Ivan F. Simpson

Ivan F. Simpson

1875-02-04 – 1951-10-12 (age 76) Glasgow, Scotland, UK
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Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ivan F. Simpson (8 February 1875 – 12 October 1951) was a Scottish film and stage actor.

Ivan Simpson was born in Scotland and went as a young man to New York City, where he worked for four decades on Broadway from 1906 until his death. In 1915 he started his film silent career and starred in notable silent films like The Green Goddess from 1923, where he played the role of Mister Watkins. He also replied in this role seven years later in the sound film version of The Green Goddess. In 1929 he portrayed Hugh Myers in Disraeli, where he played along his close friend George Arliss. Arliss and Simpson appeared together in a total of nine films.

Especially in the 1930s, Simpson was a successful character actor in supporting and bit parts and appeared in many classics. He often played servants, like in MGM's literature adaption David Copperfield as Littimer and the horror movie Mark of the Vampire. He also portrayed priests like in Little Lord Fauntleroy and Random Harvest, judges like in This Land Is Mine or doctors like in They All Kissed the Bride. Simpson was also a frequent actor in the Errol Flynn movies, he appeared in The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Prince and the Pauper and Captain Blood.

Ivan F. Simpson starred in over 100 Hollywood films, his last was My Girl Tisa from 1948. He died three years later at the age of 76 years and was buried in Kensico Cemetery. His daughter was actress Pamela Simpson (1905-2002).

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Known For

The Baroness and the Butler
The Baroness and the Butler

1938

as Count Dormo

The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Adventures of Robin Hood

1938

as Proprietor of Kent Road Tavern (uncredited)

Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre

1943

as Mr. Woods - the Minister

Maid of Salem
Maid of Salem

1937

as Rev. Parris

Mutiny on the Bounty
Mutiny on the Bounty

1935

as Morgan

Captain Blood
Captain Blood

1935

as Prosecutor

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

1939

as Gates - Trial Prosecutor (uncredited)

Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette

1938

as Sauce (uncredited)

Random Harvest
Random Harvest

1942

as The Vicar

David Copperfield
David Copperfield

1935

as Littimer

Nazi Agent
Nazi Agent

1942

as Professor Sterling (as Ivan Simpson)

Safe in Hell
Safe in Hell

1931

as Crunch

The Invisible Man Returns
The Invisible Man Returns

1940

as Mr. Cotton (uncredited)

The House of Rothschild
The House of Rothschild

1934

as Amschel Rothschild

Made for Each Other
Made for Each Other

1939

as Simon (uncredited)

British Agent
British Agent

1934

as 'Poohbah' Evans

The Prince and the Pauper
The Little Minister
The Little Minister

1934

as Sanders Webster

The Millionaire
The Millionaire

1931

as Davis

Mark of the Vampire