Morris Ankrum

Morris Ankrum

Acting
Born 1896-08-28 - Died 1964-09-02Danville, Illinois, USA

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.

Movies (162)

Roxie Hart
7.0

Roxie Hart

1942Movie7.0
In a Lonely Place
7.6

In a Lonely Place

1950Movie7.6
The Postman Always Rings Twice
7.1

The Postman Always Rings Twice

1946Movie7.1
Desire Me
6.5

Desire Me

1947Movie6.5
Cattle Queen of Montana
5.7

Cattle Queen of Montana

1954Movie5.7
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers
6.1

Earth vs. the Flying Saucers

1956Movie6.1
The Last Command
6.7

The Last Command

1955Movie6.7
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
6.7

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo

1944Movie6.7
Apache
6.0

Apache

1954Movie6.0
Son of Ali Baba
5.6

Son of Ali Baba

1952Movie5.6
Vera Cruz
6.7

Vera Cruz

1954Movie6.7
Invaders from Mars
5.9

Invaders from Mars

1953Movie5.9
The Movie Orgy
6.8

The Movie Orgy

1968Movie6.8
The Harvey Girls
6.6

The Harvey Girls

1946Movie6.6
Colorado Territory
7.0

Colorado Territory

1949Movie7.0
Chain Lightning
6.4

Chain Lightning

1950Movie6.4
The Fountainhead
6.8

The Fountainhead

1949Movie6.8
Wide Open Town
6.5

Wide Open Town

1941Movie6.5
The Sea of Grass
6.1

The Sea of Grass

1947Movie6.1
My Favorite Spy
6.0

My Favorite Spy

1951Movie6.0
Joan of Arc
6.2

Joan of Arc

1948Movie6.2
High Wall
6.4

High Wall

1947Movie6.4
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman
3.5

Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman

1957Movie3.5
Souvenirs of Death
7.3

Souvenirs of Death

1948Movie7.3
Swing Fever
6.0

Swing Fever

1943Movie6.0
Borderline
5.6

Borderline

1950Movie5.6
Sky Commando
6.7

Sky Commando

1953Movie6.7
Reunion in France
6.5

Reunion in France

1942Movie6.5
We Were Strangers
6.3

We Were Strangers

1949Movie6.3
Tower of London
5.9

Tower of London

1962Movie5.9
Cynthia
6.2

Cynthia

1947Movie6.2
Adventure
6.4

Adventure

1945Movie6.4
Twilight for the Gods
4.7

Twilight for the Gods

1958Movie4.7
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
6.6

X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes

1963Movie6.6
Taza, Son of Cochise
5.6

Taza, Son of Cochise

1954Movie5.6
Along the Great Divide
7.4

Along the Great Divide

1951Movie7.4
Tarawa Beachhead
6.6

Tarawa Beachhead

1958Movie6.6
Phantoms, Inc.
6.0

Phantoms, Inc.

1945Movie6.0
Barbary Coast Gent
5.5

Barbary Coast Gent

1944Movie5.5
Devil's Canyon
5.0

Devil's Canyon

1953Movie5.0
The Giant Claw
4.8

The Giant Claw

1957Movie4.8
Song of the Thin Man
6.7

Song of the Thin Man

1947Movie6.7
Curse of the Faceless Man
5.7

Curse of the Faceless Man

1958Movie5.7
The Cross of Lorraine
6.5

The Cross of Lorraine

1943Movie6.5
Giant from the Unknown
4.4

Giant from the Unknown

1958Movie4.4
Fort Osage
6.5

Fort Osage

1952Movie6.5
The Thin Man Goes Home
7.1

The Thin Man Goes Home

1944Movie7.1
Kronos
5.7

Kronos

1957Movie5.7
The Saga of Hemp Brown
6.4

The Saga of Hemp Brown

1958Movie6.4
Courage of Lassie
5.9

Courage of Lassie

1946Movie5.9
The Heavenly Body
5.6

The Heavenly Body

1944Movie5.6
The Cockeyed Miracle
7.5

The Cockeyed Miracle

1946Movie7.5
Naked Gun
6.4

Naked Gun

1956Movie6.4
Tales of Manhattan
6.4

Tales of Manhattan

1942Movie6.4
Guns of Diablo
5.2

Guns of Diablo

1964Movie5.2
Hiawatha
9.0

Hiawatha

1952Movie9.0
Beginning of the End
4.0

Beginning of the End

1957Movie4.0
Fall Guy
8.0

Fall Guy

1945Movie8.0
Gentle Annie
5.7

Gentle Annie

1944Movie5.7
Buck Benny Rides Again
5.0

Buck Benny Rides Again

1940Movie5.0
The Omaha Trail
7.0

The Omaha Trail

1942Movie7.0
Southwest Passage
6.3

Southwest Passage

1954Movie6.3
The Desperados Are in Town
8.0

The Desperados Are in Town

1956Movie8.0
Southside 1-1000
6.0

Southside 1-1000

1950Movie6.0
The Damned Don't Cry
7.0

The Damned Don't Cry

1950Movie7.0
Rocketship X-M
4.9

Rocketship X-M

1950Movie4.9
I Beheld His Glory

I Beheld His Glory

1953Movie
Doomed Caravan
5.3

Doomed Caravan

1941Movie5.3
The Eternal Sea
6.6

The Eternal Sea

1955Movie6.6
Red Planet Mars
4.9

Red Planet Mars

1952Movie4.9
The Redhead and the Cowboy
5.4

The Redhead and the Cowboy

1951Movie5.4
The Man Behind The Gun
6.0

The Man Behind The Gun

1953Movie6.0
Stand Up and Cheer!
5.3

Stand Up and Cheer!

1934Movie5.3
Chief Crazy Horse
5.6

Chief Crazy Horse

1955Movie5.6
Drums Across the River
5.8

Drums Across the River

1954Movie5.8
Three Young Texans
5.6

Three Young Texans

1954Movie5.6
Duel on the Mississippi
6.8

Duel on the Mississippi

1955Movie6.8
Road Agent
7.0

Road Agent

1941Movie7.0
Hell's Crossroads
5.6

Hell's Crossroads

1957Movie5.6
Silver Lode
6.2

Silver Lode

1954Movie6.2
Borderland
7.5

Borderland

1937Movie7.5
Meet the People
5.8

Meet the People

1944Movie5.8
Fury at Gunsight Pass
6.2

Fury at Gunsight Pass

1956Movie6.2
Purity Squad
7.7

Purity Squad

1945Movie7.7
I Wake Up Screaming
6.9

I Wake Up Screaming

1941Movie6.9
Lady in the Lake
6.1

Lady in the Lake

1946Movie6.1
In Old Colorado
6.4

In Old Colorado

1941Movie6.4
Ride 'Em Cowboy
6.0

Ride 'Em Cowboy

1941Movie6.0
Cherokee Strip
5.5

Cherokee Strip

1940Movie5.5
Good News
6.5

Good News

1947Movie6.5
Tennessee Johnson
6.7

Tennessee Johnson

1942Movie6.7
Mutiny
5.2

Mutiny

1952Movie5.2
The Light of Western Stars
5.0

The Light of Western Stars

1940Movie5.0
Border Vigilantes
6.3

Border Vigilantes

1941Movie6.3
The Green Years
6.4

The Green Years

1946Movie6.4
Omar Khayyam
5.8

Omar Khayyam

1957Movie5.8
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
6.4

Ten Gentlemen from West Point

1942Movie6.4
Flight to Mars
5.2

Flight to Mars

1951Movie5.2
Fighting Back
6.7

Fighting Back

1948Movie6.7
The Moonlighter
6.0

The Moonlighter

1953Movie6.0
Because of You
6.6

Because of You

1952Movie6.6
No Man's Woman
5.0

No Man's Woman

1955Movie5.0
Walk the Proud Land
5.9

Walk the Proud Land

1956Movie5.9
From the Earth to the Moon
5.3

From the Earth to the Moon

1958Movie5.3
Down Liberty Road
9.0

Down Liberty Road

1957Movie9.0
Dixie Dugan
6.5

Dixie Dugan

1943Movie6.5
Tennessee's Partner
6.5

Tennessee's Partner

1955Movie6.5
Tomorrow Is Another Day
6.5

Tomorrow Is Another Day

1951Movie6.5
Time to Kill
6.1

Time to Kill

1942Movie6.1
Merton of the Movies
6.3

Merton of the Movies

1947Movie6.3
Marriage Is a Private Affair
7.1

Marriage Is a Private Affair

1944Movie7.1
Crashout
6.7

Crashout

1955Movie6.7
The Mighty McGurk
6.7

The Mighty McGurk

1947Movie6.7
Short Grass
6.0

Short Grass

1950Movie6.0
Fort Vengeance
6.4

Fort Vengeance

1953Movie6.4
Quincannon, Frontier Scout
5.2

Quincannon, Frontier Scout

1956Movie5.2
Best Foot Forward
6.8

Best Foot Forward

1943Movie6.8
Badman's Country
5.6

Badman's Country

1958Movie5.6
The Roundup
9.0

The Roundup

1941Movie9.0
Little Mister Jim
5.5

Little Mister Jim

1947Movie5.5
The Raiders
6.3

The Raiders

1952Movie6.3
Zombies of Mora Tau
5.5

Zombies of Mora Tau

1957Movie5.5
The Hidden Eye
7.9

The Hidden Eye

1945Movie7.9
How to Make a Monster
5.7

How to Make a Monster

1958Movie5.7
The Silver Star
5.5

The Silver Star

1955Movie5.5
Let's Face It
5.4

Let's Face It

1943Movie5.4
Two Guns and a Badge
10.0

Two Guns and a Badge

1954Movie10.0
The Steel Cage
7.0

The Steel Cage

1954Movie7.0
For the Love of Mary
6.2

For the Love of Mary

1948Movie6.2
Arena
5.0

Arena

1953Movie5.0
Flight Nurse
6.0

Flight Nurse

1953Movie6.0
Fighting Coast Guard
6.7

Fighting Coast Guard

1951Movie6.7
Mexican Manhunt
6.2

Mexican Manhunt

1953Movie6.2
Bad Men of Tombstone
6.5

Bad Men of Tombstone

1949Movie6.5
The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe
6.1

The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe

1942Movie6.1
The Outlaw Stallion
7.3

The Outlaw Stallion

1954Movie7.3
Three Men from Texas
6.6

Three Men from Texas

1940Movie6.6
North of the Rio Grande
6.7

North of the Rio Grande

1937Movie6.7
Main Street Today
6.3

Main Street Today

1944Movie6.3
The Power of the Resurrection
7.0

The Power of the Resurrection

1958Movie7.0
The Showdown
6.0

The Showdown

1940Movie6.0
Most Dangerous Man Alive
5.5

Most Dangerous Man Alive

1961Movie5.5
Drango
5.6

Drango

1957Movie5.6
The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come
4.3

The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come

1961Movie4.3
Frontier Gun
6.8

Frontier Gun

1958Movie6.8
Young and Wild
4.6

Young and Wild

1958Movie4.6
The Lion Hunters
6.3

The Lion Hunters

1951Movie6.3
When Gangland Strikes
6.0

When Gangland Strikes

1956Movie6.0
Dark Shadows
8.9

Dark Shadows

1944Movie8.9
Rationing
4.0

Rationing

1944Movie4.0
Pirates on Horseback
6.0

Pirates on Horseback

1941Movie6.0
This Woman Is Mine
4.5

This Woman Is Mine

1941Movie4.5
Hopalong Cassidy Returns
6.8

Hopalong Cassidy Returns

1936Movie6.8
Rustlers' Valley
5.8

Rustlers' Valley

1937Movie5.8
The Bandit Trail
6.6

The Bandit Trail

1941Movie6.6
Hills of Old Wyoming
5.0

Hills of Old Wyoming

1937Movie5.0
Return from Nowhere
6.0

Return from Nowhere

1944Movie6.0
Trail Dust
5.3

Trail Dust

1936Movie5.3
Knights of the Range
7.0

Knights of the Range

1940Movie7.0
A Star Shall Rise
8.0

A Star Shall Rise

1952Movie8.0
The Fabulous Fraud
6.3

The Fabulous Fraud

1948Movie6.3
The Little Lamb: A Christmas Story
3.5

The Little Lamb: A Christmas Story

1955Movie3.5

TV Shows (18)

Perry Mason
7.7

Perry Mason

1957Series7.7
Bonanza
7.5

Bonanza

1959Series7.5
The Rifleman
7.1

The Rifleman

1958Series7.1
Maverick
7.0

Maverick

1957Series7.0
Cheyenne
6.2

Cheyenne

1955Series6.2
Four Star Playhouse
6.8

Four Star Playhouse

1952Series6.8
Gunsmoke
6.7

Gunsmoke

1955Series6.7
Studio One
5.4

Studio One

1948Series5.4
The 20th Century Fox Hour
6.0

The 20th Century Fox Hour

1955Series6.0
Sea Hunt
6.7

Sea Hunt

1958Series6.7
Bronco
6.0

Bronco

1958Series6.0
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
6.4

The Barbara Stanwyck Show

1960Series6.4
M Squad
5.4

M Squad

1957Series5.4
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
8.5

The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse

1953Series8.5
On Trial
5.0

On Trial

1956Series5.0
Cowboy G-Men
5.8

Cowboy G-Men

1952Series5.8
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

1951Series7.2
Dr. Fu Manchu
7.3

Dr. Fu Manchu

1956Series7.3