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Morris Ankrum

Morris Ankrum

Actor · 1896 – 1964 · 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.

Movies24

  • Movie7.6

    In a Lonely Place

    1950 · 681 votes

  • Movie7.1
  • Movie6.8

    The Fountainhead

    1949 · 161 votes

  • Movie6.7
  • Movie6.1

    Lady in the Lake

    1946 · 116 votes

  • Movie6.2

    Joan of Arc

    1948 · 89 votes

  • Movie6.6
  • Movie6.1
  • Movie6.7

    Vera Cruz

    1954 · 281 votes

  • Movie5.6

    Son of Ali Baba

    1952 · 15 votes

  • Movie5.9

    Courage of Lassie

    1946 · 37 votes

  • Movie5.9

    Invaders from Mars

    1953 · 212 votes

  • Movie6.2

    Silver Lode

    1954 · 71 votes

  • Movie4.8

    The Giant Claw

    1957 · 95 votes

  • Movie6.6

    The Harvey Girls

    1946 · 55 votes

  • Movie6.8

    The Movie Orgy

    1968 · 19 votes

  • Movie6.4

    Chain Lightning

    1950 · 28 votes

  • Movie6.7

    The Last Command

    1955 · 10 votes

  • Movie6.0

    The Man Behind The Gun

    1953 · 12 votes

  • Movie6.7

    Song of the Thin Man

    1947 · 107 votes

  • Movie6.0

    My Favorite Spy

    1951 · 18 votes

  • Movie7.1

    The Thin Man Goes Home

    1944 · 111 votes

  • Movie6.1

    The Sea of Grass

    1947 · 29 votes

  • Movie5.6

    Chief Crazy Horse

    1955 · 26 votes

Series17

  • TV7.7

    Perry Mason

    1957 · 139 votes

  • TV7.0

    Maverick

    1957 · 43 votes

  • TV7.5

    Bonanza

    1959 · 500 votes

  • TV7.1

    The Rifleman

    1958 · 54 votes

  • TV6.8

    Four Star Playhouse

    1952 · 11 votes

  • TV5.4

    Studio One

    1948 · 13 votes

  • TV6.2

    Cheyenne

    1955 · 26 votes

  • TV6.7

    Gunsmoke

    1955 · 119 votes

  • TV6.0
  • TV5.4

    M Squad

    1957 · 7 votes

  • TV6.7

    Sea Hunt

    1958 · 20 votes

  • TV6.0

    Bronco

    1958 · 8 votes

  • TV6.4
  • TV8.5
  • TV7.3

    The Adventures of Dr. Fu Manchu

    Dr. Fu Manchu

    1956 · 3 votes

  • TV7.2
  • TV5.8

    Cowboy G-Men

    1952 · 4 votes