
Morris Ankrum
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.
Filmografi
Chain Lightning1950 · Ed Bostwick
Road Agent1941 · Big John Morgan
Phantoms, Inc.1945 · Narrator (voice)
Desire Me1947 · Hector Martin
Roxie Hart1942 · Martin S. Harrison
Tarawa Beachhead1958 · Chief of Staff, Pearl Harbor (uncredited)
Hiawatha1952 · Iagoo
In a Lonely Place1950 · Lloyd Barnes
Swing Fever1943 · Dan Conlon
Fall Guy1945 · District Attorney (uncredited)
The Postman Always Rings Twice1946 · Judge (uncredited)
The Movie Orgy1968 · Self (archive footage)
Stand Up and Cheer!1934 · Washington Press Correspondent
Purity Squad1945 · Dr. Adams (uncredited)
Courage of Lassie1946 · Farmer Crews
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes1963 · Mr. Bowhead (uncredited)
Fighting Back1948 · Robert J. Higby
Son of Ali Baba1952 · Ali Baba
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers1956 · Brig. Gen. John Hanley
The Redhead and the Cowboy1951 · Sheriff
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman1957 · Dr. Carl Jordan
Two Guns and a Badge1954 · Sheriff Jackson
Rocketship X-M1950 · Dr. Ralph Fleming
Apache1954 · Dawson
Raymond Massey
Humphrey Bogart
Crane Whitley
Julie Adams
Richard Whorf
Nigel Bruce
Eleanor Parker
Roy Roberts
Robert Mitchum
Ginger Rogers
Lynne Overman
Anne Gwynne