--- name: "Morris Ankrum" canonical: "https://film.one/person/morris-ankrum" fi1m_id: "morris-ankrum" imdb_id: "nm0030194" tmdb_id: 81182 wikidata_id: "Q2421148" roles: ["Actor"] born: "28 August 1896" died: "2 September 1964" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_as: "actor" average_over: 1 updated: "2026-09-25T06:40:38.328101+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." --- # Morris Ankrum ## Identity Morris Ankrum - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/morris-ankrum - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** morris-ankrum - **IMDb ID:** nm0030194 - **TMDB ID:** 81182 - **Wikidata ID:** Q2421148 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Ankrum, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2421148, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030194/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/81182 Actor. Born 28 August 1896 in Danville, Illinois, USA. Died 2 September 1964. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 28 August 1896, Danville, Illinois, USA - **Died:** 2 September 1964 - **Active:** 1950–1954 - **Also known as:** Morris Nussbaum, Morris Winslow Ankrum, Morrie Ankrum, Morri Ankrum, Stephen Morris - **Titles on Fi1m:** 2: 1 acting, 1 other - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 82 (1), 1950s 77 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Ankrum, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2421148, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030194/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/81182 ## Streaming the US now - **Tubi:** [*The Postman Always Rings Twice*](https://film.one/film/the-postman-always-rings-twice.md) (82) - **Apple TV:** [*Silver Lode*](https://film.one/film/silver-lode.md) (77) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Morris Ankrum > Morris Ankrum makes an officer or a judge sound as though somebody sensible has taken charge. We value his firm, unfussy authority, though the repeated casting gives him too few chances to surprise us. Morris Ankrum sounds as though he expects to be obeyed. The resonant voice and gruff manner establish authority quickly, without much need for the script to explain his standing. As Colonel Fielding in *Invaders from Mars* (1953), he gives the military presence a reassuring firmness. We felt steadier with him there because he makes the officer seem capable of dealing with what confronts him. We would not dismiss that contribution merely because it looks straightforward. The westerns had already made use of the less reassuring side of that manner. In the *Hopalong Cassidy* series, between 1936 and 1941, he often played villains; the sternness that later suggested competence could also serve an antagonist. He worked repeatedly with directors Lesley Selander and Nate Watt, making seven films with Selander and six with Watt. This was largely supporting work, and his ability to establish authority quickly was well suited to parts that could not take long over introductions. During the 1950s, science fiction made him a familiar military and scientific authority. He plays Brigadier General John Hanley in *Earth vs. the Flying Saucers* (1956), another part built around an officer facing an extraterrestrial threat. The westerns continued too, with General Ramírez in *Vera Cruz* (1954). We value how clearly he establishes these men, but the casting is narrow even when the genres differ. Ankrum's firmness can settle the question of who is in charge before we have learnt much else about the person. Television continued to find use for that authority: he played judges in 22 episodes of *Perry Mason* between 1957 and 1964. There is a limit to how much novelty we should claim for such consistent casting. There is also pleasure in an actor doing a familiar job without making us notice the effort. Start with *Invaders from Mars* for a supporting performance that makes taking the situation seriously seem entirely reasonable. ## Biography Morris Ankrum was an American character actor who appeared in more than 150 films and numerous television episodes, primarily in supporting roles as authority figures such as judges, military officers and scientists. Born Morris Nussbaum in Danville, Illinois, he trained as a lawyer at the University of Southern California and later taught economics and drama before entering the theatre. He performed on Broadway from 1923 to 1939 and began his film career in the 1930s, initially under the name Stephen Morris before adopting Morris Ankrum in 1939. He is known for roles in *The Postman Always Rings Twice* (1946), *In a Lonely Place* (1950), *Vera Cruz* (1954), *Invaders from Mars* (1953) and *Earth vs. the Flying Saucers* (1956), as well as recurring appearances as judges in series including *Perry Mason* and *Bonanza*. Ankrum died in Pasadena, California, in 1964. *Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, themoviedb.org.* ## On Fi1m (2) ### Performed in (1) — the average rests on these - *Silver Lode* (1954), Fi1m 77, as Zachary Evans — [page](https://film.one/film/silver-lode.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *The Postman Always Rings Twice* (1946), Fi1m 82, as Judge (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-postman-always-rings-twice.md) ## Complete filmography (179) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Guns of Diablo* (1964), as Ray Macklin - *X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes* (1963), as Mr. Bowhead (uncredited) - *Tower of London* (1962), as The Archbishop - *Most Dangerous Man Alive* (1961), as Capt. Davis - *The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come* (1961), as Gen. Lew Wallace - *The Barbara Stanwyck Show* (1960), series, as Walter Harwood - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Mr. Mason - *From the Earth to the Moon* (1958), as President Ulysses S. Grant - *Tarawa Beachhead* (1958), as Chief of Staff, Pearl Harbor (uncredited) - *Frontier Gun* (1958), as Andrew Barton - *The Rifleman* (1958), series, Actor - *Bronco* (1958), series, as Gilbert Groves - *The Saga of Hemp Brown* (1958), as Bo Slauter - *Curse of the Faceless Man* (1958), as Narrator (unconfirmed) - *Twilight for the Gods* (1958), as Sea Captain - *Badman's Country* (1958), as Mayor Coleman - *How to Make a Monster* (1958), as Police Capt. Hancock - *Young and Wild* (1958), as Police Capt. Egan - *Sea Hunt* (1958), series, Actor - *Giant from the Unknown* (1958), as Dr. Frederick Cleveland - *The Power of the Resurrection* (1958), as Annas - *Maverick* (1957), series, as Joshua Haines - *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Judge, Judge Hoyt - *M Squad* (1957), series, as Police Inspector Dean - *Omar Khayyam* (1957), as Sharain's Father - *Beginning of the End* (1957), as Gen. John Hanson - *The Giant Claw* (1957), as Lt. Gen. Edward Considine - *Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman* (1957), as Dr. Carl Jordan - *Kronos* (1957), as Dr. Albert Stern - *Hell's Crossroads* (1957), as Wheeler - *Zombies of Mora Tau* (1957), as Dr. Jonathan Eggert - *Drango* (1957), as Henry Calder - *Down Liberty Road* (1957), as Fred Schroder - *Naked Gun* (1956), as Sheriff Jim Jackson (as Morrie Ankrum) - *The Desperados Are in Town* (1956), as Mr. Rutherford - *On Trial* (1956), series, as Judge - *Dr. Fu Manchu* (1956), series, as Professor Rutledge - *Walk the Proud Land* (1956), as Gen. Wade - *Earth vs. the Flying Saucers* (1956), as Brig. Gen. John Hanley - *Quincannon, Frontier Scout* (1956), as Col. Harry Conover - *When Gangland Strikes* (1956), as Leo Fantzler - *Fury at Gunsight Pass* (1956), as Doc Phillips - *No Man's Woman* (1955), as Capt. Hostedder - *The 20th Century Fox Hour* (1955), series, as Henry - *Tennessee's Partner* (1955), as Judge Parker - *Cheyenne* (1955), series, as John Clements - *Duel on the Mississippi* (1955), as Magistrate (uncredited) - *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Merle - *The Last Command* (1955), Actor - *The Eternal Sea* (1955), as Vice-Adm. Arthur Dewey Struble - *The Silver Star* (1955), as Charlie Childress - *Chief Crazy Horse* (1955), as Red Cloud - *Crashout* (1955), as Head Guard - *The Little Lamb: A Christmas Story* (1955), as Azar the Shepherd - *Vera Cruz* (1954), as Gen. Ramírez - *The Steel Cage* (1954), as Prison Board Member Garvey, segment "The Hostages" - *Three Young Texans* (1954), as Jeff Blair - *Cattle Queen of Montana* (1954), as J.I. 'Pop' Jones - *Two Guns and a Badge* (1954), as Sheriff Jackson - *Apache* (1954), as Dawson - *The Outlaw Stallion* (1954), as Sheriff - *Silver Lode* (1954), as Zachary Evans — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/silver-lode.md) - *Drums Across the River* (1954), as Chief Ouray - *Southwest Passage* (1954), as Dr. Stanton - *Taza, Son of Cochise* (1954), as Grey Eagle - *Flight Nurse* (1953), as Interrogation Officer - *The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse* (1953), series, Actor - *The Moonlighter* (1953), as Alexander Prince - *Mexican Manhunt* (1953), as Tip Morgan - *Sky Commando* (1953), as Gen. W.R. Combs - *Devil's Canyon* (1953), as Ed - *Arena* (1953), as Bucky Hillberry - *Invaders from Mars* (1953), as Col. Fielding - *I Beheld His Glory* (1953), as Peter - *Fort Vengeance* (1953), as Chief Crowfoot - *The Man Behind The Gun* (1953), as Bram Creegan - *Hiawatha* (1952), as Iagoo - *A Star Shall Rise* (1952), as King Herod - *Because of You* (1952), as Dr. Travis - *The Raiders* (1952), as Thomas Ainsworth - *Four Star Playhouse* (1952), series, as Warden, Mr. Raymond, Mr. Mason - *Cowboy G-Men* (1952), series, Actor - *Son of Ali Baba* (1952), as Ali Baba - *Red Planet Mars* (1952), as Secretary of Defense Sparks - *Mutiny* (1952), as Capt. Radford - *Fort Osage* (1952), as Arthur Pickett - *My Favorite Spy* (1951), as Gen. Frazer - *Flight to Mars* (1951), as Ikron - *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Actor - *Tomorrow Is Another Day* (1951), as Hugh Wagner - *Along the Great Divide* (1951), as Ed Roden - *Fighting Coast Guard* (1951), as Navy Captain - *The Lion Hunters* (1951), as Tom Forbes - *The Redhead and the Cowboy* (1951), as Sheriff - *Short Grass* (1950), as Hal Fenton - *Southside 1-1000* (1950), as Eugene Deane - *Rocketship X-M* (1950), as Dr. Ralph Fleming - *In a Lonely Place* (1950), as Lloyd Barnes - *The Damned Don't Cry* (1950), as Jim Whitehead - *Borderline* (1950), as Bill Whittaker - *Chain Lightning* (1950), as Ed Bostwick - *The Fountainhead* (1949), as Prosecutor (uncredited) - *Colorado Territory* (1949), as United States Marshal - *We Were Strangers* (1949), as M. Seymour - *Bad Men of Tombstone* (1949), as Mr. Jones - *Joan of Arc* (1948), as Poton de Xaintrailles, Captain - *Studio One* (1948), series, as Considine - *For the Love of Mary* (1948), as Adm. Walton - *The Fabulous Fraud* (1948), as Blind Girl's Father - *Fighting Back* (1948), as Robert J. Higby - *Souvenirs of Death* (1948), as Gangster (uncredited) - *High Wall* (1947), as Dr. Stanley Griffin - *Good News* (1947), as Dean Griswold - *Desire Me* (1947), as Hector Martin - *Merton of the Movies* (1947), as Goodfellow's Club Manager (uncredited) - *Cynthia* (1947), as Mr. Phillips, Principal - *Song of the Thin Man* (1947), as Inspector (uncredited) - *The Sea of Grass* (1947), as A.J. Crane - *Little Mister Jim* (1947), as Col. W.I. Starwell - *The Mighty McGurk* (1947), as Fowles - *Lady in the Lake* (1946), as Eugene Grayson - *Courage of Lassie* (1946), as Farmer Crews - *The Cockeyed Miracle* (1946), as Dr. Wilson - *The Green Years* (1946), as Dr. Galbraith - *The Postman Always Rings Twice* (1946), as Judge (uncredited) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-postman-always-rings-twice.md) - *The Harvey Girls* (1946), as Reverend Claggett - *Adventure* (1945), as Mr. Ludlow - Farmer (uncredited) - *Purity Squad* (1945), as Dr. Adams (uncredited) - *The Hidden Eye* (1945), as Ferris (henchman) - *Phantoms, Inc.* (1945), as Narrator (voice) - *Fall Guy* (1945), as District Attorney (uncredited) - *The Thin Man Goes Home* (1944), as Willoughby Peavy - *Dark Shadows* (1944), as Lt. Pat McKay - *Gentle Annie* (1944), as Deputy Gansby - *Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo* (1944), as Adm. William F. Halsey - Captain of the 'Hornet' (uncredited) - *Return from Nowhere* (1944), as Doctor (uncredited) - *Barbary Coast Gent* (1944), as Alec Veeder - *Marriage Is a Private Affair* (1944), as Ed Scofield - *Meet the People* (1944), as Monte Rowland - *Main Street Today* (1944), as Mayor Charlie Maxwell (uncredited) - *Rationing* (1944), as Morgan - *The Heavenly Body* (1944), as Dr. Green - *The Cross of Lorraine* (1943), as Col. Demas (uncredited) - *Swing Fever* (1943), as Dan Conlon - *Best Foot Forward* (1943), as Col. Harkrider - *Let's Face It* (1943), as Man in Sun Shell Cafe - *Dixie Dugan* (1943), as Editor - *Reunion in France* (1942), as Martin - *Time to Kill* (1942), as Alexander Morny - *Tennessee Johnson* (1942), as Jefferson Davis - *The Omaha Trail* (1942), as Henchman Job - *The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe* (1942), as Mr. Graham - *Tales of Manhattan* (1942), as Judge - *Ten Gentlemen from West Point* (1942), as Wood - *Roxie Hart* (1942), as Martin S. Harrison - *Road Agent* (1941), as Big John Morgan - *Ride 'Em Cowboy* (1941), as Ace Anderson - *I Wake Up Screaming* (1941), as Assistant District Attorney - *The Bandit Trail* (1941), as Red Haggerty - *This Woman Is Mine* (1941), as Roussel - *Wide Open Town* (1941), as Jim Stuart - *Pirates on Horseback* (1941), as Ace Gibson - *Border Vigilantes* (1941), as Dan Forbes - *The Roundup* (1941), as 'Parenthesis' - *In Old Colorado* (1941), as Weiler, Davidson's Foreman - *Doomed Caravan* (1941), as Stephen Westcott - *Three Men from Texas* (1940), as Bruce Morgan - *Cherokee Strip* (1940), as Hawk Barrett - *Buck Benny Rides Again* (1940), as Second Outlaw - *The Light of Western Stars* (1940), as Nat Hayworth - *The Showdown* (1940), as Baron Rendor - *Knights of the Range* (1940), as Gamecock - *Rustlers' Valley* (1937), as Glen Randall - *North of the Rio Grande* (1937), as Henry Stoneham - *Hills of Old Wyoming* (1937), as Andrews - *Borderland* (1937), as Loco - *Trail Dust* (1936), as Tex Anderson - *Hopalong Cassidy Returns* (1936), as Blackie Felton - *Stand Up and Cheer!* (1934), as Washington Press Correspondent ## Gallery - ![Morris Ankrum](https://film.one/media/person/156002/gallery-7498f94f8246.jpg) Morris Ankrum — Lippert Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Morris_Ankrum_02_Rocketship_X-M.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Morris Ankrum](https://film.one/media/person/156002/gallery-50fc621af150.jpg) Morris Ankrum — 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/morris-ankrum