J. Farrell MacDonald

J. Farrell MacDonald

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.

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: June 05, 1875

Deathday: August 02, 1952

Popularity:

3.343

Known For

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans

1927-11-04

It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life

1946-12-20

My Darling Clementine
My Darling Clementine

1946-10-17

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

1947-04-04

Topper
Topper

1937-07-16

Stormy
Stormy

1935-10-21

The Wallop
The Wallop

1921-05-09

The Vanishing Frontier
The Vanishing Frontier

1933-03-13

The Palm Beach Story
The Palm Beach Story

1942-08-28

Panhandle
Panhandle

1948-02-22

3 Bad Men
3 Bad Men

1926-08-28

Captains of the Clouds
Captains of the Clouds

1942-02-12

This Sporting Age
This Sporting Age

1932-09-14

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

1947-09-01

The Freeze-Out
The Freeze-Out

1921-04-09

The Maltese Falcon
The Maltese Falcon

1931-05-23

Woman on the Run
Woman on the Run

1950-11-10

The Living Ghost
The Living Ghost

1942-08-11

No Man of Her Own
No Man of Her Own

1932-12-30

Johnny Angel
Johnny Angel

1945-10-25

Bullet Proof
Bullet Proof

1920-05-03

Over the Border
Over the Border

1922-06-04

Superman and the Mole-Men
Superman and the Mole-Men

1951-11-23

$5,000 Reward
$5,000 Reward

1918-05-25

Thunder in the Valley
Thunder in the Valley

1947-11-01

The Ape Man
The Ape Man

1943-03-05

Drifting
Drifting

1923-08-26

Steady Company
Steady Company

1932-03-13

Quicksands
Quicksands

1923-02-28

Racing Hearts
Racing Hearts

1923-07-15

Bowery at Midnight
Bowery at Midnight

1942-10-30

Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell
Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell

1951-08-01

Reap the Wild Wind
Reap the Wild Wind

1942-03-26

Let Women Alone
Let Women Alone

1925-01-04

A Trip to Chinatown
A Trip to Chinatown

1926-06-06

Barefoot Boy
Barefoot Boy

1938-08-03

The Crime Doctor
The Crime Doctor

1934-03-14

Riding with Death
Riding with Death

1921-11-13

Hostile Country
Hostile Country

1950-03-24

Riders of the Timberline
Riders of the Timberline

1941-09-17

The Whole Town's Talking
The Whole Town's Talking

1935-02-22

The Iron Horse
The Iron Horse

1924-08-24

The Stolen Jools
The Stolen Jools

1931-04-04

Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl
Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl

1926-12-19

The Walls of Jericho
The Walls of Jericho

1948-11-22

Desperate Youth
Desperate Youth

1921-04-25

Harrigan's Kid
Harrigan's Kid

1943-03-01

You're My Everything
You're My Everything

1949-07-22

The Thirteenth Guest
The Thirteenth Guest

1932-08-09

The Working Man
The Working Man

1933-04-20

The Power and the Glory
The Power and the Glory

1933-10-06

The Phantom Express
The Phantom Express

1932-08-15

Under Eighteen
Under Eighteen

1932-01-02

Riffraff
Riffraff

1936-01-03

Manslaughter
Manslaughter

1922-09-24

In Old Cheyenne
In Old Cheyenne

1941-04-04

Full Confession
Full Confession

1939-09-08

I Loved a Woman
I Loved a Woman

1933-09-23

Paid to Love
Paid to Love

1927-07-23

Masquerade
Masquerade

1929-07-14

Sky High
Sky High

1922-01-15

Zenobia
Zenobia

1939-04-21

The Last Alarm
The Last Alarm

1940-06-25

Streets of San Francisco
Streets of San Francisco

1949-04-15

Fury at Furnace Creek
Fury at Furnace Creek

1948-04-30

The Easiest Way
The Easiest Way

1931-02-07

Come On, Rangers
Come On, Rangers

1938-11-21

Swellhead
Swellhead

1935-05-04

Heritage of the Desert
Heritage of the Desert

1932-09-30

Hotel Continental
Hotel Continental

1932-02-21

Phantom Killer
Phantom Killer

1942-10-02

Scandal for Sale
Scandal for Sale

1932-04-01

Discarded Lovers
Discarded Lovers

1932-01-03

Peg o' My Heart
Peg o' My Heart

1933-05-26

The Brass Bowl
The Brass Bowl

1924-11-06

Hearts of Humanity
Hearts of Humanity

1932-08-31

Exclusive Story
Exclusive Story

1936-01-17

Murder on the Campus
Murder on the Campus

1933-12-26

The Healer
The Healer

1935-06-14

East Side, West Side
East Side, West Side

1927-10-09

Danger Ahead
Danger Ahead

1935-08-01

Shadows of the Orient
Shadows of the Orient

1935-07-06

Lightnin'
Lightnin'

1925-08-23

4 Devils
4 Devils

1928-10-03

The Squaw Man
The Squaw Man

1931-07-21

Waterfront Lady
Waterfront Lady

1935-10-04

The Truth About Youth
The Truth About Youth

1930-11-03

Romance in Manhattan
Romance in Manhattan

1935-01-11

Riley the Cop
Riley the Cop

1928-11-25

Cradle Snatchers
Cradle Snatchers

1927-05-28

The Millionaire
The Millionaire

1931-05-01

The Pride of the Legion
The Pride of the Legion

1932-10-17

Probation
Probation

1932-03-15

I Take This Oath
I Take This Oath

1940-05-20

The Best Man Wins
The Best Man Wins

1935-01-14

Man of Two Worlds
Man of Two Worlds

1934-01-13

The Hit Parade
The Hit Parade

1937-04-26

Flying Fists
Flying Fists

1937-07-01

The Signal Tower
The Signal Tower

1924-07-19

Sporting Blood
Sporting Blood

1931-08-08

Keeper of the Bees
Keeper of the Bees

1947-07-10

Submarine Patrol
Submarine Patrol

1938-11-25

Other Men's Women
Other Men's Women

1931-01-17

River's End
River's End

1930-11-01

Laughing at Life
Laughing at Life

1933-07-12

White Banners
White Banners

1938-06-23

Smoky
Smoky

1946-06-26

The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek

1944-09-18

Private Snuffy Smith
Private Snuffy Smith

1942-01-16

Ankles Preferred
Ankles Preferred

1927-02-27

Hitch Hike Lady
Hitch Hike Lady

1935-12-28

Beggar's Holiday
Beggar's Holiday

1934-08-17

Gang Bullets
Gang Bullets

1938-11-10

Let 'em Have It
Let 'em Have It

1935-05-15

The Crowd Roars
The Crowd Roars

1938-08-06

The Shamrock Handicap
The Shamrock Handicap

1926-05-02

Men Without Women
Men Without Women

1930-02-08

The Painted Desert
The Painted Desert

1931-01-18

Conspiracy
Conspiracy

1939-08-01

Myrt and Marge
Myrt and Marge

1933-11-25

Men Are Such Fools
Men Are Such Fools

1932-11-18

Kentucky Pride
Kentucky Pride

1925-09-06

Mysterious Crossing
Mysterious Crossing

1936-12-27

One Thrilling Night
One Thrilling Night

1942-06-05

Mademoiselle Midnight
Mademoiselle Midnight

1924-04-14

The Racing Strain
The Racing Strain

1932-12-16

Our Little Girl
Our Little Girl

1935-01-01

Slave Ship
Slave Ship

1937-06-16

The First Year
The First Year

1926-01-24

Come on Over
Come on Over

1922-03-11

Susannah of the Mounties
Susannah of the Mounties

1939-06-13

None But the Brave
None But the Brave

1928-08-05

Whispering Smith
Whispering Smith

1948-12-09

The Lone Ranger Rides Again
The Lone Ranger Rides Again

1939-02-25

Belle Starr's Daughter
Belle Starr's Daughter

1948-11-13

There Goes My Heart
There Goes My Heart

1938-10-14

My Dear Miss Aldrich
My Dear Miss Aldrich

1937-09-17

Week-End Marriage
Week-End Marriage

1932-06-18

County Fair
County Fair

1937-11-24

Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village

1944-09-27

Maybe It's Love
Maybe It's Love

1935-01-12

The Young Rajah
The Young Rajah

1922-11-11

Northern Frontier
Northern Frontier

1935-02-01

East Side of Heaven
East Side of Heaven

1939-04-07

They Shall Have Music
They Shall Have Music

1939-08-18

Sitting Pretty
Sitting Pretty

1948-03-10

Coast Guard
Coast Guard

1939-08-04

Square Shooter
Square Shooter

1935-01-21

The Housekeeper's Daughter
The Housekeeper's Daughter

1939-10-26

Under Secret Orders
Under Secret Orders

1933-12-06

Western Luck
Western Luck

1924-06-22

Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line

1997-05-12

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

1945-02-28

Star of Midnight
Star of Midnight

1935-04-19

The Iron Master
The Iron Master

1933-02-04

Stagecoach War
Stagecoach War

1940-07-12

Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve

1947-10-31

Those Who Dare
Those Who Dare

1924-11-15

When Willie Comes Marching Home
When Willie Comes Marching Home

1950-02-17

Untamed
Untamed

1940-07-24

My Old Kentucky Home
My Old Kentucky Home

1938-02-09

Bringing Up Father
Bringing Up Father

1928-03-18

Maid of Salem
Maid of Salem

1937-02-12

The Great Lie
The Great Lie

1941-04-05

The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter

1911-04-27

The Calling of Louis Mona
The Calling of Louis Mona

1913-03-28

The Game That Kills
The Game That Kills

1937-09-21

Front Page Woman
Front Page Woman

1935-07-11

The Daltons' Women
The Daltons' Women

1950-02-25

Me and My Gal
Me and My Gal

1932-12-04

The Last Express
The Last Express

1938-10-27

Numbered Woman
Numbered Woman

1938-05-22

The Gentleman from Arizona
The Gentleman from Arizona

1939-12-25

Little Orphan Annie
Little Orphan Annie

1938-12-02

South Sea Rose
South Sea Rose

1929-12-09

Law of the Timber
Law of the Timber

1941-12-19

Tiger Fangs
Tiger Fangs

1943-09-10

Light of Western Stars
Light of Western Stars

1940-04-17

Once to Every Woman
Once to Every Woman

1934-03-24

Dark Command
Dark Command

1940-04-15

The Irish in Us
The Irish in Us

1935-07-31

Trailin'
Trailin'

1921-12-11

Texas Masquerade
Texas Masquerade

1944-02-08

Fallen Angel
Fallen Angel

1945-11-15

Here Comes the Groom
Here Comes the Groom

1951-09-20

Slim
Slim

1937-06-24

The Dream
The Dream

1911-01-23

If You Knew Susie
If You Knew Susie

1948-02-07

The Arizonian
The Arizonian

1935-06-27

The Brat
The Brat

1931-08-23

Knights of the Range
Knights of the Range

1940-02-23

While Paris Sleeps
While Paris Sleeps

1923-01-21

Pony Express Days
Pony Express Days

1940-07-13

Happy Days
Happy Days

1929-09-16

Friendly Neighbors
Friendly Neighbors

1940-11-17

Goodbye, Weeds
Goodbye, Weeds

1946-10-30

Meet John Doe
Meet John Doe

1941-03-14

Roped
Roped

1919-01-03

The Dixie Merchant
The Dixie Merchant

1926-03-07

Too Young to Marry
Too Young to Marry

1931-05-03

Web of Danger
Web of Danger

1947-06-10

Masked Emotions
Masked Emotions

1929-06-22

Madame Racketeer
Madame Racketeer

1932-07-23

Wild Bill Hickok Rides
Wild Bill Hickok Rides

1942-01-31

Strong Boy
Strong Boy

1929-03-03

Thank You
Thank You

1925-10-05

The Fighting Heart
The Fighting Heart

1925-10-18

A Fight For Love
A Fight For Love

1919-03-24

Riders of Vengeance
Riders of Vengeance

1919-06-09

The Dalton Gang
The Dalton Gang

1949-10-20

A Sporting Chance
A Sporting Chance

1919-06-28

Song o' My Heart
Song o' My Heart

1930-03-11

The Hurricane Express
The Hurricane Express

1932-08-01

The Lighthouse Keeper
The Lighthouse Keeper

1911-05-18

Rags
Rags

1915-08-02

'Tween Two Loves
'Tween Two Loves

1911-09-28

A Timely Repentance
A Timely Repentance

1912-03-11

Florida Special
Florida Special

1936-04-21

Roaring Timber
Roaring Timber

1937-07-03

The Lucky Horseshoe
The Lucky Horseshoe

1925-08-30

The Girl of the Golden West
The Girl of the Golden West

1930-10-12

The Ghost Breaker
The Ghost Breaker

1922-09-10

The Crosby Case
The Crosby Case

1934-03-05

Dakota Lil
Dakota Lil

1950-02-17

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

1931-08-18

How to Break 90 #6: Fine Points
How to Break 90 #6: Fine Points

1933-08-04

Parnell
Parnell

1937-06-04

Marked Men
Marked Men

1919-12-21

The Painted Angel
The Painted Angel

1929-12-01

The Outcasts of Poker Flat
The Outcasts of Poker Flat

1919-06-29

The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain

1932-05-28

Woman Hungry
Woman Hungry

1931-04-04

Fighting Youth
Fighting Youth

1935-11-01

70,000 Witnesses
70,000 Witnesses

1932-09-09

The McGuerins from Brooklyn
The McGuerins from Brooklyn

1942-12-31

Courage of the West
Courage of the West

1937-12-01

Action
Action

1921-09-12

Circumstantial Evidence
Circumstantial Evidence

1945-04-20

True to Life
True to Life

1943-12-24

Joe Palooka, Champ
Joe Palooka, Champ

1946-05-26

State Police
State Police

1938-03-18

The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris
The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris

1928-01-15

Abie's Irish Rose
Abie's Irish Rose

1928-04-19

The Family Upstairs
The Family Upstairs

1926-08-29

Stranger in Town
Stranger in Town

1931-08-06

Hangover Square
Hangover Square

1945-02-07

Show Boat
Show Boat

1936-05-17

The Spirit of Notre Dame
The Spirit of Notre Dame

1931-10-13

Broadway Limited
Broadway Limited

1941-06-13

The Bonded Woman
The Bonded Woman

1922-08-21

Hitchin' Posts
Hitchin' Posts

1920-09-13

Prairie Law
Prairie Law

1940-06-14

In Old Arizona
In Old Arizona

1928-12-25

Extortion
Extortion

1938-05-09

Touchdown!
Touchdown!

1931-11-15

Mickey the Kid
Mickey the Kid

1939-07-03

The Great Barrier
The Great Barrier

1937-01-02

Shep Comes Home
Shep Comes Home

1948-12-03

Pillow of Death
Pillow of Death

1945-12-14

The Great Moment
The Great Moment

1944-07-18

The Path She Chose
The Path She Chose

1920-05-24

Trouble Preferred
Trouble Preferred

1948-12-31

The Country Beyond
The Country Beyond

1926-10-17

The Age of Desire
The Age of Desire

1923-09-01

Parnell
Parnell

1937-06-04