{
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  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/8519/russell-simpson",
  "name": "Russell Simpson",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/8519/russell-simpson",
  "knownForDepartment": "Acting",
  "description": "From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\nRussell 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.\n\nAt 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.\n\nBy 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.\n\nThroughout 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).\n\nSimpson 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.\n\nHe was the president of the Overseas Phonograph Accessories Corporation.",
  "birthDate": "1880-06-16",
  "deathDate": "1959-12-12",
  "birthPlace": "Danville, California, USA",
  "alternateName": [
    "Russell McCaskill Simpson",
    "Russel Simpson"
  ],
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  "lastVerified": "3 May 2026",
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      "title": "Wagon Train",
      "year": "1957",
      "role": "as Mr. Carr",
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      "title": "The Lone Ranger",
      "year": "1949",
      "role": "as Jack Brewster",
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      "title": "The Texan",
      "year": "1958",
      "role": "as Zeb Waters",
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      "title": "The 20th Century Fox Hour",
      "year": "1955",
      "role": "as Old Man",
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      "title": "The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok",
      "year": "1951",
      "role": "as Sam",
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      "title": "Public Defender",
      "year": "1954",
      "role": "as Lundquist",
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      "title": "Cavalcade of America",
      "year": "1952",
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      "title": "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon",
      "year": "1955",
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      "title": "Oklahoma!",
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      "role": "as The Minister (uncredited)",
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      "title": "The Grapes of Wrath",
      "year": "1940",
      "role": "as Pa Joad",
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      "title": "The Horse Soldiers",
      "year": "1959",
      "role": "as Henry Goodbody",
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      "title": "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers",
      "year": "1954",
      "role": "as Fred Bixby",
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      "tmdbId": 3083,
      "title": "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington",
      "year": "1939",
      "role": "as Kenneth Allen (uncredited)",
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      "title": "They Were Expendable",
      "year": "1945",
      "role": "as 'Dad' Knowland",
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      "title": "My Darling Clementine",
      "year": "1946",
      "role": "as John Simpson",
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      "title": "The Tin Star",
      "year": "1957",
      "role": "as Clem Hall",
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      "title": "Dodge City",
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      "tmdbId": 43258,
      "title": "Friendly Persuasion",
      "year": "1956",
      "role": "as Brother Griffith - Elder (uncredited)",
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      "title": "Tall in the Saddle",
      "year": "1944",
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      "title": "The Tall Men",
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      "title": "Broken Lance",
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      "title": "Joan of Arc",
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