
Person
Ivan F. Simpson
Acting · 1875–1951 · Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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
1948

Jane Eyre
Mr. Woods - the Minister

The Adventures of Robin Hood
Proprietor of Kent Road Tavern (uncredited)

British Agent
'Poohbah' Evans

The Baroness and the Butler
Count Dormo

Mutiny on the Bounty
Morgan

The Millionaire
Davis

Captain Blood
Prosecutor

Disraeli
Sir Hugh Myers

They All Kissed the Bride
Dr. Cassell
Filmography
- 1948The Philco Television Playhouse
- 1948My Girl Tisa
- 1943Jane EyreMr. Woods - the Minister
- 1943My Kingdom for a CookProfessor Harlow
- 1943Above SuspicionPorter in Oxford (Uncredited)
- 1943This Land Is MineJudge
- 1943Two Weeks to LiveProfessor Albert Frisby (as Ivan Simpson)
- 1943Forever and a DayDexter
- 1942Random HarvestThe Vicar
- 1942NightmareMoney Changer
- 1942Eagle SquadronSimms
- 1942They All Kissed the BrideDr. Cassell
- 1942The Male AnimalDean Frederick Damon
- 1942Nazi AgentProfessor Sterling (as Ivan Simpson)
- 1941The Body DisappearsDean Claxton
- 1940New MoonGuizot
- 1940The Invisible Man ReturnsMr. Cotton (uncredited)
- 1940The Earl of ChicagoHargraves (uncredited)
- 1939Tower of LondonAnne's Protector
- 1939Rulers of the SeaSecretary (Uncredited)
- 1939The Adventures of Sherlock HolmesGates - Trial Prosecutor (uncredited)
- 1939The Sun Never SetsA Doctor
- 1939Never Say DieKretsky
- 1939Made for Each OtherSimon (uncredited)
- 1938Marie AntoinetteSauce (uncredited)
- 1938KidnappedOld Man
- 1938The Adventures of Robin HoodProprietor of Kent Road Tavern (uncredited)
- 1938Invisible EnemyMichael (as Ivan Simpson)
- 1938The Baroness and the ButlerCount Dormo
- 1937Youth on ParoleHenchman (uncredited)
- 1937London by NightBurroughs
- 1937Night of Mystery
- 1937The Prince and the PauperClemens
- 1937Maid of SalemRev. Parris
- 1936Lloyd's of LondonOld Man
- 1936Trouble for TwoCollins (as Ivan Simpson)
- 1936Little Lord FauntleroyReverend Mordaunt
- 1935Captain BloodProsecutor
- 1935The Great ImpersonationDr. Harrison
- 1935East of JavaResident
- 1935SplendorFletcher
- 1935Mutiny on the BountyMorgan
- 1935The Bishop MisbehavesMr. Grantham
- 1935Mark of the VampireJan
- 1935Shadow of DoubtMorse
- 1935David CopperfieldLittimer
- 1934The Little MinisterSanders Webster
- 1934Among the MissingSmeed
- 1934British Agent'Poohbah' Evans
- 1934The World Moves OnClumber
- 1934StingareeMan with Beard (uncredited)
- 1934The House of RothschildAmschel Rothschild
- 1934The Mystery of Mr. XHutchinson
- 1934Man of Two WorldsDr. Lott
- 1933Her SecretLathrop
- 1933Charlie Chan's Greatest CaseBrade
- 1933Midnight MaryTindle
- 1933The Silk ExpressJohnson, Kilgore's Secretary
- 1933The Secret of Madame BlancheAubrey's Lawyer (Uncredited)
- 1933The Past of Mary HolmesJacob Riggs
- 1933The Monkey's PawMr. White
- 1932Sherlock HolmesFaulkner
- 1932The Phantom of CrestwoodMr. Vayne
- 1932The CrashHodge
- 1932A Passport to HellSimms
- 1932The Man Who Played GodBattle
- 1931Safe in HellCrunch
- 1931The Reckless HourStevens - Adams' Butler (uncredited)
- 1931The Lady Who DaredButler
- 1931The MillionaireDavis
- 1930The Sea GodPearly Nick
- 1930The Way of All MenHiggins
- 1930Old EnglishJoe Pillin
- 1930ManslaughterMorson
- 1930Inside the LinesCapper
- 1930Isle of EscapeJudge
- 1930The Green GoddessWatkins
- 1929DisraeliSir Hugh Myers
- 1925WomanhandledButler
- 1925A Kiss for CinderellaMr. Cutaway
- 1925Lovers in QuarantineThe Silent Passenger
- 1925Wild, Wild SusanMalcolm
- 1925Miss BluebeardBounds
- 1924Twenty Dollars a WeekJames Pettison
- 1923The Green GoddessWatkins
- 1922The Man Who Played GodBattle
- 1916Out of the DriftsMartin
- 1915The DictatorSimpson
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