Type in any movie or show to find where you can watch it, or type a person's name.

J Farrell MacDonald

J. Farrell MacDonald

Actor

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.

Born: June 5, 1875 in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA

Died: August 2, 1952 (Age 77)

Streaming Sources for all J. Farrell MacDonald Movies & TV Shows

J. Farrell MacDonald  Movies & TV Credits

Title Rating Job Role(s) Year
Movie
8
ActorThe Photographer1927
Movie
8.5
ActorMan Whose Grandfather Planted Tree (uncredited)1946
Movie
7.8
ActorMac the barman1946
Movie
6.2
ActorDesk Sergeant (uncredited)1947
Movie
7.4
ActorOfficer O'Donnell (uncredited)1942
Movie
7.7
Actor'Sourpuss'1941
Movie
7.3
ActorMike Costigan1926
Movie
6.2
ActorDr. Neville (from Churchtown)1942
Movie
7.3
ActorMac, Bailiff (uncredited)1947
Movie
6.6
ActorDet. Sgt. Tom Polhaus1931
Movie
7.3
ActorCap, the Retired Ferryboat Captain1950
Movie
5.1
ActorPolice Lt. 'Pete' Peterson1942
Movie
5.3
ActorPop Shannon1951
Movie
6.7
Actor'Dickie' Collins1932
Movie
6
ActorCapt. Angel1945
Movie
4.2
ActorCaptain O'Brien1943
Movie
6.8
ActorMr. Kroeger1951
Movie
5.2
ActorCapt. Mitchell1942
Movie
6.4
ActorPort Captain1942
Movie
7
ActorCorporal Casey1924
Movie
7.2
ActorPrison Warden (uncredited)1935
Movie
5.5
ActorCaptain Ryan1932
Movie
7.1
ActorHenry 'Hank' Davis1933
Movie
6.4
ActorMulligan1933
Movie
6.4
ActorPop Evans1932
Movie
5.9
ActorTim Casey1941
Movie
6
Actor'Brains'1936
Movie
5.8
ActorShuster1933
Movie
5.8
ActorJudge1939
Movie
6.6
ActorPops Murphy (uncredited)1948
Movie
6.1
ActorBen Murdock1931
Movie
5.8
ActorColonel Forbes1938
Movie
5.6
ActorAdam Naab1932
Movie
4.6
ActorSommers1932
Movie
6.3
ActorPatrick Shamus 'Pat' O'Connell1933
Movie
5.9
ActorMichael Devlin1936
Movie
5.2
ActorPolice Capt. Ed Kyne1933
Movie
6.9
ActorPug Malone1927
Movie
5.3
ActorHarry Cromwell1935
Movie
5.8
ActorLemuel Townsend1925
Movie
6.8
ActorThe Clown1928
Movie
6.1
ActorBig Bill1931
Movie
5.5
ActorColonel Graham1930
Movie
6.6
ActorMurphy1935
Movie
7
ActorDan Lewis1931
Movie
4.9
ActorInsp. Tim Ryan1940
Movie
5.8
ActorMacGuire1931
Movie
6.2
ActorPeg-Leg1931
Movie
6.8
ActorDr. Thompson1938
Movie
6.5
ActorJim, the Cook1946
Movie
7.4
ActorSheriff (uncredited)1943
Movie
6
ActorCapt. Jackson1935
Movie
5.4
ActorChief Reardon1938
Movie
6.4
ActorMr. Keefer1935
Movie
6.5
ActorFather Patrick Ryan1938
Movie
5.8
ActorCostello1930
Movie
5.4
ActorCaptain of the Falcon1939
Movie
5
ActorJeff Cameron1931
Movie
5.9
ActorDonavan1925
Movie
6.1
ActorHobo1935
Movie
6.2
ActorPat O'Hannegan1939
Movie
5.6
ActorDoc Benson1948
Movie
6.3
ActorOfficer1938
Movie
6.1
Actor'Doc' Howe1937
Movie
5.9
ActorAmhad Beg - Prime Minister1922
Movie
6.4
ActorDoorman (uncredited)1939
Movie
6.8
ActorPolice Chief (uncredited)1939
Movie
5.9
ActorCaptain1939
Movie
6.9
ActorInspector Doremus1935
Movie
5.5
ActorPoliceman (uncredited)1947
Movie
7.9
ActorMr. Carney The Junkman (uncredited)1945
Movie
5.5
ActorJiggs1928
Movie
6.3
ActorCaptain of Ship1937
Movie
7.2
ActorDr. Ferguson1941
Movie
5.6
ActorCapt. Hansen (uncredited)1939
Movie
6.3
ActorHallohan1935
Movie
6.4
ActorBill Baggs1948
Movie
6.5
ActorPop Riley1932
Movie
6.6
ActorDave1940
Movie
6.8
ActorBank Guard (uncredited)1945
Movie
6.1
ActorHusband on Airplane1951
Movie
6.2
ActorPop1937
Movie
5.7
ActorPolice Sergeant (uncredited)1948
Movie
5.3
ActorTrain Conductor1929
Movie
7
ActorPoliceman1937
Movie
5.1
ActorJim Baker1932
Movie
5.6
ActorEllis1950
Movie
5.1
ActorIrish Laborer (uncredited)1937
Movie
6.6
ActorMarshal Andy Jordan1935
Movie
5.1
ActorD.J. 'Smokey' Nolan1932
Movie
5.7
ActorJames 'Aloysius' Riley1928
Movie
5.9
ActorCWO 'Sails' Quincannon1938
Movie
5.8
ActorJim Frazer (as J. Farrel MacDonald)1922
Movie
5
ActorRafferty1930
Movie
5.4
ActorPolice Sergeant Haggerty1942
Movie
5.5
ActorJim Hadley1940
Movie
6
ActorCon O'Shea1926
Movie
5.2
ActorPolice Captain1942
Movie
5.4
ActorO'Toole1930
Movie
6
ActorHenry Hathaway1942
Movie
6.1
ActorPeter Roberts1927
Movie
6.1
ActorJim Kerrigan1941
Movie
5.3
ActorBill Stillwell1940
Movie
4.3
ActorGen. Rosewater1942
Movie
6.1
ActorJeff Chapman1940
Movie
5.5
ActorThe Cop1935
Movie
6.6
ActorCraig Dolan1939
Movie
5.9
ActorTimson, the butler1931
Movie
6.9
ActorGrady1933
Movie
5.8
ActorCapt. O'Brien1935
Movie
6.5
ActorJohn Martindale1944
Movie
4.4
ActorInspector Sullivan1937
Movie
6.2
ActorPolice Sgt. J.B. Antrim (uncredited)1932
Movie
5.9
ActorCappy1940
Movie
ActorBuzzard1931
Movie
5.8
ActorTom O'Hara1932
Movie
7
ActorPaul Ferguson (as Joseph Farrell MacDonald)1915
Movie
6.5
ActorTreadway1932
Movie
6.4
ActorMichael1934
Movie
5.6
ActorCoach Parker1935
Movie
4.4
Actor1919
Movie
4.6
ActorAndy1925
Movie
5.3
ActorWarden1938
Movie
3.6
ActorJerry1925
Movie
5.1
ActorJ.C. Stillman1933
Movie
6.1
ActorSam Marcum1922
Movie
6.3
ActorAlvin1950
Movie
5.9
ActorAndrew MacKinley1937
Movie
6.7
ActorJohn Adams1932
Movie
6.3
ActorCaptain Timothy Harrigan1936
Movie
5.8
ActorDetective Martin1932
Movie
6.1
ActorJohn Flannigan1934
Movie
6.3
ActorCaptain--Harbor Patrol1935
Movie
6
ActorState Coach1932
Movie
5.6
ActorJoseph Piotto1921
Movie
5.7
ActorPrison Warden Randolph1932
Movie
5.4
ActorDr. Billar1940
Movie
5.4
ActorPostmaster1947
Movie
5.9
ActorHackett1929
Movie
6.2
ActorSonora Slim1930
Movie
5.9
ActorScotty MacKronish - Bus Driver1947
Movie
6.3
ActorRev. Stump1931
Movie
6.2
ActorSheriff1935
Movie
6.2
ActorSheiff Potts1940
Movie
6
ActorThe Doorman--Mike Costello1934
Movie
ActorJohn Craig1928
Movie
4.4
ActorThe Priest1919
Movie
3.8
ActorBuell1919
Movie
4.8
ActorTom Placer McGraw1919
Movie
7
Actor1923
Movie
6.4
ActorMichael Morahan1922
Movie
6.3
ActorChief Scott1932
Movie
4.5
ActorAngus McGregor1929
Movie
6
ActorPolice Chief Bullock1936
Movie
7
Actor'Pop' Corrigan1938
Movie
5.7
ActorMack1925
Movie
5.9
ActorGeorge Martin1927
Movie
5.5
ActorJoe Holland1937
Movie
3.8
ActorButler1919
Movie
4.5
ActorGeoffrey MacCardle1943
Movie
6
ActorInspector1935
Movie
6
ActorPop Lockhart1949
Movie
7.7
ActorWilliam Barton (Detective Agency Head)1938
Movie
Actor'Chuck' Campbell1924
Movie
5.2
ActorMayor Jim Hopkins1938
Movie
5.5
ActorAdams1941
Movie
6.2
ActorDuc de Moing (Prologue)1924
Movie
4.4
ActorMr. Martin1932
Movie
5.6
ActorGeorge Holman1932
Movie
ActorPa Hudler1929
Movie
6.7
ActorSgt. O'Hara1937
Movie
5.5
ActorBill 'One-Punch' Fagin1937
Movie
6.2
ActorApplejack1935
Movie
5.2
ActorJudge Price1949
Movie
7.5
ActorMr. Barstow1926
Movie
6.4
ActorPete1924
Movie
5.7
ActorCapt. Ryan1938
Movie
6.6
ActorWild Bill Coburn1939
Movie
5.5
ActorCalvin Williams1937
Movie
ActorWill Whitten1929
Movie
5.8
ActorCop1942
Movie
7.1
ActorLuther Ripley aka Kennedy1919
Movie
5
ActorMormon Peters1921
Movie
6.6
ActorBuck Saunders1937
Movie
5.1
ActorJury Foreman1945
Movie
6.4
ActorMan (uncredited)1943
Movie
5.8
ActorLong-Count Bowman1946
Movie
6.1
ActorCharlie Wheeler1938
Movie
ActorJoe Heller1926
Movie
5.3
ActorPatrick Murphy1928
Movie
Actor1928
Movie
5.9
ActorScout1931
Movie
7.2
ActorStreet Vendor (uncredited)1945
Movie
7.2
ActorWindy MacLaine1936
Movie
5.1
ActorThe Coach1931
Movie
5.5
ActorMulcahey1941
Movie
2.3
ActorCaptain Gaskell1922
Movie
4.8
ActorJoe Alabam (as J. Farrell McDonald)1920
Movie
5.9
ActorSheriff Jim Austin1940
Movie
5.3
ActorStage Passenger (uncredited)1928
Movie
6.5
ActorPop Stewart1931
Movie
6
ActorCoach Pearson1938
Movie
6.3
ActorSheriff J.J. Willoughby1939
Movie
5.7
ActorMajor Rogers1937
Movie
6
ActorSheriff Cap Weatherby1948
Movie
5.8
Actor1945
Movie
6
ActorThe Priest1944
Movie
ActorFather1920
Movie
7.5
ActorApartment House Manager (uncredited)1948
Movie
ActorSgt. Cassidy1926
Movie
6.7
ActorTrinidad Dorn1935
Movie
4.2
ActorNeuces River1921
Movie
6
ActorDoc Cooper1948
Movie
ActorJerry O'Day1932
Movie
4.1
ActorBobtail McGuire1921
Movie
6
ActorNorcross1918
Movie
6.9
ActorJim Boone1920
Movie
ActorPeter Galbraith1922
Movie
ActorSilas Martin1923
Movie
5.5
ActorCol. Patterson1923
Movie
6.4
ActorMurphy1923
Movie
ActorCommodore John Gordon1925
Movie
ActorBenjamin Strong1926
Movie
7.4
ActorKemp1934
Movie
ActorSheriff Pat Garrity1921
Movie
7.1
ActorSloan1926
Movie
5.7
ActorDoorman (uncredited)1949
Movie
7.1
ActorJoe Hickey1929
Movie
ActorUmpire1935
Movie
ActorHickey1924
Movie
6.8
ActorJudge Hale1935
Movie
ActorMcGuire1927
Movie
5
ActorPrison Warden1933
Movie
7.2
ActorCop (uncredited)1948
Movie
ActorJohn Burke1933
Movie
5.4
ActorWaco1933
Movie
7.5
ActorMcPherson - Innkeeper1947
Movie
7.3
ActorHogan1932
Movie
5.5
ActorFrank (uncredited)1943
Movie
6.1
ActorProprietor1937
Movie
5.4
ActorMr. Lane (uncredited)1950
Movie
6.6
ActorBailiff (uncredited)1948
Movie
Actor1921
Movie
6.2
Actor(uncredited)1922
Movie
5.9
ActorJoe, Police Sergeant (uncredited)1939
Movie
5.6
ActorMr. Davis1932
Movie
6
ActorO'Shea, policeman1944
Movie
Actor1924
Movie
6.2
ActorGilby - Pharmacist (uncredited)1950
Movie
ActorJean Paul Fippany1926
Short Film
5.6
ActorPoliceman1931
Short Film
5.2
ActorSecondary Role (uncredited)1911
Short Film
5.7
ActorNevada Jim1940
Short Film
6.7
ActorThe Lighthouse Keeper1911
Short Film
ActorFarmer Howard1911
Short Film
ActorLouis Nordell1912
Short Film
5.7
Actor1931
Short Film
5.5
ActorHimself1933
Short Film
3.9
ActorGardener1946
Short Film
Actor1913
Short Film
7.6
Actor1911
Movie
5.1
DirectingDirector1914
Movie
5.3
DirectingDirector1914
Movie
6.2
DirectingDirector1914
Short Film
5
DirectingDirector1914
Short Film
5.5
DirectingDirector1917
Short Film
6.9
DirectingDirector1915
Short Film
DirectingDirector1913
Title Rating Job Role(s) Year
Back to Top