Morris Ankrum
AKA: Morris Nussbaum
Birthday: 1896-08-28
Died: 1964-09-02
Birthplace: Danville, Illinois, USA
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.
Filmography
Character: Eugene Grayson
Character: Assistant District Attorney
Character: Judge (uncredited)
Character: Dr. Stanley Griffin
Character: United States Marshal
Character: Lt. Gen. Edward Considine
Character: Willoughby Peavy
Character: Dr. Albert Stern
Character: Dr. Ralph Fleming
Character: Dr. Jonathan Eggert
Character: President Ulysses S. Grant
Character: Bill Whittaker
Character: Gen. John Hanson
Character: Brig. Gen. John Hanley
Character: Alexander Morny
Character: Blackie Felton
Character: Stephen Westcott
Character: Weiler, Davidson's Foreman
Character: Henry Stoneham
Character: Dr. Frederick Cleveland
Character: Capt. Hostedder
Character: Martin S. Harrison
Character: Ferris (henchman)
Character: Gen. W.R. Combs
Character: Col. Harry Conover
Character: Prison Board Member Garvey, segment "The Hostages"
Character: Dr. Carl Jordan
Character: Police Capt. Hancock
Character: Blind Girl's Father
Character: Mr. Ludlow - Farmer (uncredited)
Character: Mr. Phillips, Principal
Character: Sharain's Father
Character: Vice-Adm. Arthur Dewey Struble
Character: Chief Crowfoot
Character: Robert J. Higby
Character: Azar the Shepherd
Character: Interrogation Officer
Character: Mr. Bowhead (uncredited)
Character: Col. Harkrider
Character: Dr. Adams (uncredited)
Character: Goodfellow's Club Manager (uncredited)
Character: Alexander Prince
Character: Narrator (unconfirmed)
Character: The Archbishop
Character: Narrator (voice)
Character: Arthur Pickett
Character: Bucky Hillberry
Character: Charlie Childress
Character: J.I. 'Pop' Jones
Character: Sheriff Jackson
Character: Mr. Rutherford
Character: Sheriff Jim Jackson (as Morrie Ankrum)
Character: Col. W.I. Starwell
Character: Doctor (uncredited)
Character: Inspector (uncredited)
Character: Mayor Charlie Maxwell (uncredited)
Character: Gangster (uncredited)
Character: Prosecutor (uncredited)
Character: Secretary of Defense Sparks
Character: Chief of Staff, Pearl Harbor (uncredited)
Character: Poton de Xaintrailles, Captain
Character: Jefferson Davis
Character: Judge Tom Barnes (Robinson sequence)
Character: Big John Morgan
Character: Self (archive footage)
Character: Thomas Ainsworth
Character: District Attorney (uncredited)
Character: Police Capt. Egan
Character: Magistrate (uncredited)
Character: Gen. Lew Wallace
Character: Adm. William F. Halsey - Captain of the 'Hornet' (uncredited)