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Morris Ankrum

Acting 68 (deceased) years old Danville, Illinois, USA ★ 1.0
Born: August 28, 1896
Died: September 2, 1964

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Morris Ankrum (born Morris Nussbaum, August 28, 1896 – September 2, 1964) was an American radio, television and film character actor.

Before signing with Paramount Pictures in the 1930s, Nussbaum had already changed his last name to Ankrum. Upon signing with the studio, he chose to use the name "Stephen Morris" before changing it to Morris Ankrum in 1939.

Ankrum's stern visage and sharply defined features helped cast him in supporting roles as stalwart authority figures, including scientists, military men (particularly army officers), judges and even psychiatrists in more than 150 films, mostly B movies. One standout role was in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's production of Tennessee Johnson (1942), a biographical film about Andrew Johnson, the 17th U.S. president. As Sen. Jefferson Davis, Ankrum movingly addresses the United States Senate upon his resignation to lead the Confederate States of America as that republic's first—and only—president. Ankrum's film career was extensive and spanned 30 years. His credits were largely concentrated in the western and science-fiction genres.

Ankrum appeared in such westerns as Ride 'Em Cowboy in 1942, Vera Cruz opposite Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster, Apache (1954), and Cattle Queen of Montana with Barbara Stanwyck and Ronald Reagan.

In the sci-fi genre, he appeared in Rocketship X-M (1950), Flight to Mars (1951), as a Martian, Red Planet Mars (1952), playing the United States Secretary of Defense; the cult classic Invaders From Mars (1953), playing a United States Army officer; and as an Army general in Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956). In 1957 he played a psychiatrist in the cult sci-fi classic Kronos and had military-officer roles in Beginning of the End and The Giant Claw.

External Links

🎬 IMDb

Known For

The Fountainhead
The Fountainhead Prosecutor (uncredited) 1949
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo Adm. William F. Halsey - Captain of the 'Hornet' (uncredited) 1944
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Postman Always Rings Twice Judge (uncredited) 1946
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman Dr. Carl Jordan 1957
The Movie Orgy
The Movie Orgy Self (archive footage) 1968

Filmography

Acting Credits (182)

The Movie Orgy
The Movie Orgy Self (archive footage) 1968
Guns of Diablo
Guns of Diablo Ray Macklin 1964
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes Mr. Bowhead (uncredited) 1963
Tower of London
Tower of London The Archbishop 1962
Most Dangerous Man Alive
Most Dangerous Man Alive Capt. Davis 1961
The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come
The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come Gen. Lew Wallace 1961
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
The Barbara Stanwyck Show Walter Harwood 1960
Bonanza
Bonanza Mr. Mason 1959
From the Earth to the Moon
From the Earth to the Moon President Ulysses S. Grant 1958
Tarawa Beachhead
Tarawa Beachhead Chief of Staff, Pearl Harbor (uncredited) 1958
Frontier Gun
Frontier Gun Andrew Barton 1958
The Rifleman
The Rifleman 1958
The Saga of Hemp Brown
The Saga of Hemp Brown Bo Slauter 1958
Curse of the Faceless Man
Curse of the Faceless Man Narrator (unconfirmed) 1958
Twilight for the Gods
Twilight for the Gods Sea Captain 1958
Badman's Country
Badman's Country Mayor Coleman 1958
How to Make a Monster
How to Make a Monster Police Capt. Hancock 1958
Young and Wild
Young and Wild Police Capt. Egan 1958
Sea Hunt
Sea Hunt 1958
Giant from the Unknown
Giant from the Unknown Dr. Frederick Cleveland 1958
The Power of the Resurrection
The Power of the Resurrection Annas 1958
Maverick
Maverick Joshua Haines 1957
Perry Mason
Perry Mason Judge 1957
Perry Mason
Perry Mason Judge Hoyt 1957
M Squad
M Squad Police Inspector Dean 1957
Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam Sharain's Father 1957
Beginning of the End
Beginning of the End Gen. John Hanson 1957
The Giant Claw
The Giant Claw Lt. Gen. Edward Considine 1957
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman Dr. Carl Jordan 1957
Kronos
Kronos Dr. Albert Stern 1957
Hell's Crossroads
Hell's Crossroads Wheeler 1957
Zombies of Mora Tau
Zombies of Mora Tau Dr. Jonathan Eggert 1957
Drango
Drango Henry Calder 1957
Down Liberty Road
Down Liberty Road Fred Schroder 1957
The Desperados Are in Town
The Desperados Are in Town Mr. Rutherford 1956
Naked Gun
Naked Gun Sheriff Jim Jackson (as Morrie Ankrum) 1956
On Trial
On Trial Judge 1956
Dr. Fu Manchu
Dr. Fu Manchu Professor Rutledge 1956
Walk the Proud Land
Walk the Proud Land Gen. Wade 1956
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers Brig. Gen. John Hanley 1956
Quincannon, Frontier Scout
Quincannon, Frontier Scout Col. Harry Conover 1956
When Gangland Strikes
When Gangland Strikes Leo Fantzler 1956
Fury at Gunsight Pass
Fury at Gunsight Pass Doc Phillips 1956
No Man's Woman
No Man's Woman Capt. Hostedder 1955
The 20th Century Fox Hour
The 20th Century Fox Hour Henry 1955
Tennessee's Partner
Tennessee's Partner Judge Parker 1955
Cheyenne
Cheyenne John Clements 1955
Duel on the Mississippi
Duel on the Mississippi Magistrate (uncredited) 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Merle 1955
The Last Command
The Last Command 1955
The Eternal Sea
The Eternal Sea Vice-Adm. Arthur Dewey Struble 1955
The Silver Star
The Silver Star Charlie Childress 1955
Chief Crazy Horse
Chief Crazy Horse Red Cloud 1955
Crashout
Crashout Head Guard 1955
The Little Lamb: A Christmas Story
The Little Lamb: A Christmas Story Azar the Shepherd 1955
Vera Cruz
Vera Cruz Gen. Ramírez 1954
The Steel Cage
The Steel Cage Prison Board Member Garvey, segment "The Hostages" 1954
Three Young Texans
Three Young Texans Jeff Blair 1954
Cattle Queen of Montana
Cattle Queen of Montana J.I. 'Pop' Jones 1954
Two Guns and a Badge
Two Guns and a Badge Sheriff Jackson 1954
Apache
Apache Dawson 1954
The Outlaw Stallion
The Outlaw Stallion Sheriff 1954
Silver Lode
Silver Lode Zachary Evans 1954
Drums Across the River
Drums Across the River Chief Ouray 1954
Southwest Passage
Southwest Passage Dr. Stanton 1954
Taza, Son of Cochise
Taza, Son of Cochise Grey Eagle 1954
Flight Nurse
Flight Nurse Interrogation Officer 1953
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse 1953
The Moonlighter
The Moonlighter Alexander Prince 1953
Mexican Manhunt
Mexican Manhunt Tip Morgan 1953
Sky Commando
Sky Commando Gen. W.R. Combs 1953
Devil's Canyon
Devil's Canyon Ed 1953
Arena
Arena Bucky Hillberry 1953
Invaders from Mars
Invaders from Mars Col. Fielding 1953
I Beheld His Glory
I Beheld His Glory Peter 1953
Fort Vengeance
Fort Vengeance Chief Crowfoot 1953
The Man Behind The Gun
The Man Behind The Gun Bram Creegan 1953
Hiawatha
Hiawatha Iagoo 1952
A Star Shall Rise
A Star Shall Rise King Herod 1952
Because of You
Because of You Dr. Travis 1952
The Raiders
The Raiders Thomas Ainsworth 1952
Four Star Playhouse
Four Star Playhouse Warden 1952
Four Star Playhouse
Four Star Playhouse Mr. Raymond 1952
Four Star Playhouse
Four Star Playhouse Mr. Mason 1952
Cowboy G-Men
Cowboy G-Men 1952
Son of Ali Baba
Son of Ali Baba Ali Baba 1952
Red Planet Mars
Red Planet Mars Secretary of Defense Sparks 1952
Mutiny
Mutiny Capt. Radford 1952
Fort Osage
Fort Osage Arthur Pickett 1952
My Favorite Spy
My Favorite Spy Gen. Frazer 1951
Flight to Mars
Flight to Mars Ikron 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars 1951
Tomorrow Is Another Day
Tomorrow Is Another Day Hugh Wagner 1951
Along the Great Divide
Along the Great Divide Ed Roden 1951
Fighting Coast Guard
Fighting Coast Guard Navy Captain 1951
The Lion Hunters
The Lion Hunters Tom Forbes 1951
The Redhead and the Cowboy
The Redhead and the Cowboy Sheriff 1951
Short Grass
Short Grass Hal Fenton 1950
Southside 1-1000
Southside 1-1000 Eugene Deane 1950
Rocketship X-M
Rocketship X-M Dr. Ralph Fleming 1950
In a Lonely Place
In a Lonely Place Lloyd Barnes 1950
The Damned Don't Cry
The Damned Don't Cry Jim Whitehead 1950
Borderline
Borderline Bill Whittaker 1950
Chain Lightning
Chain Lightning Ed Bostwick 1950
The Fountainhead
The Fountainhead Prosecutor (uncredited) 1949
Colorado Territory
Colorado Territory United States Marshal 1949
We Were Strangers
We Were Strangers M. Seymour 1949
Bad Men of Tombstone
Bad Men of Tombstone Mr. Jones 1949
Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc Poton de Xaintrailles, Captain 1948
Studio One
Studio One Considine 1948
For the Love of Mary
For the Love of Mary Adm. Walton 1948
The Fabulous Fraud
The Fabulous Fraud Blind Girl's Father 1948
Fighting Back
Fighting Back Robert J. Higby 1948
Souvenirs of Death
Souvenirs of Death Gangster (uncredited) 1948
High Wall
High Wall Dr. Stanley Griffin 1947
Good News
Good News Dean Griswold 1947
Desire Me
Desire Me Hector Martin 1947
Merton of the Movies
Merton of the Movies Goodfellow's Club Manager (uncredited) 1947
Cynthia
Cynthia Mr. Phillips, Principal 1947
Song of the Thin Man
Song of the Thin Man Inspector (uncredited) 1947
The Sea of Grass
The Sea of Grass A.J. Crane 1947
Little Mister Jim
Little Mister Jim Col. W.I. Starwell 1947
The Mighty McGurk
The Mighty McGurk Fowles 1947
Lady in the Lake
Lady in the Lake Eugene Grayson 1946
Courage of Lassie
Courage of Lassie Farmer Crews 1946
The Cockeyed Miracle
The Cockeyed Miracle Dr. Wilson 1946
The Green Years
The Green Years Dr. Galbraith 1946
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Postman Always Rings Twice Judge (uncredited) 1946
The Harvey Girls
The Harvey Girls Rev. Claggett 1946
Adventure
Adventure Mr. Ludlow - Farmer (uncredited) 1945
Purity Squad
Purity Squad Dr. Adams (uncredited) 1945
The Hidden Eye
The Hidden Eye Ferris (henchman) 1945
Phantoms, Inc.
Phantoms, Inc. Narrator (voice) 1945
Fall Guy
Fall Guy District Attorney (uncredited) 1945
The Thin Man Goes Home
The Thin Man Goes Home Willoughby Peavy 1944
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows Lt. Pat McKay 1944
Gentle Annie
Gentle Annie Deputy Gansby 1944
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo Adm. William F. Halsey - Captain of the 'Hornet' (uncredited) 1944
Return from Nowhere
Return from Nowhere Doctor (uncredited) 1944
Barbary Coast Gent
Barbary Coast Gent Alec Veeder 1944
Marriage Is a Private Affair
Marriage Is a Private Affair Ed Scofield 1944
Meet the People
Meet the People Monte Rowland 1944
Main Street Today
Main Street Today Mayor Charlie Maxwell (uncredited) 1944
Rationing
Rationing Morgan 1944
The Heavenly Body
The Heavenly Body Dr. Green 1944
The Cross of Lorraine
The Cross of Lorraine Col. Demas (uncredited) 1943
Swing Fever
Swing Fever Dan Conlon 1943
Best Foot Forward
Best Foot Forward Col. Harkrider 1943
Let's Face It
Let's Face It Man in Sun Shell Cafe 1943
Dixie Dugan
Dixie Dugan Editor 1943
Reunion in France
Reunion in France Martin 1942
Time to Kill
Time to Kill Alexander Morny 1942
Tennessee Johnson
Tennessee Johnson Jefferson Davis 1942
The Omaha Trail
The Omaha Trail Henchman Job 1942
The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe
The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe Mr. Graham 1942
Tales of Manhattan
Tales of Manhattan Judge 1942
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
Ten Gentlemen from West Point Wood 1942
Roxie Hart
Roxie Hart Martin S. Harrison 1942
Road Agent
Road Agent Big John Morgan 1941
Ride 'Em Cowboy
Ride 'Em Cowboy Ace Anderson 1941
I Wake Up Screaming
I Wake Up Screaming Assistant District Attorney 1941
The Bandit Trail
The Bandit Trail Red Haggerty 1941
This Woman Is Mine
This Woman Is Mine Roussel 1941
Wide Open Town
Wide Open Town Jim Stuart 1941
Pirates on Horseback
Pirates on Horseback Ace Gibson 1941
Border Vigilantes
Border Vigilantes Dan Forbes 1941
The Roundup
The Roundup 'Parenthesis' 1941
In Old Colorado
In Old Colorado Weiler, Davidson's Foreman 1941
Doomed Caravan
Doomed Caravan Stephen Westcott 1941
Three Men from Texas
Three Men from Texas Bruce Morgan 1940
Cherokee Strip
Cherokee Strip Hawk Barrett 1940
Buck Benny Rides Again
Buck Benny Rides Again Second Outlaw 1940
The Light of Western Stars
The Light of Western Stars Nat Hayworth 1940
The Showdown
The Showdown Baron Rendor 1940
Knights of the Range
Knights of the Range Gamecock 1940
Rustlers' Valley
Rustlers' Valley Glen Randall 1937
North of the Rio Grande
North of the Rio Grande Henry Stoneham 1937
Hills of Old Wyoming
Hills of Old Wyoming Andrews 1937
Borderland
Borderland Loco 1937
Trail Dust
Trail Dust Tex Anderson 1936
Hopalong Cassidy Returns
Hopalong Cassidy Returns Blackie Felton 1936
Stand Up and Cheer!
Stand Up and Cheer! Washington Press Correspondent 1934

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