Morris Ankrum
Known For
Acting
Born
1896-08-28 in Danville, Illinois, USA
Died
1964-09-02
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.
Most Known For
Perry Mason
as Judge
Perry Mason
as Judge Hoyt
Studio One
as Considine
The Rifleman
Maverick
as Joshua Haines
Cheyenne
as John Clements
Gunsmoke
as Merle
Four Star Playhouse
as Warden
Four Star Playhouse
as Mr. Raymond
Four Star Playhouse
as Mr. Mason
Sea Hunt
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
as Walter Harwood
M Squad
as Police Inspector Dean
The 20th Century Fox Hour
as Henry
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
Desire Me
as Hector Martin
Swing Fever
as Dan Conlon
Roxie Hart
as Martin S. Harrison
Dr. Fu Manchu
as Professor Rutledge
Fall Guy
as District Attorney (uncredited)