Ivan F. Simpson
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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).
Acted in
The Philco Television Playhouse
1948
My Girl Tisa
1948
Jane Eyre
1943
as Mr. Woods - the Minister
My Kingdom for a Cook
1943
as Professor Harlow
Above Suspicion
1943
as Porter in Oxford (Uncredited)
This Land Is Mine
1943
as Judge
Two Weeks to Live
1943
as Professor Albert Frisby (as Ivan Simpson)
Forever and a Day
1943
as Dexter
Random Harvest
1942
as The Vicar
Nightmare
1942
as Money Changer
Eagle Squadron
1942
as Simms
They All Kissed the Bride
1942
as Dr. Cassell
The Male Animal
1942
as Dean Frederick Damon
Nazi Agent
1942
as Professor Sterling (as Ivan Simpson)
The Body Disappears
1941
as Dean Claxton
New Moon
1940
as Guizot
The Invisible Man Returns
1940
as Mr. Cotton (uncredited)
The Earl of Chicago
1940
as Hargraves (uncredited)
Tower of London
1939
as Anne's Protector
Rulers of the Sea
1939
as Secretary (Uncredited)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
1939
as Gates - Trial Prosecutor (uncredited)
The Sun Never Sets
1939
as A Doctor
Never Say Die
1939
as Kretsky
Made for Each Other
1939
as Simon (uncredited)
Marie Antoinette
1938
as Sauce (uncredited)
Kidnapped
1938
as Old Man
The Adventures of Robin Hood
1938
as Proprietor of Kent Road Tavern (uncredited)
Invisible Enemy
1938
as Michael (as Ivan Simpson)
The Baroness and the Butler
1938
as Count Dormo
Youth on Parole
1937
as Henchman (uncredited)
London by Night
1937
as Burroughs
Night of Mystery
1937
The Prince and the Pauper
1937
as Clemens
Maid of Salem
1937
as Rev. Parris
Lloyd's of London
1936
as Old Man
Trouble for Two
1936
as Collins (as Ivan Simpson)
Little Lord Fauntleroy
1936
as Reverend Mordaunt
Captain Blood
1935
as Prosecutor
The Great Impersonation
1935
as Dr. Harrison
East of Java
1935
as Resident
Splendor
1935
as Fletcher
Mutiny on the Bounty
1935
as Morgan
The Bishop Misbehaves
1935
as Mr. Grantham
Mark of the Vampire
1935
as Jan
Shadow of Doubt
1935
as Morse
David Copperfield
1935
as Littimer
The Little Minister
1934
as Sanders Webster
Among the Missing
1934
as Smeed
British Agent
1934
as 'Poohbah' Evans
The World Moves On
1934
as Clumber
Stingaree
1934
as Man with Beard (uncredited)
The Mystery of Mr. X
1934
as Hutchinson
Man of Two Worlds
1934
as Dr. Lott
Her Secret
1933
as Lathrop
Charlie Chan's Greatest Case
1933
as Brade
Midnight Mary
1933
as Tindle
The Silk Express
1933
as Johnson, Kilgore's Secretary
The Secret of Madame Blanche
1933
as Aubrey's Lawyer (Uncredited)
The Past of Mary Holmes
1933
as Jacob Riggs
The Monkey's Paw
1933
as Mr. White
Sherlock Holmes
1932
as Faulkner
The Phantom of Crestwood
1932
as Mr. Vayne
The Crash
1932
as Hodge
A Passport to Hell
1932
as Simms
The Man Who Played God
1932
as Battle
Safe in Hell
1931
as Crunch
The Reckless Hour
1931
as Stevens - Adams' Butler (uncredited)
The Lady Who Dared
1931
as Butler
The Millionaire
1931
as Davis
The Sea God
1930
as Pearly Nick
The Way of All Men
1930
as Higgins
Old English
1930
as Joe Pillin
Manslaughter
1930
as Morson
Inside the Lines
1930
as Capper
Isle of Escape
1930
as Judge
The Green Goddess
1930
as Watkins
Disraeli
1929
as Sir Hugh Myers
Womanhandled
1925
as Butler
A Kiss for Cinderella
1925
as Mr. Cutaway
Lovers in Quarantine
1925
as The Silent Passenger
Wild, Wild Susan
1925
as Malcolm
Miss Bluebeard
1925
as Bounds
Twenty Dollars a Week
1924
as James Pettison
The Green Goddess
1923
as Watkins
The Man Who Played God
1922
as Battle
The Dictator
1915
as Simpson