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