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.
Acted in 175
1960s
- 1964
- 1963
- 1962
- 1961
Most Dangerous Man Alive
Capt. Davis
The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come
Gen. Lew Wallace
- 1960
1950s
- 1959
- 1958
From the Earth to the Moon
President Ulysses S. Grant
Frontier Gun
Andrew Barton
The Saga of Hemp Brown
Bo Slauter
Twilight for the Gods
Sea Captain
Badman's Country
Mayor Coleman
Young and Wild
Police Capt. Egan
The Power of the Resurrection
Annas
- 1957
Omar Khayyam
Sharain's Father
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman
Dr. Carl Jordan
Kronos
Dr. Albert Stern
Hell's Crossroads
Wheeler
Zombies of Mora Tau
Dr. Jonathan Eggert
Down Liberty Road
Fred Schroder
- 1956
The Desperados Are in Town
Mr. Rutherford
Naked Gun
Sheriff Jim Jackson (as Morrie Ankrum)
Dr. Fu Manchu
Professor Rutledge · 1 episode
Walk the Proud Land
Gen. Wade
Quincannon, Frontier Scout
Col. Harry Conover
When Gangland Strikes
Leo Fantzler
Fury at Gunsight Pass
Doc Phillips
- 1955
No Man's Woman
Capt. Hostedder
Duel on the Mississippi
Magistrate (uncredited)
The Eternal Sea
Vice-Adm. Arthur Dewey Struble
The Silver Star
Charlie Childress
Chief Crazy Horse
Red Cloud
Crashout
Head Guard
The Little Lamb: A Christmas Story
Azar the Shepherd
- 1954
The Steel Cage
Prison Board Member Garvey, segment "The Hostages"
Three Young Texans
Jeff Blair
Two Guns and a Badge
Sheriff Jackson
The Outlaw Stallion
Sheriff
Drums Across the River
Chief Ouray
Southwest Passage
Dr. Stanton
Taza, Son of Cochise
Grey Eagle
- 1953
Flight Nurse
Interrogation Officer
The Moonlighter
Alexander Prince
Mexican Manhunt
Tip Morgan
Sky Commando
Gen. W.R. Combs
Arena
Bucky Hillberry
I Beheld His Glory
Peter
- 1952
Hiawatha
Iagoo
A Star Shall Rise
King Herod
Because of You
Dr. Travis
The Raiders
Thomas Ainsworth
Cowboy G-Men
TV
Son of Ali Baba
Ali Baba
Red Planet Mars
Secretary of Defense Sparks
Fort Osage
Arthur Pickett
- 1951
My Favorite Spy
Gen. Frazer
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV
Tomorrow Is Another Day
Hugh Wagner
Along the Great Divide
Ed Roden
Fighting Coast Guard
Navy Captain
The Lion Hunters
Tom Forbes
- 1950
Short Grass
Hal Fenton
Southside 1-1000
Eugene Deane
Rocketship X-M
Dr. Ralph Fleming
The Damned Don't Cry
Jim Whitehead
1940s
- 1949
The Fountainhead
Prosecutor (uncredited)
We Were Strangers
M. Seymour
Bad Men of Tombstone
Mr. Jones
- 1948
For the Love of Mary
Adm. Walton
The Fabulous Fraud
Blind Girl's Father
Fighting Back
Robert J. Higby
Souvenirs of Death
Gangster (uncredited)
- 1947
High Wall
Dr. Stanley Griffin
Merton of the Movies
Goodfellow's Club Manager (uncredited)
Cynthia
Mr. Phillips, Principal
Little Mister Jim
Col. W.I. Starwell
The Mighty McGurk
Fowles
- 1946
Courage of Lassie
Farmer Crews
The Cockeyed Miracle
Dr. Wilson
- 1945
Adventure
Mr. Ludlow - Farmer (uncredited)
Purity Squad
Dr. Adams (uncredited)
The Hidden Eye
Ferris (henchman)
Fall Guy
District Attorney (uncredited)
- 1944
Dark Shadows
Lt. Pat McKay
Gentle Annie
Deputy Gansby
Return from Nowhere
Doctor (uncredited)
Barbary Coast Gent
Alec Veeder
Marriage Is a Private Affair
Ed Scofield
Meet the People
Monte Rowland
Main Street Today
Mayor Charlie Maxwell (uncredited)
Rationing
Morgan
The Heavenly Body
Dr. Green
- 1943
The Cross of Lorraine
Col. Demas (uncredited)
Best Foot Forward
Col. Harkrider
Let's Face It
Man in Sun Shell Cafe
Dixie Dugan
Editor
- 1942
Reunion in France
Martin
Time to Kill
Alexander Morny
Tennessee Johnson
Jefferson Davis
The Omaha Trail
Henchman Job
The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe
Mr. Graham
Tales of Manhattan
Judge
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
Wood
Roxie Hart
Martin S. Harrison
Ride 'Em Cowboy
Ace Anderson
- 1941
I Wake Up Screaming
Assistant District Attorney
The Bandit Trail
Red Haggerty
This Woman Is Mine
Roussel
Pirates on Horseback
Ace Gibson
Border Vigilantes
Dan Forbes
The Roundup
'Parenthesis'
In Old Colorado
Weiler, Davidson's Foreman
Doomed Caravan
Stephen Westcott
- 1940
Three Men from Texas
Bruce Morgan
Cherokee Strip
Hawk Barrett
Buck Benny Rides Again
Second Outlaw
The Showdown
Baron Rendor
Knights of the Range
Gamecock
1930s
- 1937
Rustlers' Valley
Glen Randall
Hills of Old Wyoming
Andrews
- 1936
Trail Dust
Tex Anderson
Hopalong Cassidy Returns
Blackie Felton
- 1934
Stand Up and Cheer!
Washington Press Correspondent
Appearances3
1960s
- 1968
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1940s
- 1945
