Actor

Russell Simpson

June 16, 1880 · Danville, California, USA

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.

Notable work

7.8
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
as Kenneth Allen (uncredited)
7.8
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
as Pa Joad
7.1
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
as Fred Bixby
7.5
My Darling Clementine (1946)
as John Simpson

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