---
name: "Donald Crisp"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/donald-crisp"
fi1m_id: "donald-crisp"
imdb_id: "nm0187981"
tmdb_id: 8841
wikidata_id: "Q367073"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "26 July 1882"
died: "25 May 1974"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-09-25T07:29:44.589857+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."
---

# Donald Crisp

## Identity

Donald Crisp

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/donald-crisp
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** donald-crisp
- **IMDb ID:** nm0187981
- **TMDB ID:** 8841
- **Wikidata ID:** Q367073
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Crisp, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q367073, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0187981/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8841

Actor. Born 26 July 1882 in Bow, London, England, UK. Died 25 May 1974.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 26 July 1882, Bow, London, England, UK
- **Died:** 25 May 1974
- **Active:** 1915–1955
- **Also known as:** George William Crisp, James Needham, Дональд Крисп
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 9: 8 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [William Wyler](https://film.one/person/william-wyler.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1910s 63 (3), 1930s 77 (4), 1940s 82 (1), 1950s 82 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 81 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, History 3, Romance 3, Adventure 1, War 1, Western 1
- **Screen time:** 16 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $112m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Crisp, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q367073, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0187981/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8841

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Man from Laramie*](https://film.one/film/the-man-from-laramie.md) (82), [*Wuthering Heights*](https://film.one/film/wuthering-heights.md) (76)
- **Apple TV:** [*Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl*](https://film.one/film/broken-blossoms-or-the-yellow-man-and-the-girl.md) (73)

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

## Biography

Donald Crisp was an English character actor, producer, director and screenwriter whose career spanned the silent era into the 1960s. Born George William Crisp on 27 July 1882 in Bow, London, he appeared in early films for D.W. Griffith, including *The Birth of a Nation* (1915) as General Ulysses S. Grant and *Intolerance* (1916). He also directed several films in the 1920s, such as *The Navigator* (1924).

With the coming of sound, Crisp focused on acting and became a prolific supporting player in Hollywood. He appeared in *Mutiny on the Bounty* (1935), *Jezebel* (1938), *Wuthering Heights* (1939) as Dr. Kenneth, *How Green Was My Valley* (1941) as Gwilym Morgan, *The Man from Laramie* (1955) and *The Uninvited* (1944). He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for *How Green Was My Valley*.

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

## On Fi1m (9)

### Performed in (8) — the average rests on these

- *The Man from Laramie* (1955), Fi1m 82, as Alec Waggoman — [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-from-laramie.md)
- *How Green Was My Valley* (1941), Fi1m 82, as Gwilym Morgan — [page](https://film.one/film/how-green-was-my-valley.md)
- *Wuthering Heights* (1939), Fi1m 76, as Dr. Kenneth — [page](https://film.one/film/wuthering-heights.md)
- *Jezebel* (1938), Fi1m 78, as Dr. Livingstone — [page](https://film.one/film/jezebel.md)
- *The Life of Emile Zola* (1937), Fi1m 70, as Maitre Labori — [page](https://film.one/film/the-life-of-emile-zola.md)
- *Mutiny on the Bounty* (1935), Fi1m 83, as Thomas Burkitt — [page](https://film.one/film/mutiny-on-the-bounty.md)
- *Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl* (1919), Fi1m 73, as Battling Burrows — [page](https://film.one/film/broken-blossoms-or-the-yellow-man-and-the-girl.md)
- *The Birth of a Nation* (1915), Fi1m 32, as Gen. U.S. Grant — [page](https://film.one/film/the-birth-of-a-nation.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages* (1916), Fi1m 83, as Extra (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/intolerance-loves-struggle-throughout-the-ages.md)

## Complete filmography (187)

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

- *Spencer's Mountain* (1963), as Grandpa Spencer
- *Greyfriars Bobby* (1961), as James Brown
- *Pollyanna* (1960), as Mayor Karl Warren
- *A Dog of Flanders* (1960), as Jehan Daas
- *The Last Hurrah* (1958), as The Cardinal
- *Saddle the Wind* (1958), as Dennis Deneen
- *Drango* (1957), as Judge Allen
- *Fire on the Heather* (1956), Actor
- *The Man from Laramie* (1955), as Alec Waggoman — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-from-laramie.md)
- *The Long Gray Line* (1955), as Old Martin
- *Prince Valiant* (1954), as King Aguar
- *Home Town Story* (1951), as John MacFarland
- *Bright Leaf* (1950), as Major Singleton
- *Challenge to Lassie* (1949), as 'Jock' Gray
- *Africa Screams* (1949), Executive Producer
- *Whispering Smith* (1948), as Barney Rebstock
- *Hills of Home* (1948), as Drumsheugh
- *Ramrod* (1947), as Jim Crew
- *The Valley of Decision* (1945), as William Scott
- *Son of Lassie* (1945), as Sam Carraclough
- *National Velvet* (1945), as Mr. Herbert Brown
- *The Adventures of Mark Twain* (1944), as J.B. Pond
- *The Uninvited* (1944), as Commander Beech
- *Lassie Come Home* (1943), as Sam Carraclough
- *Forever and a Day* (1943), as Captain Martin
- *The Battle of Midway* (1942), as Main Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- *The Gay Sisters* (1942), as Ralph Pedloch
- *How Green Was My Valley* (1941), as Gwilym Morgan — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/how-green-was-my-valley.md)
- *Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde* (1941), as Sir Charles Emery
- *Shining Victory* (1941), as Dr. Drewett
- *Knute Rockne All American* (1940), as Father John Callahan, C.S.C
- *City for Conquest* (1940), as Scotty MacPherson
- *The Sea Hawk* (1940), as Admiral Sir John Burleson
- *Brother Orchid* (1940), as Brother Superior
- *Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet* (1940), as Minister Althoff
- *The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex* (1939), as Francis Bacon
- *The Old Maid* (1939), as Doctor Lanskell
- *Daughters Courageous* (1939), as Samuel 'Sam' Sloane
- *Juarez* (1939), as Maréchal Bazaine
- *Sons of Liberty* (1939), as Alexander McDougall
- *Wuthering Heights* (1939), as Dr. Kenneth — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/wuthering-heights.md)
- *The Oklahoma Kid* (1939), as Judge Hardwick
- *The Dawn Patrol* (1938), as Phipps
- *Comet Over Broadway* (1938), as Grant
- *The Sisters* (1938), as Tim Hazelton
- *Valley of the Giants* (1938), as Andy Stone
- *The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse* (1938), as Police Inspector Lewis Lane
- *The Beloved Brat* (1938), as Mr. Morgan
- *Jezebel* (1938), as Dr. Livingstone — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/jezebel.md)
- *Sergeant Murphy* (1938), as Col. Todd Carruthers
- *The Life of Emile Zola* (1937), as Maitre Labori — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/the-life-of-emile-zola.md)
- *That Certain Woman* (1937), as Jack V. Merrick Sr.
- *Confession* (1937), as Presiding Judge
- *Parnell* (1937), as Michael Davitt
- *The Great O'Malley* (1937), as Police Captain Cromwell
- *Beloved Enemy* (1936), as Liam Burke
- *A Woman Rebels* (1936), as Judge Byron Thistlewaite
- *The Charge of the Light Brigade* (1936), as Colonel Campbell
- *Mary of Scotland* (1936), as Huntly
- *The White Angel* (1936), as Dr. Hunt
- *Mutiny on the Bounty* (1935), as Thomas Burkitt — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/mutiny-on-the-bounty.md)
- *Oil for the Lamps of China* (1935), as J.T. McCarger
- *Laddie* (1935), as Mr. Pryor
- *Vanessa: Her Love Story* (1935), as George
- *The Little Minister* (1934), as Docteur McQueen
- *What Every Woman Knows* (1934), as David Wylie
- *The Life of Vergie Winters* (1934), as Mike Davey
- *The Key* (1934), as Peadar Conlan
- *The Crime Doctor* (1934), as Mr. Anthony, District Attorney
- *Hamlet, Act I: Scenes IV and V* (1933), as Marcellus
- *Broadway Bad* (1933), as Darrall
- *Red Dust* (1932), as Guidon
- *A Passport to Hell* (1932), as Sgt. Snyder
- *Kick In* (1931), as Garvey
- *Svengali* (1931), as The Laird
- *Scotland Yard* (1930), as Charles Fox
- *The Runaway Bride* (1930), Director
- *The Return of Sherlock Holmes* (1929), as Colonel Moran
- *The Pagan* (1929), as Roger Slater
- *Trent's Last Case* (1929), as Sigsbee Manderson
- *The Viking* (1928), as Leif Ericsson
- *The Cop* (1928), Director
- *The River Pirate* (1928), as Caxton
- *Stand and Deliver* (1928), as London Club Member (uncredited) · Director
- *Dress Parade* (1927), Director
- *The Fighting Eagle* (1927), Director
- *Vanity* (1927), Director
- *Man Bait* (1927), Director
- *Nobody's Widow* (1927), Director
- *Young April* (1926), Director
- *Sunny Side Up* (1926), Director
- *The Black Pirate* (1926), as MacTavish
- *Don Q Son of Zorro* (1925), as Don Sebastian · Director
- *The Navigator* (1924), Director
- *Ponjola* (1923), Director
- *Tell Your Children* (1922), Director
- *The Bonnie Brier Bush* (1921), as Lachlan Campbell · Director
- *The Princess of New York* (1921), Director
- *The Barbarian* (1921), Director
- *Held by the Enemy* (1920), Director
- *Miss Hobbs* (1920), Director
- *The Six Best Cellars* (1920), Director
- *Too Much Johnson* (1919), Director
- *It Pays to Advertise* (1919), Director
- *Why Smith Left Home* (1919), Director
- *Love Insurance* (1919), Director
- *A Very Good Young Man* (1919), Director
- *Putting It Over* (1919), Director
- *Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl* (1919), as Battling Burrows — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/broken-blossoms-or-the-yellow-man-and-the-girl.md)
- *Something to Do* (1919), Director
- *Johnny Get Your Gun* (1919), Director
- *The Poor Boob* (1919), Director
- *Venus in the East* (1919), Director
- *Under the Top* (1919), Director
- *The Way of a Man with a Maid* (1918), Director
- *The Goat* (1918), Director
- *Less Than Kin* (1918), Director
- *The Firefly of France* (1918), Director
- *Believe Me, Xantippe* (1918), Director
- *The House of Silence* (1918), Director
- *Rimrock Jones* (1918), Director
- *Jules of the Strong Heart* (1918), Director
- *The Clever Mrs. Carfax* (1917), Director
- *The Countess Charming* (1917), Director
- *Lost in Transit* (1917), Director
- *The Cook of Canyon Camp* (1917), Director, Screenplay
- *The Marcellini Millions* (1917), Director
- *The Bond Between* (1917), Director
- *His Sweetheart* (1917), Director
- *The Eyes of the World* (1917), Director
- *Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages* (1916), as Extra (uncredited) — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/intolerance-loves-struggle-throughout-the-ages.md)
- *Ramona* (1916), as Jim Farrar · Director
- *A Girl of Yesterday* (1915), as A.H. Monroe
- *May Blossom* (1915), as Steve Harland
- *The Commanding Officer* (1915), as Col. Archer (the Commandant)
- *The Birth of a Nation* (1915), as Gen. U.S. Grant · Assistant Director — Fi1m 32, [page](https://film.one/film/the-birth-of-a-nation.md)
- *The Love Route* (1915), as Harry Marshall
- *How Hazel Got Even* (1915), Director
- *An Old-Fashioned Girl* (1915), Director
- *At Dawn* (1914), Director
- *Over the Ledge* (1914), Actor
- *The Sisters* (1914), Actor
- *Another Chance* (1914), as The Tramp · Director
- *The Little Country Mouse* (1914), Director
- *The Niggard* (1914), Director
- *The Availing Prayer* (1914), Director
- *The Warning* (1914), as Mr. Edwards · Director
- *Sands of Fate* (1914), Director
- *Down the Hill to Creditville* (1914), Director
- *A Lesson in Mechanics* (1914), Actor
- *Her Mother's Necklace* (1914), as The Burglar · Director
- *The Tavern of Tragedy* (1914), as Bob Jameson - the Spy · Director
- *The Avenging Conscience* (1914), Actor
- *Their First Acquaintance* (1914), Director
- *The Newer Woman* (1914), as Cop · Director
- *The Escape* (1914), as 'Bull' McGee
- *Home, Sweet Home* (1914), as The Mother's Son
- *The Different Man* (1914), as The Ranch Foreman
- *The Mountain Rat* (1914), as Steve
- *The Battle of the Sexes* (1914), as Frank Andrews
- *The Mysterious Shot* (1914), as Buck · Director
- *Her Father's Silent Partner* (1914), Director
- *The Blue or the Gray* (1913), as Southern Rival
- *By Man's Law* (1913), as Lee Calvert - Brother Owner
- *Black and White* (1913), Actor
- *Olaf—An Atom* (1913), as The Beggar
- *Near To Earth* (1913), Actor
- *Pirate Gold* (1913), Actor
- *The Musketeers of Pig Alley* (1912), as Rival Gang Member (uncredited)
- *The Failure* (1911), as Bank Employee
- *The Miser's Heart* (1911), as Policeman
- *The Battle* (1911), as A Union soldier (uncredited)
- *The Long Road* (1911), as A Servant / The Landlord
- *The Adventures of Billy* (1911), as First Tramp
- *The Making of a Man* (1911), as Actor / Backstage
- *Her Awakening* (1911), as Accident Witness
- *Swords and Hearts* (1911), as At Frazier House/Bushwacker (uncredited)
- *The Primal Call* (1911), as At Club
- *What Shall We Do with Our Old?* (1911), as Night Court Bailiff
- *Heart Beats of Long Ago* (1911), as Courtier
- *Fate's Turning* (1911), as The Valet
- *The Italian Barber* (1911), as At Ball
- *The Two Paths* (1911), as Footman
- *Winning Back His Love* (1910), as At Stage Door
- *The Golden Supper* (1910), as Courtier/Monk
- *Sunshine Sue* (1910), as Head of the Sweatshop
- *Through the Breakers* (1909), as At the Club

## Gallery

- ![Donald Crisp](https://film.one/media/person/7129/gallery-c631f02c9782.jpg) Donald Crisp — Warner Bros. & Vitaphone Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Donald_Crisp_%281937%29_vintage_photo_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Hippodrome Theater. Allentown PA. advertisement for the American drama film Broken Blossoms (1919).](https://film.one/media/person/7129/gallery-317087e2facc.jpg) Hippodrome Theater. Allentown PA. advertisement for the American drama film Broken Blossoms (1919). — United Artists, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/1919_-_Hippodrome_Theater_-_10_Nov_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg/1280px-1919_-_Hippodrome_Theater_-_10_Nov_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lobby card for the American drama film Broken Blossoms (1919).](https://film.one/media/person/7129/gallery-2e83b5837b79.jpg) Lobby card for the American drama film Broken Blossoms (1919). — D.W. Griffith / United Artists, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Broken_Blossoms_lobby_card_2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Still from the American romantic adventure film Don Q, Son of Zorro (1925) with Douglas Fairbanks and Donald Crisp, on page 81 of the May 16, 1925 Exhibitors He](https://film.one/media/person/7129/gallery-bd6acb30a9a4.jpg) Still from the American romantic adventure film Don Q, Son of Zorro (1925) with Douglas Fairbanks and Donald Crisp, on page 81 of the May 16, 1925 Exhibitors He — Elton Corporation / United Artists, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Don_Q_Son_of_Zorro_%281925%29_-_4.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Donald Crisp](https://film.one/media/person/7129/gallery-fce55860adcb.jpg) Donald Crisp — Image via TMDB
- ![Donald Crisp](https://film.one/media/person/7129/gallery-0a2db01eb9b4.jpg) Donald Crisp — Image via TMDB
- ![This is a press photo from 1937 of Oscar-winning actor Donald Crisp, published and distributed by Warner Bros. & Vitaphone Pictures with the intent to promo](https://film.one/media/person/7129/gallery-3567d5472ade.jpg) This is a press photo from 1937 of Oscar-winning actor Donald Crisp, published and distributed by Warner Bros. & Vitaphone Pictures with the intent to promo — Warner Bros. & Vitaphone Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Donald_Crisp_%281937%29_vintage_press_photo_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![This is a press photo from 1937 of Oscar-winning actor Donald Crisp, published and distributed by Warner Bros. & Vitaphone Pictures with the intent to promo](https://film.one/media/person/7129/gallery-0cfee23c458e.jpg) This is a press photo from 1937 of Oscar-winning actor Donald Crisp, published and distributed by Warner Bros. & Vitaphone Pictures with the intent to promo — Warner Bros. & Vitaphone Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Donald_Crisp_%281937%29_vintage_press_photo_02.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won

- 1942: Best Supporting Actor (won), for *How Green Was My Valley*

*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/donald-crisp