Russell Simpson (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Russell Simpson
Simpson in The Grapes of Wrath.
Born	(1880-06-17)June 17, 1880 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	December 12, 1959(1959-12-12) (aged 79) Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Years active	1914-1959
Spouse(s)	Gertrude Aller (1910-1959) (his death) 1 child
Children	Russell Jr. Roberta (b. 1918)

Lionel Belmore, Laurette Taylor & Russell Simpson in Peg o' My Heart

Russell McCaskill Simpson (17 June 1880 – 12 December 1959) was an American actor.

Biography

Simpson was born in San Francisco, California. He is best known for his work in the movies of John Ford. He is most famous for his portrayal of Pa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath in 1940.

Simpson reportedly prospected for gold in Alaska in his youth. By 1909 he had gone into the theatre. He appeared in at least two plays on Broadway between 1909 and 1912. He made his motion picture debut in Cecil B. DeMille's 1914 original movieversion of The Virginian. He only had a minor role in that movie. By 1923, when the movie was remade, Simpson had progressed to playing the lead villain.

Simpson was a familiar character actor for almost forty-five years as a member of the John Ford Stock Company. He worked up to 1959. His final movie was The Horse Soldiers. It was his tenth movie for Ford. He died in Woodland Hills, California 12 December 1959.

He was survived by his wife Gertrude. Simpson had two children, Russell Jr. and Roberta.

Selected filmography

See also

In Spanish: Russell Simpson (actor) para niños