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J. Farrell MacDonald‌

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1875-06-05

Popularity

star2.4

J. Farrell MacDonald

Waterbury, Connecticut, USA

J. Farrell MacDonald

Waterbury, Connecticut, USA

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1875-06-05

Popularity

star2.4

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Farrell MacDonald (June 6, 1875 – August 2, 1952) was an American character actor and director. He played supporting roles and occasional leads. He appeared in over 325 films over a 41-year career from 1911 to 1951, and directed forty-four silent films from 1912 to 1917. MacDonald was the principal director of L. Frank Baum's Oz Film Manufacturing Company, and he can frequently be seen in the films of Frank Capra, Preston Sturges and, especially, John Ford. Early in his career, MacDonald was a singer in minstrel shows, and he toured the United States extensively for two years with stage productions. He made his first silent film in 1911, a dramatic short entitled The Scarlett Letter made by Carl Laemmle's Independent Moving Pictures Company (IMP), the forerunner of Universal Pictures,. He continued to act in numerous films each year from that time on, and by 1912 he was directing them as well. The first film he directed was The Worth of a Man, another dramatic short, again for IMP, and he was to direct 43 more films until his last in 1917, Over the Fence, which he co-directed with Harold Lloyd. MacDonald had crossed paths with Lloyd several years earlier, when Lloyd was an extra and MacDonald had given him much-needed work – and he did the same with Hal Roach, both of whom appearing in small roles in The Patchwork Girl of Oz, which MacDonald directed in 1914. When Roach set up his own studio, with Lloyd as his principal attraction, he hired MacDonald to direct. By 1918, MacDonald, who was to become one of the most beloved character men in Hollywood, had given up directing and was acting full-time, predominantly in Westerns and Irish comedies. He first worked under director John Ford in 1919's A Fight for Love. In all, Ford would use MacDonald on twenty-five films between 1919 and 1950. With a voice that matched his personality, MacDonald made the transition to sound films easily, with no noticeable drop in his acting output – if anything, it went up. In 1931, for instance, MacDonald appeared in 14 films – among them the first version of The Maltese Falcon, in which he played "Detective Tom Polhaus" – and in 22 of them in 1932. Although he played laborers, policemen, military men and priests, among many other characters, his roles were usually a cut above a "bit part". His characters usually had names, and he was most often credited for his performances. A highlight of this period was his performance as the hobo "Mr. Tramp" in Our Little Girl with Shirley Temple (1935). In the 1940s, MacDonald was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in seven films written and directed by Sturges. MacDonald appeared in Sullivan's Travels, The Palm Beach Story, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, The Great Moment, The Sin of Harold Diddlebock, Unfaithfully Yours and The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend, Sturges' last American film. Earlier, MacDonald had also appeared in The Power and the Glory, which Sturges wrote. His work on Sturges' films was generally uncredited. He was notable in 1946 in John Ford's My Darling Clementine in which he played "Mac," the bartender in the town saloon. MacDonald also had uncredited roles in It's a Wonderful Life and Here Comes The Groom.

Movie Credits

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans‌
star7.9
calendar 1927

It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life‌
star8.3
calendar 1946

My Darling Clementine

My Darling Clementine‌
star7.4
calendar 1946

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock‌
star6.2
calendar 1947

Topper

Topper‌
star6.8
calendar 1937

Stormy

Stormy‌
star0.0
calendar 1935

The Wallop

The Wallop‌
star4.0
calendar 1921

The Vanishing Frontier

The Vanishing Frontier‌
star0.0
calendar 1933

The Palm Beach Story

The Palm Beach Story‌
star7.0
calendar 1942

Panhandle

Panhandle‌
star5.8
calendar 1948

3 Bad Men

3 Bad Men‌
star6.8
calendar 1926

Captains of the Clouds

Captains of the Clouds‌
star6.5
calendar 1942

This Sporting Age

This Sporting Age‌
star0.0
calendar 1932

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer‌
star7.0
calendar 1947

The Freeze-Out

The Freeze-Out‌
star4.0
calendar 1921

The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon‌
star6.4
calendar 1931

Woman on the Run

Woman on the Run‌
star6.8
calendar 1950

The Living Ghost

The Living Ghost‌
star4.3
calendar 1942

No Man of Her Own

No Man of Her Own‌
star6.5
calendar 1932

Johnny Angel

Johnny Angel‌
star5.9
calendar 1945

Bullet Proof

Bullet Proof‌
star0.0
calendar 1920

Over the Border

Over the Border‌
star0.0
calendar 1922

Superman and the Mole-Men

Superman and the Mole-Men‌
star5.2
calendar 1951

$5,000 Reward

$5,000 Reward‌
star0.0
calendar 1918

Thunder in the Valley

Thunder in the Valley‌
star7.5
calendar 1947

The Ape Man

The Ape Man‌
star4.2
calendar 1943

Drifting

Drifting‌
star6.2
calendar 1923

Steady Company

Steady Company‌
star0.0
calendar 1932

Quicksands

Quicksands‌
star5.0
calendar 1923

Racing Hearts

Racing Hearts‌
star0.0
calendar 1923

Bowery at Midnight

Bowery at Midnight‌
star5.1
calendar 1942

Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell

Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell‌
star6.6
calendar 1951

Reap the Wild Wind

Reap the Wild Wind‌
star6.4
calendar 1942

Let Women Alone

Let Women Alone‌
star0.0
calendar 1925

A Trip to Chinatown

A Trip to Chinatown‌
star0.0
calendar 1926

Barefoot Boy

Barefoot Boy‌
star5.8
calendar 1938

The Crime Doctor

The Crime Doctor‌
star3.5
calendar 1934

Riding with Death

Riding with Death‌
star0.0
calendar 1921

Hostile Country

Hostile Country‌
star3.0
calendar 1950

Riders of the Timberline

Riders of the Timberline‌
star0.0
calendar 1941

The Whole Town's Talking

The Whole Town's Talking‌
star6.8
calendar 1935

The Iron Horse

The Iron Horse‌
star6.7
calendar 1924

The Stolen Jools

The Stolen Jools‌
star5.6
calendar 1931

Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl

Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl‌
star0.0
calendar 1926

The Walls of Jericho

The Walls of Jericho‌
star5.7
calendar 1948

Desperate Youth

Desperate Youth‌
star0.0
calendar 1921

Harrigan's Kid

Harrigan's Kid‌
star0.0
calendar 1943

You're My Everything

You're My Everything‌
star3.3
calendar 1949

The Thirteenth Guest

The Thirteenth Guest‌
star5.2
calendar 1932

The Working Man

The Working Man‌
star6.6
calendar 1933

The Power and the Glory

The Power and the Glory‌
star5.8
calendar 1933

The Phantom Express

The Phantom Express‌
star4.7
calendar 1932

Under Eighteen

Under Eighteen‌
star6.6
calendar 1932

Riffraff

Riffraff‌
star5.0
calendar 1936

Manslaughter

Manslaughter‌
star5.4
calendar 1922

In Old Cheyenne

In Old Cheyenne‌
star4.1
calendar 1941

Full Confession

Full Confession‌
star4.7
calendar 1939

I Loved a Woman

I Loved a Woman‌
star4.8
calendar 1933

Paid to Love

Paid to Love‌
star6.0
calendar 1927

Masquerade

Masquerade‌
star0.0
calendar 1929

Sky High

Sky High‌
star5.6
calendar 1922

Zenobia

Zenobia‌
star4.6
calendar 1939

The Last Alarm

The Last Alarm‌
star4.7
calendar 1940

Streets of San Francisco

Streets of San Francisco‌
star0.0
calendar 1949

Fury at Furnace Creek

Fury at Furnace Creek‌
star6.0
calendar 1948

The Easiest Way

The Easiest Way‌
star5.3
calendar 1931

Come On, Rangers

Come On, Rangers‌
star6.0
calendar 1938

Swellhead

Swellhead‌
star0.0
calendar 1935

Heritage of the Desert

Heritage of the Desert‌
star5.0
calendar 1932

Hotel Continental

Hotel Continental‌
star6.0
calendar 1932

Phantom Killer

Phantom Killer‌
star4.3
calendar 1942

Scandal for Sale

Scandal for Sale‌
star7.0
calendar 1932

Discarded Lovers

Discarded Lovers‌
star4.8
calendar 1932

Peg o' My Heart

Peg o' My Heart‌
star5.2
calendar 1933

The Brass Bowl

The Brass Bowl‌
star0.0
calendar 1924

Hearts of Humanity

Hearts of Humanity‌
star6.0
calendar 1932

Exclusive Story

Exclusive Story‌
star6.5
calendar 1936

Murder on the Campus

Murder on the Campus‌
star5.4
calendar 1933

The Healer

The Healer‌
star5.7
calendar 1935

East Side, West Side

East Side, West Side‌
star7.2
calendar 1927

Danger Ahead

Danger Ahead‌
star5.5
calendar 1935

Shadows of the Orient

Shadows of the Orient‌
star5.0
calendar 1935

Lightnin'

Lightnin'‌
star5.2
calendar 1925

4 Devils

4 Devils‌
star7.0
calendar 1928

The Squaw Man

The Squaw Man‌
star5.4
calendar 1931

Waterfront Lady

Waterfront Lady‌
star5.5
calendar 1935

The Truth About Youth

The Truth About Youth‌
star5.7
calendar 1930

Romance in Manhattan

Romance in Manhattan‌
star8.1
calendar 1935

Riley the Cop

Riley the Cop‌
star5.6
calendar 1928

Cradle Snatchers

Cradle Snatchers‌
star3.5
calendar 1927

The Millionaire

The Millionaire‌
star7.5
calendar 1931

The Pride of the Legion

The Pride of the Legion‌
star6.0
calendar 1932

Probation

Probation‌
star5.0
calendar 1932

I Take This Oath

I Take This Oath‌
star4.3
calendar 1940

The Best Man Wins

The Best Man Wins‌
star5.8
calendar 1935

Man of Two Worlds

Man of Two Worlds‌
star6.0
calendar 1934

The Hit Parade

The Hit Parade‌
star4.0
calendar 1937

Flying Fists

Flying Fists‌
star5.0
calendar 1937

The Signal Tower

The Signal Tower‌
star5.2
calendar 1924

Sporting Blood

Sporting Blood‌
star5.5
calendar 1931

Keeper of the Bees

Keeper of the Bees‌
star0.0
calendar 1947

Submarine Patrol

Submarine Patrol‌
star6.6
calendar 1938

Other Men's Women

Other Men's Women‌
star5.7
calendar 1931

River's End

River's End‌
star6.0
calendar 1930

Laughing at Life

Laughing at Life‌
star6.0
calendar 1933

White Banners

White Banners‌
star5.8
calendar 1938

Smoky

Smoky‌
star5.2
calendar 1946

The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek

The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek‌
star6.8
calendar 1943

Private Snuffy Smith

Private Snuffy Smith‌
star3.8
calendar 1942

Ankles Preferred

Ankles Preferred‌
star0.0
calendar 1927

Hitch Hike Lady

Hitch Hike Lady‌
star6.8
calendar 1935

Beggar's Holiday

Beggar's Holiday‌
star0.0
calendar 1934

Gang Bullets

Gang Bullets‌
star5.7
calendar 1938

Let 'em Have It

Let 'em Have It‌
star7.0
calendar 1935

The Crowd Roars

The Crowd Roars‌
star6.5
calendar 1938

The Shamrock Handicap

The Shamrock Handicap‌
star5.1
calendar 1926

Men Without Women

Men Without Women‌
star6.3
calendar 1930

The Painted Desert

The Painted Desert‌
star5.0
calendar 1931

Conspiracy

Conspiracy‌
star5.5
calendar 1939

Myrt and Marge

Myrt and Marge‌
star4.2
calendar 1933

Men Are Such Fools

Men Are Such Fools‌
star0.0
calendar 1932

Kentucky Pride

Kentucky Pride‌
star5.9
calendar 1925

Mysterious Crossing

Mysterious Crossing‌
star0.0
calendar 1936

One Thrilling Night

One Thrilling Night‌
star5.1
calendar 1942

Mademoiselle Midnight

Mademoiselle Midnight‌
star5.8
calendar 1924

The Racing Strain

The Racing Strain‌
star0.0
calendar 1932

Our Little Girl

Our Little Girl‌
star4.3
calendar 1935

Slave Ship

Slave Ship‌
star4.8
calendar 1937

The First Year

The First Year‌
star0.0
calendar 1926

Come on Over

Come on Over‌
star0.0
calendar 1922

Susannah of the Mounties

Susannah of the Mounties‌
star6.3
calendar 1939

None But the Brave

None But the Brave‌
star0.0
calendar 1928

Whispering Smith

Whispering Smith‌
star6.5
calendar 1948

The Lone Ranger Rides Again

The Lone Ranger Rides Again‌
star6.0
calendar 1939

Belle Starr's Daughter

Belle Starr's Daughter‌
star4.2
calendar 1948

There Goes My Heart

There Goes My Heart‌
star7.2
calendar 1938

My Dear Miss Aldrich

My Dear Miss Aldrich‌
star6.1
calendar 1937

Week-End Marriage

Week-End Marriage‌
star6.0
calendar 1932

County Fair

County Fair‌
star6.0
calendar 1937

Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village‌
star6.0
calendar 1944

Maybe It's Love

Maybe It's Love‌
star6.0
calendar 1935

The Young Rajah

The Young Rajah‌
star6.5
calendar 1922

Northern Frontier

Northern Frontier‌
star0.0
calendar 1935

East Side of Heaven

East Side of Heaven‌
star7.1
calendar 1939

They Shall Have Music

They Shall Have Music‌
star5.9
calendar 1939

Sitting Pretty

Sitting Pretty‌
star7.1
calendar 1948

Coast Guard

Coast Guard‌
star5.0
calendar 1939

Square Shooter

Square Shooter‌
star6.0
calendar 1935

The Housekeeper's Daughter

The Housekeeper's Daughter‌
star3.5
calendar 1939

Under Secret Orders

Under Secret Orders‌
star0.0
calendar 1933

Western Luck

Western Luck‌
star0.0
calendar 1924

Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line

Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line‌
star7.0
calendar 1997

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn‌
star7.6
calendar 1945

Star of Midnight

Star of Midnight‌
star6.0
calendar 1935

The Iron Master

The Iron Master‌
star0.0
calendar 1933

Stagecoach War

Stagecoach War‌
star4.0
calendar 1940

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve‌
star5.4
calendar 1947

Those Who Dare

Those Who Dare‌
star0.0
calendar 1924

When Willie Comes Marching Home

When Willie Comes Marching Home‌
star7.0
calendar 1950

Untamed

Untamed‌
star4.3
calendar 1940

My Old Kentucky Home

My Old Kentucky Home‌
star5.0
calendar 1938

Bringing Up Father

Bringing Up Father‌
star3.0
calendar 1928

Maid of Salem

Maid of Salem‌
star5.9
calendar 1937

The Great Lie

The Great Lie‌
star6.9
calendar 1941

The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter‌
star0.0
calendar 1911

The Calling of Louis Mona

The Calling of Louis Mona‌
star0.0
calendar 1913

The Game That Kills

The Game That Kills‌
star5.3
calendar 1937

Front Page Woman

Front Page Woman‌
star5.8
calendar 1935

The Daltons' Women

The Daltons' Women‌
star2.0
calendar 1950

Me and My Gal

Me and My Gal‌
star6.5
calendar 1932

The Last Express

The Last Express‌
star1.0
calendar 1938

Numbered Woman

Numbered Woman‌
star0.0
calendar 1938

The Gentleman from Arizona

The Gentleman from Arizona‌
star0.0
calendar 1939

Little Orphan Annie

Little Orphan Annie‌
star0.0
calendar 1938

South Sea Rose

South Sea Rose‌
star0.0
calendar 1929

Law of the Timber

Law of the Timber‌
star0.0
calendar 1941

Tiger Fangs

Tiger Fangs‌
star4.0
calendar 1943

Light of Western Stars

Light of Western Stars‌
star4.0
calendar 1940

Once to Every Woman

Once to Every Woman‌
star5.8
calendar 1934

Dark Command

Dark Command‌
star6.3
calendar 1940

The Irish in Us

The Irish in Us‌
star7.7
calendar 1935

Trailin'

Trailin'‌
star4.5
calendar 1921

Texas Masquerade

Texas Masquerade‌
star0.0
calendar 1944

Fallen Angel

Fallen Angel‌
star6.4
calendar 1945

Here Comes the Groom

Here Comes the Groom‌
star5.1
calendar 1951

Slim

Slim‌
star6.3
calendar 1937

The Dream

The Dream‌
star5.5
calendar 1911

If You Knew Susie

If You Knew Susie‌
star7.5
calendar 1948

The Arizonian

The Arizonian‌
star0.0
calendar 1935

The Brat

The Brat‌
star5.6
calendar 1931

Knights of the Range

Knights of the Range‌
star0.0
calendar 1940

While Paris Sleeps

While Paris Sleeps‌
star0.0
calendar 1923

Pony Express Days

Pony Express Days‌
star6.0
calendar 1940

Happy Days

Happy Days‌
star6.0
calendar 1929

Friendly Neighbors

Friendly Neighbors‌
star0.0
calendar 1940

Goodbye, Weeds

Goodbye, Weeds‌
star0.0
calendar 1946

Meet John Doe

Meet John Doe‌
star7.3
calendar 1941

Roped

Roped‌
star5.0
calendar 1919

The Dixie Merchant

The Dixie Merchant‌
star0.0
calendar 1926

Too Young to Marry

Too Young to Marry‌
star0.0
calendar 1931

Web of Danger

Web of Danger‌
star4.8
calendar 1947

Masked Emotions

Masked Emotions‌
star0.0
calendar 1929

Madame Racketeer

Madame Racketeer‌
star4.8
calendar 1932

Wild Bill Hickok Rides

Wild Bill Hickok Rides‌
star4.7
calendar 1942

Strong Boy

Strong Boy‌
star5.0
calendar 1929

Thank You

Thank You‌
star4.0
calendar 1925

The Fighting Heart

The Fighting Heart‌
star5.0
calendar 1925

A Fight For Love

A Fight For Love‌
star5.0
calendar 1919

Riders of Vengeance

Riders of Vengeance‌
star3.0
calendar 1919

The Dalton Gang

The Dalton Gang‌
star5.0
calendar 1949

A Sporting Chance

A Sporting Chance‌
star4.7
calendar 1919

Song o' My Heart

Song o' My Heart‌
star3.7
calendar 1930

The Hurricane Express

The Hurricane Express‌
star5.1
calendar 1932

The Lighthouse Keeper

The Lighthouse Keeper‌
star0.0
calendar 1911

Rags

Rags‌
star7.5
calendar 1915

'Tween Two Loves

'Tween Two Loves‌
star0.0
calendar 1911

A Timely Repentance

A Timely Repentance‌
star0.0
calendar 1912

Florida Special

Florida Special‌
star6.0
calendar 1936

Roaring Timber

Roaring Timber‌
star5.0
calendar 1937

The Lucky Horseshoe

The Lucky Horseshoe‌
star0.0
calendar 1925

The Girl of the Golden West

The Girl of the Golden West‌
star0.0
calendar 1930

The Ghost Breaker

The Ghost Breaker‌
star0.0
calendar 1922

The Crosby Case

The Crosby Case‌
star4.2
calendar 1934

Dakota Lil

Dakota Lil‌
star5.0
calendar 1950

How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 9: 'The Driver'

How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 9: 'The Driver'‌
star0.0
calendar 1931

How to Break 90 #6: Fine Points

How to Break 90 #6: Fine Points‌
star0.0
calendar 1933

Parnell

Parnell‌
star4.6
calendar 1937

Marked Men

Marked Men‌
star5.0
calendar 1919

The Painted Angel

The Painted Angel‌
star0.0
calendar 1929

The Outcasts of Poker Flat

The Outcasts of Poker Flat‌
star4.0
calendar 1919

The Strange Love of Molly Louvain

The Strange Love of Molly Louvain‌
star5.9
calendar 1932

Woman Hungry

Woman Hungry‌
star0.0
calendar 1931

Fighting Youth

Fighting Youth‌
star7.0
calendar 1935

70,000 Witnesses

70,000 Witnesses‌
star4.8
calendar 1932

The McGuerins from Brooklyn

The McGuerins from Brooklyn‌
star5.0
calendar 1942

Courage of the West

Courage of the West‌
star0.0
calendar 1937

Action

Action‌
star4.0
calendar 1921

Circumstantial Evidence

Circumstantial Evidence‌
star4.8
calendar 1945

True to Life

True to Life‌
star6.0
calendar 1943

Joe Palooka, Champ

Joe Palooka, Champ‌
star0.0
calendar 1946

State Police

State Police‌
star6.0
calendar 1938

The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris

The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris‌
star0.0
calendar 1928

Abie's Irish Rose

Abie's Irish Rose‌
star0.0
calendar 1928

The Family Upstairs

The Family Upstairs‌
star0.0
calendar 1926

Stranger in Town

Stranger in Town‌
star3.0
calendar 1931

Hangover Square

Hangover Square‌
star6.8
calendar 1945

Show Boat

Show Boat‌
star6.7
calendar 1936

The Spirit of Notre Dame

The Spirit of Notre Dame‌
star6.3
calendar 1931

Broadway Limited

Broadway Limited‌
star5.1
calendar 1941

The Bonded Woman

The Bonded Woman‌
star3.0
calendar 1922

Hitchin' Posts

Hitchin' Posts‌
star5.0
calendar 1920

Prairie Law

Prairie Law‌
star5.5
calendar 1940

In Old Arizona

In Old Arizona‌
star5.2
calendar 1928

Extortion

Extortion‌
star5.0
calendar 1938

Touchdown!

Touchdown!‌
star0.0
calendar 1931

Mickey the Kid

Mickey the Kid‌
star0.0
calendar 1939

The Great Barrier

The Great Barrier‌
star5.0
calendar 1937

Shep Comes Home

Shep Comes Home‌
star6.0
calendar 1948

Pillow of Death

Pillow of Death‌
star6.5
calendar 1945

The Great Moment

The Great Moment‌
star5.8
calendar 1944

The Path She Chose

The Path She Chose‌
star0.0
calendar 1920

Trouble Preferred

Trouble Preferred‌
star0.0
calendar 1948

The Country Beyond

The Country Beyond‌
star0.0
calendar 1926

Tv Credits