fe

as

Sheriff Jim Wyatt

Snowblind

1921

Snowblind

as

Hugh Garth

Way Down East

1935

Way Down East

as

Squire Amasa Bartlett

The Harvester

1936

The Harvester

as

Abner Prewett

Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

1937

Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

as

Bayliss Baynum

Tuna Clipper

1949

Tuna Clipper

as

Capt. Fergus MacLennan

Mountain Justice

1937

Mountain Justice

as

Matthew Turnbull

The Great Meadow

1931

The Great Meadow

as

Thomas Hall

Comin' Round the Mountain

1951

Comin' Round the Mountain

as

Judge

The First Auto

1927

The First Auto

as

Hank Armstrong

1919

The Brand

as

Dan McGill

The Horse Soldiers

1959

The Horse Soldiers

as

Henry Goodbody

Face in the Sky

1933

Face in the Sky

as

Pa Nathan Brown

After the Fog

1929

After the Fog

as

Joshua Barker

Gold Is Where You Find It

1938

Gold Is Where You Find It

as

MacKenzie

Thunder Mountain

1925

Thunder Mountain

as

Si Pace

Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)

1931

Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)

as

Doctor

Man to Man

1930

Man to Man

as

Uncle Cal

The Old Homestead

1915

The Old Homestead

as

Sheriff

Innocents of Paris

1929

Innocents of Paris

as

Emile Leval

Abraham Lincoln

1930

Abraham Lincoln

as

Lincoln's Employer

The Cabin in the Cotton

1932

The Cabin in the Cotton

as

Uncle Joe

Wild West Days

1937

Wild West Days

as

Matt Keeler

Tobacco Road

1941

Tobacco Road

as

Chief of Police

Wild Geese Calling

1941

Wild Geese Calling

as

Marshal Len Baker

Defying Destiny

1923

Defying Destiny

as

Mr. Wilkens

1952

Lone Star

as

Maynard Cole

The Branding Iron

1920

The Branding Iron

as

John Carver

Stolen by Gypsies or Beer and Bicycles

1933

Stolen by Gypsies or Beer and Bicycles

as

Speaker

The Sap

1929

The Sap

as

The Banker

Roughly Speaking

1945

Roughly Speaking

as

The Colonel - Drill Instructor (uncredited)

Last of the Duanes

1941

Last of the Duanes

as

Tom Duane

The Honor of the Press

1932

The Honor of the Press

as

Dan Perkins

The Kingdom Within

1922

The Kingdom Within

as

Caleb Deming

Breakers Ahead

1918

Breakers Ahead

as

Captain Scudder

The Lonely Man

1957

The Lonely Man

as

The Eagle

1925

The Eagle

as

The Eagle's Lieutenant / Coach Driver (uncredited)

Paddy O'Day

1936

Paddy O'Day

as

Benton

Virginia City

1940

Virginia City

as

Gaylord

The Famous Ferguson Case

1932

The Famous Ferguson Case

as

Banker Craig

Ever Since Eve

1934

Ever Since Eve

as

Jim Wood

Dodge City

1939

Dodge City

as

Orth

Young Mr. Lincoln

1939

Young Mr. Lincoln

as

Woolridge (uncredited)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

1939

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

as

Kenneth Allen (uncredited)

Nazi Agent

1942

Nazi Agent

as

2nd Captain (uncredited)

Drums Along the Mohawk

1939

Drums Along the Mohawk

as

Dr. Petry

The Fabulous Texan

1947

The Fabulous Texan

as

Wade Clayton

Heart of the North

1938

Heart of the North

as

Dave MacMillan

Western Caravans

1939

Western Caravans

as

Winchester Thompson

Free For All

1949

Free For All

as

Farmer

The Last Command

1955

The Last Command

as

The Parson

The Untamed Breed

1948

The Untamed Breed

as

Minister

Alexander Hamilton

1931

Alexander Hamilton

as

Harvey Taylor - First Ex-Soldier

The Frontiersman

1927

The Frontiersman

as

Andrew Jackson

Call Her Savage

1932

Call Her Savage

as

Old Man in Wagon Train

Man Hunt

1936

Man Hunt

as

Jeff Parkington

Valley of the Giants

1938

Valley of the Giants

as

McKenzie

Death Valley

1946

Death Valley

as

Old Silas Bagley

Bowery Buckaroos

1947

Bowery Buckaroos

as

Luke Barlow

Shut My Big Mouth

1942

Shut My Big Mouth

as

Mayor Potter

Citadel of Crime

1941

Citadel of Crime

as

Jess Meekins

Wyoming

1940

Wyoming

as

Mr. Bronson

Annie Laurie

1927

Annie Laurie

as

Sandy

Brigham Young

1940

Brigham Young

as

U.S. Army Major

Desperate Trails

1939

Desperate Trails

as

Sheriff Big Bill Tanner

Frontier Marshal

1934

Frontier Marshal

as

Editor Pickett

Bad Bascomb

1946

Bad Bascomb

as

Elijah Walker

The Virginian

1914

The Virginian

as

Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)

Human Hearts

1922

Human Hearts

as

Paul Logan

Ridin' for Justice

1932

Ridin' for Justice

as

Marshal Joseph Slyde

Texas Masquerade

1944

Texas Masquerade

as

J.K. Trimble

Swamp Water

1941

Swamp Water

as

Marty McCord

Three Faces West

1940

Three Faces West

as

Minister

The Virginian

1923

The Virginian

as

Trampas

Rags to Riches

1922

Rags to Riches

as

The Sheriff

Rustlin' for Cupid

1926

Rustlin' for Cupid

as

Hank Blatchford

Geronimo

1939

Geronimo

as

Scout

Meet John Doe

1941

Meet John Doe

as

(uncredited)

West of the Pecos

1934

West of the Pecos

as

Roy Neal

Lovey Mary

1926

Lovey Mary

as

Stubbins

Call of the Klondike

1950

Call of the Klondike

as

Andy McKay

California Gold Rush

1946

California Gold Rush

as

Colonel Parker

Lahoma

1920

Lahoma

as

'Brick' Willock

The Gal Who Took the West

1949

The Gal Who Took the West

as

Bartender (as old Timer)

The Ghost of Crossbone Canyon

1952

The Ghost of Crossbone Canyon

as

Sam Stanton

Lone Star Ranger

1942

Lone Star Ranger

as

Tom Duane

Wild Bill Hickok Rides

1942

Wild Bill Hickok Rides

as

Ned Nolan

Albuquerque

1948

Albuquerque

as

Abner Huggins

Bad Men of Missouri

1941

Bad Men of Missouri

as

Hank Younger

Tap Roots

1948

Tap Roots

as

Big Sam Dabney

The Spoilers

1942

The Spoilers

as

Flapjack

Painted People

1924

Painted People

as

Fred Lane

The Huntress

1923

The Huntress

as

Big Jack Skinner

The Woman of the Town

1943

The Woman of the Town

as

Sime

Colt Comrades

1943

Colt Comrades

as

Sheriff

The Brass Legend

1956

The Brass Legend

as

Deputy 'Pop' Jackson

Faint Perfume

1925

Faint Perfume

as

Grandpa Crumb

San Francisco

1936

San Francisco

as

'Red' Kelly

My Dog Shep

1946

My Dog Shep

as

Mathew Hodgkins

A Boy and His Dog

1946

A Boy and His Dog

as

Mr. Thornycroft

Three on a Honeymoon

1934

Three on a Honeymoon

as

Ezra MacDuff

Godless Men

1920

Godless Men

as

'Black' Pawl

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

1954

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

as

Fred Bixby

Green Light

1937

Green Light

as

Sheep Man

Peg o' My Heart

1922

Peg o' My Heart

as

Jim O'Connell

The Romance of Rosy Ridge

1947

The Romance of Rosy Ridge

as

Dan Yeary

The World Moves On

1934

The World Moves On

as

Notary (1825)

Why Women Love

1925

Why Women Love

as

Silas Martin

The Lone Star Ranger

1930

The Lone Star Ranger

as

Colonel John Aldridge

They Were Expendable

1945

They Were Expendable

as

'Dad' Knowland

The Bill of Rights

1939

The Bill of Rights

as

Frontiersman

Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair

1952

Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair

as

Clem Johnson

Back to Nature

1936

Back to Nature

as

Sheriff

Roaring Guns

1944

Roaring Guns

as

Farmer MacKenzie

Maid of Salem

1937

Maid of Salem

as

Village Marshal (Uncredited)

Bill Apperson's Boy

1919

Bill Apperson's Boy

as

Bill Apperson

Tropical Nights

1928

Tropical Nights

as

Singapore Joe

Riders of the Night

1918

Riders of the Night

as

Sally's Grandfather

Old Shoes

1925

Old Shoes

as

My Lady's Past

1929

My Lady's Past

as

Circus Days

1923

Circus Days

as

Eben Holt

The Narrow Street

1925

The Narrow Street

as

Garvey

The Girl of the Golden West

1923

The Girl of the Golden West

as

Jack Rance

Wild Geese

1927

Wild Geese

as

Caleb Gare

Riding High

1943

Riding High

as

Frenchy McGuire

Girl of the Ozarks

1936

Girl of the Ozarks

as

Bascomb Rogers

The Deadlier Sex

1920

The Deadlier Sex

as

Jim Willis

Paint and Powder

1925

Paint and Powder

as

Riley

The Riding Tornado

1932

The Riding Tornado

as

Sheriff

The Tall Men

1955

The Tall Men

as

Emigrant (uncredited)

Tennessee Johnson

1942

Tennessee Johnson

as

Kirby

Meet Me at the Fair

1953

Meet Me at the Fair

as

Sheriff Evans

A Weaver of Dreams

1918

A Weaver of Dreams

as

Martin Chandler

Under the Lash

1921

Under the Lash

as

Simeon Krillet

Flames

1932

Flames

as

Jake

The Outriders

1950

The Outriders

as

Farmer (uncredited)

Sixteen Fathoms Deep

1934

Sixteen Fathoms Deep

as

A.B. Crockett

Across the Dead-Line

1922

Across the Dead-Line

as

Enoch Kidder

Moonlight in Vermont

1943

Moonlight in Vermont

as

Uncle Rufus

All Faces West

1929

All Faces West

as

Gunner Bill

The Uphill Path

1918

The Uphill Path

as

James Lawton

Radio Scout

1934

Radio Scout

as

Pappy Tolliver

Parnell

1937

Parnell

as

Dead Child's Father

The Challenge Accepted

1918

The Challenge Accepted

as

Uncle Zeke Sawyer

Oklahoma!

1955

Oklahoma!

as

The Minister (uncredited)

Ship of Souls

1925

Ship of Souls

as

Angus Garth

The Re-Creation of Brian Kent

1925

The Re-Creation of Brian Kent

as

Jap Taylor

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

as

Sam

The Texan

The Texan

as

Zeb Waters

Cavalcade of America

Cavalcade of America

as

Quatermaster

Sergeant Preston of the Yukon

Sergeant Preston of the Yukon

as

The 20th Century Fox Hour

The 20th Century Fox Hour

as

Old Man

Wagon Train

Wagon Train

as

Mr. Carr

Public Defender

Public Defender

as

Lundquist

The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger

as

Jack Brewster

Cavalcade of America

Cavalcade of America

as

Cavalcade of America

Cavalcade of America

as

Judge Grant

General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater

as

Production

Crew

Directing