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

Life and career

Simpson was born on 8 February 1875 in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

, Scotland, and went as a young man to New York City, where he worked for four decades on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

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 Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, (21 December 1804 – 19 April 1881) was a British statesman and Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He played a centr ...

'', where he played along his close friend

George Arliss George Arliss (born Augustus George Andrews; 10 April 1868 – 5 February 1946) was an English actor, author, playwright, and filmmaker who found success in the United States. He was the first British actor to win an Academy Award – which he ...

. Arliss and Simpson appeared together in a total of nine films.Ivan F. Simpson
at Allmovie 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 ''David Copperfield'' Dickens invented over 14 variations of the title for this work, see is a novel in the bildungsroman genre by Charles Dickens, narrated by the eponymous David Copperfield, detailing his adventures in his journey from inf ...

'' as Littimer and the horror movie '' Mark of the Vampire''. He also portrayed priests like in ''

Little Lord Fauntleroy ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' is a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was published as a serial in ''St. Nicholas Magazine'' from November 1885 to October 1886, then as a book by Scribner's (the publisher of ''St. Nicholas'') in 1886. The ill ...

'' and ''

Random Harvest ''Random Harvest'' is a novel written by James Hilton, first published in 1941. Like previous Hilton works, including '' Lost Horizon'' and '' Goodbye, Mr. Chips'', the novel was immensely popular, placing second on ''Publishers Weekly'' li ...

'', judges like in '' This Land Is Mine'' or doctors like in ''

They All Kissed the Bride ''They All Kissed the Bride'' is a 1942 American screwball comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and starring Joan Crawford and Melvyn Douglas. The plot follows a trucking firm executive who falls in love. Crawford took over the title role a ...

''. Simpson was also a frequent actor in the

Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian-American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, frequent partnerships with Olivia ...

movies, he appeared in ''

The Adventures of Robin Hood ''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' is a 1938 American Technicolor swashbuckler film from Warner Bros. Pictures. It was produced by Hal B. Wallis and Henry Blanke, directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, and stars Errol Flynn, Olivia d ...

'', ''

The Prince and the Pauper ''The Prince and the Pauper'' is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. Set in 1547 ...

'' and '' Captain Blood''.

Selected filmography

* '' The Dictator'' (1915) – Simpson * ''

Out of the Drifts ''Out of the Drifts'' is a lost 1916 silent film romance produced by the Famous Players Film Company and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by J. Searle Dawley and starred Marguerite Clark. Cast *Marguerite Clark - Elise * J. W ...

'' (1916) – Martin * '' The Man Who Played God'' (1922) – Battle * '' The Green Goddess'' (1923) – Watkins * '' Twenty-One'' (1923) – Mr. Willis * ''

Twenty Dollars a Week ''Twenty Dollars a Week'' is a 1924 American silent film, silent comedy drama film directed by F. Harmon Weight and starring George Arliss, Taylor Holmes, and Edith Roberts (actress), Edith Roberts. Ronald Colman, then a rising star, had a suppo ...

'' (1925) – James Pettison * '' Miss Bluebeard'' (1925) – Bounds * '' Wild, Wild Susan'' (1925) – Malcolm * '' Lovers in Quarantine'' (1925) – The Silent Passenger * ''

A Kiss for Cinderella ''A Kiss for Cinderella'' is a play by J. M. Barrie. It was first produced in London at Wyndham's Theatre on March 16, 1916, starring Gerald du Maurier and Hilda Trevelyan, enjoying great success over 156 performances, and with several annual Ch ...

'' (1925) – Mr. Cutaway * ''

Womanhandled ''Womanhandled'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed through Paramount Pictures. It is based on a short story by Arthur Stringer and stars Richard Dix and Esther Ralston. Plot Bill Dana (Ric ...

'' (1925) – Butler (uncredited) * ''

'' (1929) – Sir Hugh Myers (uncredited) * '' Evidence'' (1929) – Peabody * '' The Green Goddess'' (1930) – Watkins * '' Isle of Escape'' (1930) – Judge * '' Golden Dawn'' (1930) – Minor Role (uncredited) * '' Inside the Lines'' (1930) – Capper * '' Manslaughter'' (1930) – Morson * ''

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th c ...

'' (1930) – Joe Pillin * ''

The Way of All Men ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (1930) – Higgins * '' The Sea God'' (1930) – Pearly Nick * ''

The Lady Who Dared ''The Lady Who Dared'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by William Beaudine and starring Billie Dove, Sidney Blackmer and Conway Tearle. Print survival, Library of Congress and Turner.''Catalog of Holdings The American Film Inst ...

'' (1931) – Butler * '' The Millionaire'' (1931) – Davis * ''

The Reckless Hour ''The Reckless Hour'' is a 1931 pre-Code film directed by John Francis Dillon and produced and distributed by First National Pictures. Cast *Dorothy Mackaill as Margaret Nichols *Conrad Nagel as Edward Adams * H. B. Warner as Walter Nichols *J ...

'' (1931) – Stevens – Adams' Butler (uncredited) * ''

Safe in Hell ''Safe in Hell'' is a 1931 American pre-Code thriller film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Dorothy Mackaill and Donald Cook, with featured performances by Morgan Wallace, Ralf Harolde, Nina Mae McKinney, Clarence Muse, and Noble Jo ...

'' (1931) – Crunch * '' The Man Who Played God'' (1932) – Battle * '' A Passport to Hell'' (1932) – Simms * '' The Crash'' (1932) – Hodge * ''

The Phantom of Crestwood ''The Phantom of Crestwood'' is a 1932 American pre-Code murder-mystery film released by Radio Pictures, directed by J. Walter Ruben, and starring Ricardo Cortez, Karen Morley, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, Anita Louise, H.B. Warner, and Pauli ...

'' (1932) – Mr. Vayne * '' Sherlock Holmes'' (1932) – Faulkner * ''

The Monkey's Paw "The Monkey's Paw" is a horror short story by English author W. W. Jacobs, first published in the collection '' The Lady of the Barge'' in 1902. In the story, three wishes are granted to the owner of The Monkey's Paw, but the wishes come with ...

'' (1933) – Mr. White * ''

The Past of Mary Holmes ''The Past of Mary Holmes'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film, directed by Harlan Thompson and Slavko Vorkapich, and released by RKO. The film is a remake of the silent film ''The Goose Woman'' (1925), which is based on a short story by Re ...

'' (1933) – Jacob Riggs * '' The Secret of Madame Blanche'' (1933) – Aubrey's Lawyer (uncredited) * ''

The Silk Express ''The Silk Express'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Ray Enright and written by Houston Branch and Ben Markson. The film, starring Neil Hamilton, Sheila Terry, Arthur Byron, Guy Kibbee, Dudley Digges and Arthur Hohl, was r ...

'' (1933) – Johnson, Kilgore's Secretary * ''

Midnight Mary ''Midnight Mary'' is a 1933 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Loretta Young, Ricardo Cortez, and Franchot Tone. Plot The very scary story begins with an indifferent Mary Martin (Young) sitting in a ...

'' (1933) – Tindle * ''

Voltaire François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778) was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher. Known by his ''nom de plume'' M. de Voltaire (; also ; ), he was famous for his wit, and his criticism of Christianity—es ...

'' (1933) – Lelain – Actor (uncredited) * ''

Blind Adventure ''Blind Adventure'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code film directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack and starring Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack, Ralph Bellamy, and Roland Young. It was released by RKO Radio Pictures.Charlie Chan's Greatest Case'' (1933) – Brade * '' Her Secret'' (1933) – Lathrop * '' Man of Two Worlds'' (1934) – Dr. Lott * ''

The Mystery of Mr. X ''The Mystery of Mr. X'' is a 1934 American pre-Code crime film starring Robert Montgomery as a jewel thief who gets mixed up in a series of murders in London. It is based on the 1933 novel ''X v. Rex'' by Philip MacDonald (under the pen name ...

'' (1934) – Hutchinson * ''

The House of Rothschild ''The House of Rothschild'' is a 1934 American pre-Code historical drama film directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring George Arliss, Loretta Young and Boris Karloff. It was adapted by Nunnally Johnson from the play by George Hembert Westley ...

'' (1934) – Amschel Rothschild * ''

Murder in Trinidad ''Murder in Trinidad'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by Louis King and starring Nigel Bruce, Heather Angel, Victor Jory, and Murray Kinnell.Stingaree'' (1934) – Man with Beard (uncredited) * ''

The World Moves On ''The World Moves On'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by John Ford and starring Madeleine Carroll and Franchot Tone. It was the first Hollywood code approved film. Plot The story opens in the year 1825, when two families, cotton merch ...

'' (1934) – Clumber * ''

British Agent ''British Agent'' is a 1934 American romantic espionage film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Leslie Howard and Kay Francis. It is based on ''Memoirs of a British Agent'', the 1932 autobiography of R. H. Bruce Lockhart, who worked for ...

'' (1934) – Poohbah Evans * '' Among the Missing'' (1934) – Smeed * '' The Little Minister'' (1934) – Sanders Webster (uncredited) * ''

'' (1935) – Littimer * '' Shadow of Doubt'' (1935) – Morse * '' Mark of the Vampire'' (1935) – Jan * '' The Bishop Misbehaves'' (1935) – Mr. Grantham * ''

Mutiny on the Bounty The mutiny on the Royal Navy vessel occurred in the South Pacific Ocean on 28 April 1789. Disaffected crewmen, led by acting-Lieutenant Fletcher Christian, seized control of the ship from their captain, Lieutenant William Bligh, and set h ...

'' (1935) – Morgan * '' Splendor'' (1935) – Fletcher * ''

East of Java ''East of Java'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by George Melford and starring Charles Bickford, Elizabeth Young (actress), Elizabeth Young and Frank Albertson.Goble p.746 Cast * Charles Bickford as Red McGovern aka Harvey Bowers * Eliza ...

'' (1935) – Resident (uncredited) * '' The Great Impersonation'' (1935) – Dr. Harrison * '' Captain Blood'' (1935) – Prosecutor * ''

'' (1936) – Rev. Mordaunt * ''

Trouble for Two ''Trouble for Two'' is a 1936 American mystery film directed by J. Walter Ruben and starring Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell. It is based on '' The Suicide Club'', a short story collection by Robert Louis Stevenson. A European prince, un ...

'' (1936) – Collins * '' Mary of Scotland'' (1936) – Judge * ''

Lloyd's of London Lloyd's of London, generally known simply as Lloyd's, is an insurance and reinsurance market located in London, England. Unlike most of its competitors in the industry, it is not an insurance company; rather, Lloyd's is a corporate body gove ...

'' (1936) – Old Man * ''

Maid of Salem ''Maid of Salem'' is a 1937 film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Frank Lloyd, and starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray. Plot It tells the story of a young girl in Salem, Massachusetts, 1692, who has an affair with an adventurer. ...

'' (1937) – Rev. Parris * ''

'' (1937) – Clemens * '' Night of Mystery'' (1937) – Sproot * '' London by Night'' (1937) – Burroughs * ''

Youth on Parole ''Youth on Parole'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Marian Marsh and Gordon Oliver. Plot summary "Bobbie" Blake ( Marian Marsh) and Phillip Henderson (Gordon Oliver) are complete strangers looking in a je ...

'' (1937) – Minor Role (uncredited) * '' 45 Fathers'' (1937) – Chamberlain (uncredited) * ''

The Baroness and the Butler ''The Baroness and the Butler'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy film based on the play ''Jean'' by Ladislaus Bus-Fekete. Directed by Walter Lang, it stars William Powell and, in her American English-language debut, Annabella. Plot Johann ...

'' (1938) – Count Dormo * '' Invisible Enemy'' (1938) – Michael * ''

'' (1938) – Proprietor of Kent Road Tavern * '' Kidnapped'' (1938) – Old Man (uncredited) * '' Marie Antoinette'' (1938) – Sauce (uncredited) * ''

Booloo ''Booloo'' is a 1938 American adventure film directed by Clyde E. Elliott. It stars Colin Tapley as a British soldier who attempts to prove the existence of a legendary tiger. Premise Captain Robert Rogers, a British Army officer, publishes a ...

'' (1938) – 1st Governor * '' Made for Each Other'' (1939) – Simon – Judge Doolittle's Brother (uncredited) * '' Never Say Die'' (1939) – Kretsky * '' The Sun Never Sets'' (1939) – A Doctor (uncredited) * ''

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes ''The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'' is a collection of twelve short stories by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle, first published on 14 October 1892. It contains the earliest short stories featuring the consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, w ...

'' (1939) – Gates – Trial Prosecutor (uncredited) * ''

Rulers of the Sea ''Rulers of the Sea'' is a 1939 American historical drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Margaret Lockwood and Will Fyffe. The film's story is based on the voyage of the , the first steamship to cross the North ...

'' (1939) – Secretary (uncredited) * ''

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is sep ...

'' (1939) – Anne's Protector (uncredited) * '' The Earl of Chicago'' (1940) – Hargraves (uncredited) * ''

The Invisible Man Returns ''The Invisible Man Returns'' is a 1940 American horror science fiction film directed by Joe May. The film stars Cedric Hardwicke, Vincent Price, Nan Grey and John Sutton. The film is a sequel to the 1933 film ''The Invisible Man'', and the sec ...

'' (1940) – Mr. Cotton (uncredited) * '' New Moon'' (1940) – Guizot * '' The Body Disappears'' (1941) – Dean Claxton * ''

Nazi Agent ''Nazi Agent'' is a 1942 American spy film directed by Jules Dassin, in his first feature-length film for MGM. It stars Conrad Veidt playing identical twins, one loyal to the United States (U.S.), the other a dedicated German Nazi. Plot The U. ...

'' (1942) – Professor Sterling * ''

The Male Animal ''The Male Animal'' is a 1942 American comedy-drama film produced by Warner Bros., starring Henry Fonda, Olivia de Havilland and Joan Leslie. The film was based on a hit 1940 Broadway play of the same name written by James Thurber and Elliott ...

'' (1942) – Dean Frederick Damon * ''

'' (1942) – Dr. Cassell * ''

Eagle Squadron The Eagle Squadrons were three fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force (RAF) formed with volunteer pilots from the United States during the early days of World War II (circa 1940), prior to America's entry into the war in December 1941. Wit ...

'' (1942) – Simms (uncredited) * ''

Youth on Parade ''Youth on Parade'' is a 1942 comedy musical film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring John Hubbard, Ruth Terry, Martha O'Driscoll, Tom Brown, and Charles Smith. Premise A group of college students plan to create the ''perfect student'' ...

'' (1942) – Dean Wharton * '' Nightmare'' (1942) – Arnold – Money Changer * ''

'' (1942) – The Vicar * ''

My Kingdom for a Cook ''My Kingdom for a Cook'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Richard Wallace, which stars Charles Coburn, Marguerite Chapman, and Bill Carter. Synopsis A visiting British emissary on a goodwill tour of the United States struggles to re ...

'' (1943) – Dexter * ''

Two Weeks to Live ''Two Weeks to Live'' is a 1943 American Lum and Abner film directed by Malcolm St. Clair. Plot This time around, Abner Peabody, proud owner of the Jot 'Em Down general store in Pine Ridge, Arkansas, inherits railroad stock from his Uncle Ern ...

'' (1943) – Professor Albert Frisby * '' This Land Is Mine'' (1943) – Judge * '' Above Suspicion'' (1943) – Porter in Oxford (uncredited) * ''

'' (1943) – Professor Harlow * ''

Government Girl ''Government Girl'' is a 1943 American romantic-comedy film, produced and directed by Dudley Nichols and starring Olivia de Havilland and Sonny Tufts. Based on a story by Adela Rogers St. Johns, and written by Dudley Nichols and Budd Schulberg, t ...

'' (1943) – Judge Leonard (uncredited) * ''

Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The first ...

'' (1943) – Mr. Woods – the Minister (uncredited) * '' The Uninvited'' (1944) – Will Hardy – Tobacconist (uncredited) * '' The Hour Before the Dawn'' (1944) – Magistrate (uncredited) * ''

My Girl Tisa ''My Girl Tisa'' is a 1948 film directed by Elliott Nugent and starring Lilli Palmer and Sam Wanamaker. It is based on the play ''Ever the Beginning'' by Lucille S. Prumbs and Sara B. Smith (copyrighted 14 May 1946). Plot In 1905, Tisa Kepes is a ...

'' (1948) – Old Man (uncredited)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Ivan F. 1875 births 1951 deaths Scottish male film actors Scottish male stage actors Scottish male silent film actors British emigrants to the United States Male actors from Glasgow 20th-century Scottish male actors Burials at Kensico Cemetery