---
name: "Charles Bickford"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/charles-bickford"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "31 December 1890"
died: "9 November 1967"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 75
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-20T01:47:25.733568+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Charles Bickford

Actor. Born 31 December 1890 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Died 9 November 1967.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 31 December 1890, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- **Died:** 9 November 1967
- **Active:** 1939–1948
- **Also known as:** チャールズ・ビックフォード
- **Academy Awards:** 3 Oscar nominations
- **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 84 (1), 1940s 70 (2)
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bickford, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q710538, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001948/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/30527

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Of Mice and Men*](https://film.one/film/of-mice-and-men.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Charles Bickford

> Charles Bickford played authority as a thing men carry rather than enjoy: the foreman, the priest, the rancher, all of them tired of being obeyed. He was rarely the lead and did not need to be; rooms arrange themselves around him.

Slim, in *Of Mice and Men* (1939), is the one man on the ranch with any authority, and Bickford plays it as quietness rather than size. Other men there shout, sulk or pick fights; Slim mostly listens, and when he does speak the others stop. He has few scenes and no big ones, and he is the person on that ranch you would trust with anything. Four years later he is Father Peyramale in *The Song of Bernadette* (1943), a big, tired priest who wants a peasant girl and her visions to go away and cannot make her. Bickford lets us watch him lose that argument with himself one visit at a time, and because the film never sneers at the men who doubt, he is allowed to be a reasonable man who happens to be wrong.

He did not start in supporting parts. Broadway success in the 1920s took him to Hollywood, where Cecil B. DeMille put him in *Dynamite* (1929) and he was soon playing opposite Greta Garbo. That did not last. He clashed with the men who ran MGM, and by the early 1940s he had moved to character work and stayed there for the rest of his career, in films and later on television. Watching the two pictures we have reviewed, we do not miss the leading man. The gruff voice and the craggy face that the studios thought fit only for fathers and heavies turn out to be exactly what a supporting actor needs: nobody has to explain why people listen to him.

The later parts are variations on the same man. Gallagher in *Brute Force* (1947), Oliver Niles in *A Star Is Born* (1954), Major Henry Terrill, the rancher in *The Big Country* (1958), Ellis Arnesen, the father in *Days of Wine and Roses* (1962): a prison, a studio, a ranch, a family, and in each of them the one whose word settles things. He was typed, and the run of B-pictures through the 1930s and early 1940s shows what that cost him. He knew it. "I can take one out of ten, and I stick to character roles. I've fought against being typed—not in the parts—in the productions," he said in 1949, and the distinction is a shrewd one. He did not mind playing the same man. He minded playing him in bad films.

What we felt most, watching him, was relief. *The Song of Bernadette* is sincere, slow and a good hour too long, and every time Peyramale came through a door we sat up, because here at last was someone in the picture prepared to argue. In *Of Mice and Men* he does less and it matters more; we would put his few minutes as Slim above most of the leading roles of that year. Start there, then the priest. He spent the first part of his career as the hero and the second as the man the hero has to answer to. The second was the better job.

## Biography

Charles Bickford was an American actor. He played Slim in the 1939 film *Of Mice and Men*.

Bickford received three Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, for *The Song of Bernadette* (1943), *The Farmer's Daughter* (1947) and *Johnny Belinda* (1948). Other notable film roles include those in *Brute Force* (1947), *A Star Is Born* (1954), *The Big Country* (1958), *The Unforgiven* (1960) and *Days of Wine and Roses* (1963). He had earlier worked in burlesque and on stage.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Johnny Belinda* (1948), Fi1m 78, as Black MacDonald — [page](https://film.one/film/johnny-belinda.md)
- *The Song of Bernadette* (1943), Fi1m 63, as Father Peyramale — [page](https://film.one/film/the-song-of-bernadette.md)
- *Of Mice and Men* (1939), Fi1m 84, as Slim — [page](https://film.one/film/of-mice-and-men.md)

## Complete filmography (99)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *A Big Hand for the Little Lady* (1966), as Benson Tropp
- *Della* (1964), as Hugh Stafford
- *Days of Wine and Roses* (1963), as Ellis Arnesen
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as John Grainger
- *The Farmer's Daughter* (1962), as Clancy
- *Alcoa Premiere* (1961), series, as Dr Barry Logan
- *The Barbara Stanwyck Show* (1960), series, as Isaiah B. Richardson
- *The Unforgiven* (1960), as Zeb Rawlins
- *Winterset* (1959), as Judge Gaunt
- *Woman on the Run* (1959), Actor
- *Days of Wine and Roses* (1958), as Ellis Arnesen
- *The Big Country* (1958), as Major Henry Terrill
- *Clipper Ship* (1957), as Captain Joel Kingdom
- *Mister Cory* (1957), as Jeremiah Des Plains 'Biloxi' Caldwell
- *Sincerely, Willis Wade* (1956), as Henry Harcourt
- *You Can't Run Away from It* (1956), as A.A. Andrews
- *Playhouse 90* (1956), series, as Gen. Keaton
- *Forbidden Area* (1956), as Gen. Keaton
- *The Dark Wave* (1956), Actor
- *The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell* (1955), as Gen. Jimmy Guthrie
- *MGM Parade* (1955), series, Actor
- *Not as a Stranger* (1955), as Dr. Dave W. Runkleman
- *Prince of Players* (1955), as Dave Prescott
- *A Star Is Born* (1954), as Oliver Niles
- *The Last Posse* (1953), as Sampson Drune
- *Elopement* (1951), as Tom Reagan
- *The Raging Tide* (1951), as Hamil Linder
- *Jim Thorpe – All-American* (1951), as Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner
- *Branded* (1950), as Mr. Lavery
- *Riding High* (1950), as J.L. Higgins
- *Guilty of Treason* (1950), as Cardinal Joszef Mindszenty
- *Whirlpool* (1950), as Lt. James Colton
- *Roseanna McCoy* (1949), as Devil Anse Hatfield
- *Command Decision* (1948), as Elmer Brockhurst
- *The Babe Ruth Story* (1948), as Brother Matthias
- *Johnny Belinda* (1948), as Black MacDonald — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/johnny-belinda.md)
- *Four Faces West* (1948), as Pat Garrett
- *Brute Force* (1947), as Gallagher
- *The Woman on the Beach* (1947), as Tod Butler
- *The Farmer's Daughter* (1947), as Joseph Clancy
- *Duel in the Sun* (1946), as Sam Pierce
- *Fallen Angel* (1945), as Mark Judd
- *Captain Eddie* (1945), as William Rickenbacker
- *Wing and a Prayer* (1944), as Captain Waddell
- *The Song of Bernadette* (1943), as Father Peyramale — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/the-song-of-bernadette.md)
- *Mr. Lucky* (1943), as Hard Swede
- *Tarzan's New York Adventure* (1942), as Buck Rand
- *Reap the Wild Wind* (1942), as Mate of the 'Tyfib'
- *Burma Convoy* (1941), as Cliff Weldon
- *Riders of Death Valley* (1941), as Wolf Reade
- *Queen of the Yukon* (1940), as Ace Rincon
- *South to Karanga* (1940), as Jeff Worthing
- *Girl from God's Country* (1940), as Bill Bogler
- *Thou Shalt Not Kill* (1939), as Rev. Chris Saunders
- *Of Mice and Men* (1939), as Slim — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/of-mice-and-men.md)
- *One Hour to Live* (1939), as Insp. Sid Brady
- *Mutiny in the Big House* (1939), as Father Joe Collins
- *Our Leading Citizen* (1939), as Shep Muir
- *Street of Missing Men* (1939), as Cash Darwin
- *Romance of the Redwoods* (1939), as Steve Blake
- *Stand Up and Fight* (1939), as Arnold
- *The Storm* (1938), as Bob "Sparks" Roberts
- *Valley of the Giants* (1938), as Howard Fallon
- *Gangs of New York* (1938), as Rocky Thorpe / John Franklin
- *Daughter of Shanghai* (1937), as Otto Hartman
- *Night Club Scandal* (1937), as Det. Capt. McKinley
- *Thunder Trail* (1937), as Lee Tate
- *High, Wide and Handsome* (1937), as Red Scanlon
- *Rose Hobart* (1936), as Man (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *The Plainsman* (1936), as John Lattimer
- *Pride of the Marines* (1936), as Steve Riley
- *Rose of the Rancho* (1936), as Joe Kincaid
- *East of Java* (1935), as Red McGovern / Harvey Bowers
- *The Farmer Takes a Wife* (1935), as Jotham Klore
- *Under Pressure* (1935), as Nipper Moran
- *A Notorious Gentleman* (1935), as Kirk Arlen
- *A Wicked Woman* (1934), as Pat Naylor
- *Little Miss Marker* (1934), as Big Steve Halloway
- *Red Wagon* (1933), as Joe Prince
- *White Woman* (1933), as Ballister
- *This Day and Age* (1933), as Louis Garrett
- *Song of the Eagle* (1933), as Joe (Nails) Anderson
- *No Other Woman* (1933), as Jim Stanley
- *Vanity Street* (1932), as Brian Murphy
- *The Last Man* (1932), as Bannister
- *Thunder Below* (1932), as Walt
- *Scandal for Sale* (1932), as Jerry Strong
- *Panama Flo* (1932), as Pearl
- *Men in Her Life* (1931), as Flashy Madden
- *The Pagan Lady* (1931), as Dingo Mike
- *East of Borneo* (1931), as Allan Clark
- *The Squaw Man* (1931), as Cash Hawkins
- *Passion Flower* (1930), as Dan Wallace
- *River's End* (1930), as Keith / Conniston
- *The Sea Bat* (1930), as Reverend Sims
- *Anna Christie* (1930), as Matt Burke
- *Hell's Heroes* (1929), as Bob Sangster
- *Dynamite* (1929), as Hagon Derk
- *South Sea Rose* (1929), as Capt. Briggs

## Gallery

- ![Charles Bickford](https://film.one/media/person/1231330/gallery-2a523420d445.jpg) Charles Bickford — MCA-TV, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Charles_Bickford_1950s.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![hqcity (1930)](https://film.one/media/person/1231330/gallery-d60a892c1f4a.jpg) hqcity (1930) — Employee(s) of MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Annex_-_Bickford%2C_Charles_%28Anna_Christie%29_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Passion Flower Subjects (LCTGM): motion pictures, actors, actresses (1930)](https://film.one/media/person/1231330/gallery-82828fe33d88.jpg) Passion Flower Subjects (LCTGM): motion pictures, actors, actresses (1930) — Unknown photographerUnknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Passion_Flower_%28SAYRE_15740%29.jpg/1280px-Passion_Flower_%28SAYRE_15740%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anna Christie Subjects (LCTGM): motion pictures, actresses, actors (1930)](https://film.one/media/person/1231330/gallery-ee5322a1447c.jpg) Anna Christie Subjects (LCTGM): motion pictures, actresses, actors (1930) — Unknown photographerUnknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Anna_Christie_%28SAYRE_15085%29.jpg/1280px-Anna_Christie_%28SAYRE_15085%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Charles Bickford](https://film.one/media/person/1231330/gallery-d070a4535841.jpg) Charles Bickford — Image via TMDB
- ![Charles Bickford](https://film.one/media/person/1231330/gallery-820ec20f69cf.jpg) Charles Bickford — Image via TMDB
- ![Charles Bickford](https://film.one/media/person/1231330/gallery-274cf0bbc95f.jpg) Charles Bickford — Image via TMDB
- ![Charles Bickford and Raquel Torres in the American film The Sea Bat (1930) - publicity still (cropped) (1928)](https://film.one/media/person/1231330/gallery-0c2ab41c8036.jpg) Charles Bickford and Raquel Torres in the American film The Sea Bat (1930) - publicity still (cropped) (1928) — unknown (MGM), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Charles_Bickford-Raquel_Torres_in_the_Sea_Bat.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Charles Bickford](https://film.one/media/person/1231330/gallery-2e80b0af0306.jpg) Charles Bickford — Image via TMDB
- ![Charles Bickford](https://film.one/media/person/1231330/gallery-fe4c37bbe81a.jpg) Charles Bickford — Image via TMDB
- ![Charles Bickford](https://film.one/media/person/1231330/gallery-621714f67253.jpg) Charles Bickford — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 3 nominated

- 1949: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Johnny Belinda*
- 1948: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *The Farmer's Daughter*
- 1944: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *The Song of Bernadette*

### Other awards — 1 won

- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 1960: star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/charles-bickford