Morris Ankrum profile
Actor profile

Morris Ankrum

28th August 1896 Danville, Illinois, USA Acting

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.

162 Movies 17 TV Shows 179 Credits
Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

Kronos poster
Kronos 31st March 1957 as Dr. Albert Stern
Drango poster
Drango 1st January 1957 as Henry Calder
Naked Gun poster
Naked Gun 1st November 1956 as Sheriff Jim Jackson (as Morrie Ankrum)
The Steel Cage poster
The Steel Cage 1st December 1954 as Prison Board Member Garvey, segment "The Hostages"
Arena poster
Arena 24th June 1953 as Bucky Hillberry
Mutiny poster
Mutiny 5th March 1952 as Capt. Radford
Joan of Arc poster
Joan of Arc 22nd December 1948 as Poton de Xaintrailles, Captain
High Wall poster
High Wall 17th December 1947 as Dr. Stanley Griffin
Cynthia poster
Cynthia 29th August 1947 as Mr. Phillips, Principal
Adventure poster
Adventure 28th December 1945 as Mr. Ludlow - Farmer (uncredited)
Fall Guy poster
Fall Guy 14th April 1945 as District Attorney (uncredited)
Bonanza poster
Bonanza 12th September 1959 as Mr. Mason
Maverick poster
Maverick 22nd September 1957 as Joshua Haines
M Squad poster
M Squad 20th September 1957 as Police Inspector Dean
Cheyenne poster
Cheyenne 20th September 1955 as John Clements