person

J. Farrell MacDonald

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Gender

Male

Birthday

1875-06-05

Place of Birth

Waterbury, Connecticut, USA

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.

Also Known For

poster

78

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans

Nov 04, 1927

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82

It's a Wonderful Life

Dec 20, 1946

poster

74

My Darling Clementine

Oct 17, 1946

poster

63

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

Apr 04, 1947

poster

67

Topper

Jul 16, 1937

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NA

Stormy

Oct 21, 1935

poster

40

The Wallop

May 09, 1921

poster

NA

The Vanishing Frontier

Mar 13, 1933

poster

70

The Palm Beach Story

Aug 28, 1942

poster

58

Panhandle

Feb 22, 1948

poster

68

3 Bad Men

Aug 28, 1926

poster

64

Captains of the Clouds

Feb 12, 1942

poster

NA

This Sporting Age

Sep 14, 1932

poster

69

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

Sep 01, 1947

poster

40

The Freeze-Out

Apr 09, 1921

poster

64

The Maltese Falcon

May 23, 1931

poster

68

Woman on the Run

Nov 10, 1950

poster

43

The Living Ghost

Aug 11, 1942

poster

65

No Man of Her Own

Dec 30, 1932

poster

59

Johnny Angel

Oct 25, 1945

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NA

Bullet Proof

May 03, 1920

poster

NA

Over the Border

Jun 04, 1922

poster

53

Superman and the Mole Men

Nov 23, 1951

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NA

$5,000 Reward

May 25, 1918

poster

75

Thunder in the Valley

Nov 01, 1947

poster

42

The Ape Man

Mar 05, 1943

poster

62

Drifting

Aug 26, 1923

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NA

Steady Company

Mar 13, 1932

poster

50

Quicksands

Feb 28, 1923

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NA

Racing Hearts

Jul 15, 1923

poster

51

Bowery at Midnight

Oct 30, 1942

poster

66

Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell

Aug 01, 1951

poster

63

Reap the Wild Wind

Mar 26, 1942

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NA

Let Women Alone

Jan 04, 1925

poster

NA

A Trip to Chinatown

Jun 06, 1926

poster

48

Barefoot Boy

Aug 03, 1938

poster

35

The Crime Doctor

Mar 14, 1934

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NA

Riding with Death

Nov 13, 1921

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20

Hostile Country

Mar 24, 1950

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NA

Riders of the Timberline

Sep 17, 1941

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67

The Whole Town's Talking

Feb 22, 1935

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66

The Iron Horse

Oct 04, 1925

poster

56

The Stolen Jools

Apr 04, 1931

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NA

Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl

Dec 19, 1926

poster

57

The Walls of Jericho

Nov 22, 1948

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NA

Desperate Youth

Apr 25, 1921

poster

NA

Harrigan's Kid

Mar 01, 1943

poster

37

You're My Everything

Jul 22, 1949

poster

49

The Thirteenth Guest

Aug 09, 1932

poster

66

The Working Man

Apr 20, 1933

poster

60

The Power and the Glory

Oct 06, 1933

poster

47

The Phantom Express

Aug 15, 1932

poster

66

Under Eighteen

Jan 02, 1932

poster

50

Riffraff

Jan 03, 1936

poster

54

Manslaughter

Sep 24, 1922

poster

41

In Old Cheyenne

Apr 04, 1941

poster

47

Full Confession

Sep 08, 1939

poster

48

I Loved a Woman

Sep 23, 1933

poster

60

Paid to Love

Jul 23, 1927

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NA

Masquerade

Jul 14, 1929

poster

55

Sky High

Jan 15, 1922

poster

46

Zenobia

Apr 21, 1939

poster

42

The Last Alarm

Jun 25, 1940

poster

NA

Streets of San Francisco

Apr 15, 1949

poster

60

Fury at Furnace Creek

Apr 30, 1948

poster

54

The Easiest Way

Feb 07, 1931

poster

60

Come On, Rangers

Nov 21, 1938

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NA

Swellhead

May 04, 1935

poster

50

Heritage of the Desert

Sep 30, 1932

poster

60

Hotel Continental

Feb 21, 1932

poster

43

Phantom Killer

Oct 02, 1942

poster

70

Scandal for Sale

Apr 01, 1932

poster

42

Discarded Lovers

Jan 03, 1932

poster

52

Peg o' My Heart

May 26, 1933

poster

NA

The Brass Bowl

Nov 06, 1924

poster

35

Hearts of Humanity

Aug 31, 1932

poster

65

Exclusive Story

Jan 17, 1936

poster

55

Murder on the Campus

Dec 26, 1933

poster

57

The Healer

Jun 14, 1935

poster

72

East Side, West Side

Oct 09, 1927

poster

41

Danger Ahead

Aug 01, 1935

poster

50

Shadows of the Orient

Jul 06, 1935

poster

52

Lightnin'

Aug 23, 1925

poster

70

4 Devils

Oct 03, 1928

poster

54

The Squaw Man

Jul 21, 1931

poster

40

Waterfront Lady

Oct 04, 1935

poster

57

The Truth About Youth

Nov 03, 1930

poster

78

Romance in Manhattan

Jan 11, 1935

poster

56

Riley the Cop

Nov 25, 1928

poster

35

Cradle Snatchers

May 28, 1927

poster

75

The Millionaire

May 01, 1931

poster

60

The Pride of the Legion

Oct 17, 1932

poster

50

Probation

Mar 15, 1932

poster

43

I Take This Oath

May 20, 1940

poster

58

The Best Man Wins

Jan 14, 1935

poster

60

Man of Two Worlds

Jan 13, 1934

poster

50

The Hit Parade

Apr 26, 1937

poster

50

Flying Fists

Jul 01, 1937

poster

52

The Signal Tower

Jul 19, 1924

poster

55

Sporting Blood

Aug 08, 1931

poster

NA

Keeper of the Bees

Jul 10, 1947

poster

66

Submarine Patrol

Nov 25, 1938

poster

55

Other Men's Women

Jan 17, 1931

poster

62

River's End

Nov 01, 1930

poster

60

Laughing at Life

Jul 12, 1933

poster

58

White Banners

Jun 23, 1938

poster

52

Smoky

Jun 26, 1946

poster

68

The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek

Sep 18, 1944

poster

38

Private Snuffy Smith

Jan 16, 1942

poster

NA

Ankles Preferred

Feb 27, 1927

poster

68

Hitch Hike Lady

Dec 28, 1935

poster

NA

Beggar's Holiday

Aug 17, 1934

poster

57

Gang Bullets

Nov 10, 1938

poster

70

Let 'em Have It

May 15, 1935

poster

65

The Crowd Roars

Aug 06, 1938

poster

51

The Shamrock Handicap

May 02, 1926

poster

63

Men Without Women

Feb 08, 1930

poster

48

The Painted Desert

Jan 18, 1931

poster

55

Conspiracy

Aug 01, 1939

poster

42

Myrt and Marge

Nov 25, 1933

poster

NA

Men Are Such Fools

Nov 18, 1932

poster

59

Kentucky Pride

Sep 06, 1925

poster

NA

Mysterious Crossing

Dec 27, 1936

poster

52

One Thrilling Night

Jun 05, 1942

poster

58

Mademoiselle Midnight

Apr 14, 1924

poster

NA

The Racing Strain

Dec 16, 1932

poster

48

Our Little Girl

Jan 01, 1935

poster

48

Slave Ship

Jun 16, 1937

poster

NA

The First Year

Jan 24, 1926

poster

NA

Come on Over

Mar 11, 1922

poster

63

Susannah of the Mounties

Jun 13, 1939

poster

NA

None But the Brave

Aug 05, 1928

poster

65

Whispering Smith

Dec 09, 1948

poster

60

The Lone Ranger Rides Again

Feb 25, 1939

poster

41

Belle Starr's Daughter

Nov 13, 1948

poster

71

There Goes My Heart

Oct 14, 1938

poster

61

My Dear Miss Aldrich

Sep 17, 1937

poster

60

Week-End Marriage

Jun 18, 1932

poster

60

County Fair

Nov 24, 1937

poster

60

Greenwich Village

Sep 27, 1944

poster

60

Maybe It's Love

Jan 12, 1935

poster

65

The Young Rajah

Nov 11, 1922

poster

NA

Northern Frontier

Feb 01, 1935

poster

71

East Side of Heaven

Apr 07, 1939

poster

61

They Shall Have Music

Aug 18, 1939

poster

72

Sitting Pretty

Mar 10, 1948

poster

50

Coast Guard

Aug 04, 1939

poster

60

Square Shooter

Jan 21, 1935

poster

35

The Housekeeper's Daughter

Oct 26, 1939

poster

NA

Under Secret Orders

Dec 06, 1933

poster

NA

Western Luck

Jun 22, 1924

poster

70

Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line

May 12, 1997

poster

75

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Feb 28, 1945

poster

60

Star of Midnight

Apr 19, 1935

poster

NA

The Iron Master

Feb 04, 1933

poster

40

Stagecoach War

Jul 12, 1940

poster

53

Christmas Eve

Oct 31, 1947

poster

NA

Those Who Dare

Nov 15, 1924

poster

68

When Willie Comes Marching Home

Feb 17, 1950

poster

43

Untamed

Jul 24, 1940

poster

50

My Old Kentucky Home

Feb 09, 1938

poster

30

Bringing Up Father

Mar 18, 1928

poster

59

Maid of Salem

Feb 12, 1937

poster

68

The Great Lie

Apr 05, 1941

poster

NA

The Scarlet Letter

Apr 27, 1911

poster

NA

The Calling of Louis Mona

Mar 28, 1913

poster

53

The Game That Kills

Sep 21, 1937

poster

58

Front Page Woman

Jul 11, 1935

poster

20

The Daltons' Women

Feb 25, 1950

poster

65

Me and My Gal

Dec 04, 1932

poster

10

The Last Express

Oct 27, 1938

poster

NA

Numbered Woman

May 22, 1938

poster

NA

The Gentleman from Arizona

Dec 25, 1939

poster

NA

Little Orphan Annie

Dec 02, 1938

poster

NA

South Sea Rose

Dec 09, 1929

poster

NA

Law of the Timber

Dec 19, 1941

poster

40

Tiger Fangs

Sep 10, 1943

poster

25

Light of Western Stars

Apr 17, 1940

poster

60

Once to Every Woman

Mar 24, 1934

poster

63

Dark Command

Apr 15, 1940

poster

76

The Irish in Us

Jul 31, 1935

poster

45

Trailin'

Dec 11, 1921

poster

NA

Texas Masquerade

Feb 08, 1944

poster

65

Fallen Angel

Nov 15, 1945

poster

52

Here Comes the Groom

Sep 20, 1951

poster

63

Slim

Jun 24, 1937

poster

55

The Dream

Jan 23, 1911

poster

75

If You Knew Susie

Feb 07, 1948

poster

NA

The Arizonian

Jun 27, 1935

poster

56

The Brat

Aug 23, 1931

poster

NA

Knights of the Range

Feb 23, 1940

poster

NA

While Paris Sleeps

Jan 21, 1923

poster

60

Pony Express Days

Jul 13, 1940

poster

60

Happy Days

Sep 16, 1929

poster

NA

Friendly Neighbors

Nov 17, 1940

poster

NA

Goodbye, Weeds

Oct 30, 1946

poster

73

Meet John Doe

Mar 14, 1941

poster

50

Roped

Jan 03, 1919

poster

NA

The Dixie Merchant

Mar 07, 1926

poster

NA

Too Young to Marry

May 03, 1931

poster

48

Web of Danger

Jun 10, 1947

poster

NA

Masked Emotions

Jun 22, 1929

poster

48

Madame Racketeer

Jul 23, 1932

poster

47

Wild Bill Hickok Rides

Jan 31, 1942

poster

50

Strong Boy

Mar 03, 1929

poster

40

Thank You

Oct 05, 1925

poster

50

The Fighting Heart

Oct 18, 1925

poster

50

A Fight For Love

Mar 24, 1919

poster

30

Riders of Vengeance

Jun 09, 1919

poster

30

The Dalton Gang

Oct 20, 1949

poster

47

A Sporting Chance

Jun 28, 1919

poster

44

Song o' My Heart

Mar 11, 1930

poster

52

The Hurricane Express

Aug 01, 1932

poster

NA

The Lighthouse Keeper

May 18, 1911

poster

75

Rags

Aug 02, 1915

poster

NA

'Tween Two Loves

Sep 28, 1911

poster

NA

A Timely Repentance

Mar 11, 1912

poster

60

Florida Special

May 01, 1936

poster

50

Roaring Timber

Jul 03, 1937

poster

NA

The Lucky Horseshoe

Aug 30, 1925

poster

NA

The Girl of the Golden West

Oct 12, 1930

poster

NA

The Ghost Breaker

Sep 10, 1922

poster

42

The Crosby Case

Mar 05, 1934

poster

50

Dakota Lil

Feb 17, 1950

poster

NA

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

Aug 18, 1931

poster

NA

How to Break 90 #6: Fine Points

Aug 04, 1933

poster

46

Parnell

Jun 04, 1937

poster

50

Marked Men

Dec 21, 1919

poster

NA

The Painted Angel

Dec 01, 1929

poster

40

The Outcasts of Poker Flat

Jun 29, 1919

poster

59

The Strange Love of Molly Louvain

May 28, 1932

poster

NA

Woman Hungry

Apr 04, 1931

poster

70

Fighting Youth

Nov 01, 1935

poster

48

70,000 Witnesses

Sep 09, 1932

poster

55

The McGuerins from Brooklyn

Dec 31, 1942

poster

NA

Courage of the West

Dec 01, 1937

poster

40

Action

Sep 12, 1921

poster

48

Circumstantial Evidence

Apr 20, 1945

poster

60

True to Life

Dec 24, 1943

poster

NA

Joe Palooka, Champ

May 26, 1946

poster

60

State Police

Mar 18, 1938

poster

NA

The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris

Jan 15, 1928

poster

NA

Abie's Irish Rose

Apr 19, 1928

poster

NA

The Family Upstairs

Aug 29, 1926

poster

30

Stranger in Town

Aug 06, 1931

poster

69

Hangover Square

Feb 07, 1945

poster

67

Show Boat

May 17, 1936

poster

63

The Spirit of Notre Dame

Oct 13, 1931

poster

46

Broadway Limited

Jun 13, 1941

poster

30

The Bonded Woman

Aug 21, 1922

poster

50

Hitchin' Posts

Sep 13, 1920

poster

55

Prairie Law

Jun 14, 1940

poster

54

In Old Arizona

Dec 25, 1928

poster

50

Extortion

May 09, 1938

poster

NA

Touchdown!

Nov 15, 1931

poster

NA

Mickey the Kid

Jul 03, 1939

poster

50

The Great Barrier

Jan 02, 1937

poster

60

Shep Comes Home

Dec 03, 1948

poster

65

Pillow of Death

Dec 14, 1945

poster

58

The Great Moment

Jul 18, 1944

poster

NA

The Path She Chose

May 24, 1920

poster

NA

Trouble Preferred

Dec 31, 1948

poster

NA

The Country Beyond

Oct 17, 1926

poster

NA

The Age of Desire

Sep 01, 1923

poster

46

Parnell

Jun 04, 1937

poster

NA

The Time-Lock Safe

Jul 08, 1910

poster

NA

The Bachelor Daddy

Apr 29, 1922

poster

NA

This Hero Stuff

Aug 10, 1919