--- name: "Francis Ford" canonical: "https://film.one/person/francis-ford" roles: ["Actor"] born: "12 August 1881" died: "5 September 1953" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 72 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-09-20T02:33:50.865402+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." --- # Francis Ford Actor. Born 12 August 1881 in Portland, Maine, USA. Died 5 September 1953. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 12 August 1881, Portland, Maine, USA - **Died:** 5 September 1953 - **Active:** 1935–1952 - **Also known as:** J. Francis O'Fearna, Francis Feeney, Frank Thomas Feeney - **Titles on Fi1m:** 7: 3 acting, 4 other - **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 75 (4), 1940s 85 (2), 1950s 78 (1) - **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 1, Crime 1, History 1, Romance 1 - **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $7m across 3 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Ford_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1361838, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0285643/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/30496 ## Streaming the US now - **Apple TV:** [*The Quiet Man*](https://film.one/film/the-quiet-man.md) (78) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Francis Ford was an American actor, film director and writer. He was the elder brother and early mentor of director John Ford, and appeared in many of his brother's films as a character actor, often in uncredited or supporting roles. Born Francis Feeney in Portland, Maine, he began working in films around 1909. He directed and starred in numerous silent westerns and serials in the 1910s and 1920s before focusing primarily on acting from the late 1920s. His credits include uncredited appearances in *Frankenstein* (1931), *Stagecoach* (1939), *The Grapes of Wrath* (1940) and *The Ox-Bow Incident* (1943). He played Dan Tobin in *The Quiet Man* (1952). His son Philip Ford also worked in film. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) ### Performed in (3) — the average rests on these - *The Quiet Man* (1952), Fi1m 78, as Dan Tobin — [page](https://film.one/film/the-quiet-man.md) - *In Old Chicago* (1938), Fi1m 64, as Driver — [page](https://film.one/film/in-old-chicago.md) - *The Informer* (1935), Fi1m 73, as 'Judge' Flynn — [page](https://film.one/film/the-informer.md) ### Also credited (4) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *The Ox-Bow Incident* (1943), Fi1m 84, as Alva 'Dad' Hardwicke (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-ox-bow-incident.md) - *The Grapes of Wrath* (1940), Fi1m 86, as Migrant (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-grapes-of-wrath.md) - *Stagecoach* (1939), Fi1m 84, as Sgt. Billy Pickett (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/stagecoach.md) - *A Star Is Born* (1937), Fi1m 78, as William Gregory (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/a-star-is-born-1937.md) ## Complete filmography (277) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Wonder Dogs! Canine Stars of the Silent Era (1898-1928)* (2025), Director - *The Sun Shines Bright* (1953), as Feeney - *Toughest Man in Arizona* (1952), Actor - *The Quiet Man* (1952), as Dan Tobin — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-quiet-man.md) - *The Living Bible* (1952), as Samaritan Leper - *Rim of the Wheel* (1951), as Mr. Dickerson - *The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok* (1951), series, Actor - *Wagon Master* (1950), as Mr. Peachtree - *She Wore a Yellow Ribbon* (1949), as Connelly - Fort Stark Suttlers Barman (uncredited) - *San Antone Ambush* (1949), as Major Farnsworth - *Frontier Investigator* (1949), as Ed Garnett - *3 Godfathers* (1948), as Drunk (uncredited) - *The Far Frontier* (1948), as Alf Sharper - *The Plunderers* (1948), as Barnaby - *Eyes of Texas* (1948), as Thad Cameron - *The Timber Trail* (1948), as Ralph Baker - *Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'* (1948), as Race Checker / Fisherman (uncredited) - *Fort Apache* (1948), as Fen - Stage Guard (uncredited) - *Bandits of Dark Canyon* (1947), as Horse Trader - *Unconquered* (1947), as Frontiersman on Fort Pitt Roof (uncredited) - *Driftwood* (1947), as Abner Green - *High Tide* (1947), as Pop Garrow - *Gunfighters* (1947), as Cook (uncredited) - *California* (1947), as Jessie (uncredited) - *Wake Up and Dream* (1946), as Old Man at Counter - *My Darling Clementine* (1946), as Dad - Old Soldier (uncredited) - *Sister Kenny* (1946), as Patrick O'Shea (uncredited) - *Accomplice* (1946), as King Connors - *College Queen* (1946), as Pop, The Janitor - *Incendiary Blonde* (1945), as Ranch Owner (uncredited) - *Wildfire* (1945), as Ezra Mills - *The White Gorilla* (1945), as Mr. Stacey - *Murder, He Says* (1945), as Lee - Old Townsman (uncredited) - *Hangover Square* (1945), as Ogilby - Fulham Antique Dealer (uncredited) - *Mom and Dad* (1945), as Dr. Rubin - *The Princess and the Pirate* (1944), as Drunken Pirate (uncredited) - *The Climax* (1944), as Backstage Attendant (Uncredited) - *Home in Indiana* (1944), as Ed - Seated Opposite J.T. in Bar (uncredited) - *The Desperadoes* (1943), as Hank - *The Ox-Bow Incident* (1943), as Alva 'Dad' Hardwicke (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-ox-bow-incident.md) - *Outlaws of Pine Ridge* (1942), as Bartender - *The Mummy's Tomb* (1942), as Townsman (uncredited) - *King of the Mounties* (1942), as Zeke Collins (Ch. 4) - *The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe* (1942), as Tavern Keeper - *The Man Who Wouldn't Die* (1942), as Caretaker - *They Died with Their Boots On* (1941), as Veteran (uncredited) - *Riders of the Purple Sage* (1941), as Inebriated Courtroom Spectator - *Last of the Duanes* (1941), as Luke Stevens - *Western Union* (1941), as Eastbound Stagecoach Driver - *Tobacco Road* (1941), Actor - *Romance of the Rio Grande* (1941), as Stagecoach Driver - *Diamond Frontier* (1940), as Derek Bluje - *South of Pago Pago* (1940), as Foster - *Three Faces West* (1940), as Farmer Bill, with Higgins - *Lucky Cisco Kid* (1940), as Court Clerk - *Viva Cisco Kid* (1940), as Proprietor - *The Grapes of Wrath* (1940), as Migrant (uncredited) — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-grapes-of-wrath.md) - *Geronimo* (1939), as Scout - *Drums Along the Mohawk* (1939), as Joe Boleo - *Bad Lands* (1939), as Charlie Garth - *Young Mr. Lincoln* (1939), as Sam Boone (uncredited) - *Stagecoach* (1939), as Sgt. Billy Pickett (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/stagecoach.md) - *The Texans* (1938), as Uncle Dud - *Kentucky Moonshine* (1938), as Grandpa Hatfield - *In Old Chicago* (1938), as Driver — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/in-old-chicago.md) - *The Girl of the Golden West* (1938), as Miner - *Mannequin* (1938), as Tim O'Rourke (Uncredited) - *Checkers* (1937), as Daniel Snodgrass - *The Last Train from Madrid* (1937), as Pedro Elias (uncredited) - *Slave Ship* (1937), as Scraps - *A Star Is Born* (1937), as William Gregory (uncredited) — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/a-star-is-born-1937.md) - *The Plough and the Stars* (1936), as Old Man (uncredited) - *Sins of Man* (1936), as Town Drunk - *Little Miss Nobody* (1936), as Detective - *Educating Father* (1936), as Sheriff Hart - *Gentle Julia* (1936), as Tubbs, Fish Peddler - *Charlie Chan at the Circus* (1936), as John Gaines - *The Prisoner of Shark Island* (1936), as Corporal O'Toole - *Paddy O'Day* (1936), as Immigration Officer Tom McGuire - *Charlie Chan's Secret* (1936), as Captain of salvage ship - *This Is the Life* (1935), as Sticky Jones - *Steamboat Round the Bend* (1935), as Efe - *Paris in Spring* (1935), as Drunken Peasant - *The Arizonian* (1935), as Mayor Ed Comstock - *The Informer* (1935), as 'Judge' Flynn — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/the-informer.md) - *Goin' to Town* (1935), as Sheriff - *Judge Priest* (1934), as Juror No. 12 - *Charlie Chan's Courage* (1934), as Hewitt - *The World Moves On* (1934), as Legionaire in Trench - *Murder in Trinidad* (1934), as Davenant - *Pirate Treasure* (1934), as Dick's Friend at the Airfield - *Sleepers East* (1934), as Well-Wisher at Train Station (uncredited) - *Smoky* (1933), as Horse Buyer - *Roman Scandals* (1933), as Roman Citizen (uncredited) - *Doctor Bull* (1933), as Mr. Herring - *Charlie Chan's Greatest Case* (1933), as Captain Hallett - *Gordon of Ghost City* (1933), as Jim Carmody - *The Man from Monterey* (1933), as Don Pablo Gonzales - *Pilgrimage* (1933), as Mayor Elmer Briggs - *Life in the Raw* (1933), as Sheriff Myles - *Clancy of the Mounted* (1933), as Inspector Cabot - *The Lost Special* (1932), as Botter Hood - *Air Mail* (1932), as Passenger Who'll Die on a Train (uncredited) - *Heroes of the West* (1932), as Cavalry Captain - *The Rider of Death Valley* (1932), as Gabe - *Destry Rides Again* (1932), as Judd Ogden - *Scandal for Sale* (1932), as Belmont Hotel Desk Clerk - *Tangled Fortunes* (1932), as Matt Higgins - *The Impatient Maiden* (1932), as Insane Asylum Warden (uncredited) - *Battling with Buffalo Bill* (1931), as Jim Rodney - *Frankenstein* (1931), as Hans (uncredited) - *Possessed* (1931), as Drunken Husband (uncredited) - *A Free Soul* (1931), as Skid Row Drunk (uncredited) - *The Front Page* (1931), as Carl - Detective (uncredited) - *Seas Beneath* (1931), as Eric - Captain of Trawler (uncredited) - *Shadows of Broadway* (1930), Writer - *Abraham Lincoln* (1930), as Sheridan's Aide (uncredited) - *The Indians Are Coming* (1930), as George Woods / Tom Woods - *Sons of the Saddle* (1930), as 'Red' Slade - *Song of the Caballero* (1930), as Don Pedro Madero - *Kathleen Mavourneen* (1930), as James, the butler - *The Jade Box* (1930), as Martin Morgan - *The Mounted Stranger* (1930), as 'Spider' Coy - *Mister Antonio* (1929), as Bit Role (uncredited) - *The Black Watch* (1929), as MacGregor (uncredited) - *The Lariat Kid* (1929), as Cal Gregg - *The Chinatown Mystery* (1928), as The Sphinx · Writer - *Sisters of Eve* (1928), as Pritchard - *The Four-Footed Ranger* (1928), as Brom Hockley - *The Trail of '98* (1928), as Gold Commissioner's Assistant (uncredited) - *The Call of the Heart* (1928), Director - *The Branded Sombrero* (1928), as Link Jarvis - *One Glorious Scrap* (1927), as Ralph Curtis - *Uncle Tom's Cabin* (1927), as Captain (uncredited) - *The Wreck of the Hesperus* (1927), as John Hazzard - *Wolf's Trail* (1927), Director - *The Cruise of the Hellion* (1927), as Peg-leg - *The Heart of Maryland* (1927), as Jefferson Davis - *The Devil's Saddle* (1927), as Pete Hepburn - *Men of Daring* (1927), as Black Roger - *Upstream* (1927), as Juggler - *Speed Cop* (1926), as The Silk Thief - *Dog Scents* (1926), Director - *The Silent Trailer* (1926), as Mrs. Coleman's Physician · Director, Scenario Writer - *Officer '444'* (1926), as Fire Chief · Director - *The Winking Idol* (1926), Director - *The Fighting Heart* (1925), as Town Fool - *Perils of the Wild* (1925), Director - *The Red Rider* (1925), as Brown Bear - *Ridin' Thunder* (1925), as Frank Douglas - *The Power God* (1925), Director - *Taming the West* (1925), as Frosty Miller - *A Roaring Adventure* (1925), as Colonel Burns - *The Sign of the Cactus* (1925), as Panhandle George - *Soft Shoes* (1925), as Quig Mundy - *The Lash of Pinto Pete* (1924), Director - *The Measure of a Man* (1924), as 'Pale' Peter - *Hearts of Oak* (1924), Actor - *Cupid's Rustler* (1924), Director, Writer - *Lash of the Whip* (1924), as 'Hurricane' Smith · Writer, Director - *Mine to Keep* (1923), as Jack Deering - *Haunted Valley* (1923), as Sharkey - *Three Jumps Ahead* (1923), as Ben McLean - *The Boss of Camp 4* (1922), as Dude McCormick - *Gold Grabbers* (1922), Director - *The Village Blacksmith* (1922), as Asa Martin - *Thundering Hoofs* (1922), as Daddy Bill / 'Colonel' Bill · Director - *The Lady from Longacre* (1921), as Count de Freitas - *The Stampede* (1921), as Robert Wagner · Director - *Action* (1921), as Soda Water Manning - *The Great Reward* (1921), as The American Adventurer · Director, Producer - *I Am the Woman* (1921), Director - *Cyclone Bliss* (1921), Director - *Screen Snapshots Series 1, Number 16* (1920), as The Director / Self - *The Mystery Of 13* (1919), as Phil Kelly / Jim Kelly · Director - *The Silent Mystery* (1918), as Phil Kelly · Director - *The Craving* (1918), as Carroll Wayles · Director, Story - *Berlin Via America* (1918), as Phil Kelly · Director - *The Avenging Trail* (1917), Director - *John Ermine of the Yellowstone* (1917), as John Ermine · Director - *Who Was the Other Man?* (1917), as James Walbert / Ludwig Schumann · Director - *The Trail of Hate* (1917), Director - *The Leap* (1917), Director - *The Vault of Mystery* (1917), Director - *The Tornado* (1917), Story - *The Demon of the Sky* (1917), as Phil Kelly/The Sphinx · Director, Writer - *The Purple Domino* (1917), as Hugo Loubeque - *The Ablaze in Mid-Air* (1917), as Phil Kelly/The Sphinx · Director - *The Purple Mask* (1916), as Phil Kelly/The Sphinx · Director, Writer - *Mister Vampire* (1916), as The Vampire Man · Director - *The Bandit's Wager* (1916), as The Bandit / Nan's Brother's Friend · Director, Producer - *The Princely Bandit* (1916), as Prince Frederick · Director - *Brennon o' the Moor* (1916), as Willy Brennon · Director - *The Unexpected* (1916), as The Mexican Foreman · Director - *Behind the Mask* (1916), as Prince Frederick aka Dick Turpin · Director - *The Madcap Queen of Crona* (1916), as Prince Frederick · Director - *The Cry of Erin* (1916), as Shemus O'Brien · Director, Scenario Writer - *Born of the People* (1916), Director - *His Majesty Dick Turpin* (1916), as Prince Frederick aka Dick Turpin · Director - *The Adventures of Peg o' the Ring* (1916), as Dr. Lund, Junior · Director - *The Campbells Are Coming* (1915), Director - *The Broken Coin* (1915), as Count Frederick · Director - *The Heart of Lincoln* (1915), as Abraham Lincoln · Director - *A Study in Scarlet* (1914), as Sherlock Holmes · Director - *The Phantom Violin* (1914), Director - *Lucille Love: The Girl of Mystery* (1914), as Hugo Loubeque · Director, Writer - *Washington at Valley Forge* (1914), as The Spy · Director, Scenario Writer - *In the Fall of '64* (1914), as Capt. Ford - the Southern Officer · Director - *The Black Masks* (1913), as Fred Francis - a Crook · Director - *The Battle of Bull Run* (1913), as Abraham Lincoln · Director - *When Lincoln Paid* (1913), Director - *The Invaders* (1912), as Colonel James Bryson · Director - *The Ball Player and the Bandit* (1912), as A Baseball Fan · Director - *On Secret Service* (1912), as Abraham Lincoln - *Custer's Last Fight* (1912), as General George A. Custer · Director - *The Outcast* (1912), as Evans, a Trapper - *The Lieutenant's Last Fight* (1912), as Colonel Garvin - *The Post Telegrapher* (1912), as Bob Evans - the Post Telegrapher · Director - *Blazing the Trail* (1912), as Blake - *The Deserter* (1912), as The Deserter - *The Heart of an Indian* (1912), as The Indian chief - *War on the Plains* (1912), as Drake, a Treacherous Prospector - *A Western Girl* (1911), as Hartley - *Bessie's Ride* (1911), as John Burton - *In the Right of Way* (1911), as John Walsh - *The Kiss of Mary Jane* (1911), as Black Bill - *When the Tables Turned* (1911), as Cowboy - *Her Spoiled Boy* (1911), Actor - *In Time for Press* (1911), as Jim Ford - *The Immortal Alamo* (1911), as Navarre - *The Redemption of Rawhide* (1911), as Reverend Simpson - *The Spring Round-Up* (1911), as Jim Dempsey - *Mary's Stratagem* (1911), as Bill - *The Reformation of Jack Robins* (1911), as Jack Robbins - *An Unwilling Cowboy* (1911), as Jim Edwards - *Jack Mason's Last Deal* (1911), as Jim Saunders - *Her Faithful Heart* (1911), as Bill Rank - *The Warrant for Red Rube* (1911), as Red Rube - *Sir Percy and the Punchers* (1911), as Sir Percy Granville - *The Snake in the Grass* (1911), as Texas Ed - *In the Hot Lands* (1911), as The County Doctor - *Billy and His Pal* (1911), as Jim - the Cowpuncher - *Only a Sister* (1911), as John - *The Owner of L.L. Ranch* (1911), as Jeff - *The Crimson Scars* (1911), Actor - *In the Tall Grass Country* (1910), as Bob - *A Western Welcome* (1910), as John - *Pals* (1910), as Denton - *Cowboys and Bachelor Girls* (1910), as The Cowboy Hero - *His Sergeant's Stripes* (1910), as The Corporal - *A Mountain Wife* (1910), as Her Husband, a Moonshiner - *Uncle Jim* (1910), Actor - *Out for Mischief* (1910), as The Father - *Billy's Sister* (1910), as Billy - *A Plucky American Girl* (1910), Actor - *Salt on the Bird's Tail* (1910), Actor - *In the Mission Shadows* (1910), Actor - *Baseball, That's All* (1910), as The Husband - *Won in the Fifth* (1910), as Young Minister - *The Romance of Circle Ranch* (1910), as Honest Jim - *Return of Ta-Wa-Wa* (1910), as Ta-Wa-Wa - *A Postal Substitute* (1910), as Jack Flynn - *The Golden Secret* (1910), as Will Brown - *The Little Preacher* (1910), as Joe Lane - *The Ruling Passion* (1910), as Tony Valero - *White Doe's Lovers* (1910), as The Cowboy - *A Texas Joke* (1910), Actor - *Love's C.Q.D.* (1910), as Lt. Robert Bright - *The Padre's Secret* (1910), as Baptiste - *The Paleface Princess* (1910), as Captain Keen - *A Rough Night on the Bridge* (1910), Actor - *Speed Versus Death* (1910), as Mr. Braggs - *The Seal of the Church* (1910), Actor - *The First-born* (1910), as Mr. Newlywed - *Branding a Thief* (1910), Actor - *Cyclone Pete's Matrimony* (1910), as Cyclone Pete - *The Fortune Favors the Brave* (1908), Actor ## Gallery - ![Francis Ford](https://film.one/media/person/322588/gallery-124d2805d6d1.jpg) Francis Ford — Photoplay Magazine; no photographer credited but Ford was then under contract to Universal Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Francis_Ford_1915.jpg/1280px-Francis_Ford_1915.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Still from the American film serial The Mystery of 13 (1919) with Francis Ford, page 712 of the July 19, 1919 Motion Picture News.](https://film.one/media/person/322588/gallery-e839b76805ff.jpg) Still from the American film serial The Mystery of 13 (1919) with Francis Ford, page 712 of the July 19, 1919 Motion Picture News. — Burston Films Inc., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/The_Mystery_of_13_%281919%29_-_Ford.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Promotional photo for the Francis Ford 1922 production of The Heart of Lincoln Caption reads as follows:Francis Ford, as the "Great Emancipator," in his Big Ame (1920)](https://film.one/media/person/322588/gallery-6380da7fd778.jpg) Promotional photo for the Francis Ford 1922 production of The Heart of Lincoln Caption reads as follows:Francis Ford, as the "Great Emancipator," in his Big Ame (1920) — Francis Ford Film Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/The_Heart_of_Lincoln_1920_Francis_Ford.jpg/1280px-The_Heart_of_Lincoln_1920_Francis_Ford.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Francis Ford (left) & Si Jenks in The Village Blacksmith - cropped screenshot (1922)](https://film.one/media/person/322588/gallery-373e1c9a328d.jpg) Francis Ford (left) & Si Jenks in The Village Blacksmith - cropped screenshot (1922) — film screenshot (Fox Film), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Francis_Ford-Si_Jenks_in_The_Village_Blacksmith.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Francis Ford](https://film.one/media/person/322588/gallery-194be990ed9b.jpg) Francis Ford — Image via TMDB --- © 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/francis-ford