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Born: July 27, 1882 – Died: May 25, 1974
Donald Crisp, an indelible mark in the annals of Hollywood, was born George William Crisp in Bow, London, England. The youngest of ten children, he was born to James Crisp and Elizabeth (nee Christy), a working-class couple. His early life, though not affluent, was enriched with education at Oxford University, a rare feat for someone of his background.
Early Life and Career
Donald's journey from the battlegrounds of the Boer War as a member of the 10th Hussars of the British Army to the stages and screens of Hollywood is a tale of tenacity and talent. His career in entertainment began in New York in 1906 as a singer in Grand Opera under John C. Fisher, eventually becoming a stage manager by 1910.
His entrance into the film industry was marked by his collaboration with D.W. Griffith at Biograph Company in New Jersey. Donald Crisp's first major success in the silent film era was his role as Battling Burrows in "Broken Blossoms" (1919). However, it was his portrayal of Mr. Morgan in How Green Was My Valley (1941) that won him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, catapulting him to stardom.
Throughout his career, Crisp was known for his diverse roles, ranging from stern military officers to benevolent patriarchs. He won an Oscar and had an impressive list of A-grade films under contracts with major studios like Warner Brothers and MGM.
Off-screen, Donald was married to Jane Murfin from 1932 until their divorce in 1944. Donald Crisp's legacy in Hollywood is cemented not just by his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but by his contribution to the evolution of acting during the transition from silent to sound cinema. He is remembered as an icon in the industry for his ability to bring depth and authenticity to every role he portrayed.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Spencer's Mountain | Grandpa Zubulon Spencer |
| 1961 | Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog | James Brown |
| 1960 | Pollyanna | Mayor Karl Warren |
| 1960 | A Dog of Flanders | Jehan Daas |
| 1959 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) | Samuel Harman |
| 1958 | The Last Hurrah | Cardinal Martin Burke |
| 1958 | Saddle the Wind | Dennis Deneen |
| 1957 | Drango | Judge Allen |
| 1956 | Fire on the Heather (Short) | Narration |
| 1956 | Crossroads (TV Series) | Father Anatole Martin |
| 1955 | The Man from Laramie | Alec Waggoman |
| 1955 | The Long Gray Line | Old Martin |
| 1954 | Prince Valiant | King Aguar |
| 1951 | Home Town Story | John MacFarland |
| 1950 | Bright Leaf | Major James Singleton |
| 1949 | Challenge to Lassie | 'Jock' Gray |
| 1948 | Whispering Smith | Barney Rebstock |
| 1948 | Hills of Home | Drumsheugh |
| 1947 | Ramrod | Jim Crew |
| 1945 | The Valley of Decision | William Scott |
| 1945 | Son of Lassie | Sam Carraclough |
| 1944 | National Velvet | Mr. Brown |
| 1944 | The Adventures of Mark Twain | J.B. Pond |
| 1944 | The Uninvited | Cmdr. Beech |
| 1943 | Lassie Come Home | Sam Carraclough |
| 1943 | Forever and a Day | Capt. Martin |
| 1942 | The Gay Sisters | Ralph Pedloch |
| 1941 | *How Green Was My Valley* | Mr. Morgan |
| 1941 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Sir Charles Emery |
| 1941 | Shining Victory | Dr. Drewett |
| 1940 | Knute Rockne All American | Father John Callahan C.S.C. |
| 1940 | City for Conquest | Scotty MacPherson |
| 1940 | The Sea Hawk | Sir John Burleson |
| 1940 | Brother Orchid | Brother Superior |
| 1940 | Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet | Minister Althoff |
| 1939 | The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex | Francis Bacon |
| 1939 | The Old Maid | Dr. Lanskell |
| 1939 | Daughters Courageous | Sam Sloane |
| 1939 | Sons of Liberty (Short) | Alexander McDougall |
| 1939 | Juarez | General Marechal Achille Bazaine |
| 1939 | Wuthering Heights | Dr. Kenneth |
| 1939 | The Oklahoma Kid | Judge Hardwick |
| 1938 | The Dawn Patrol | Phipps |
| 1938 | Comet Over Broadway | Joe Grant |
| 1938 | The Sisters | Tim Hazelton |
| 1938 | Valley of the Giants | Andy Stone |
| 1938 | The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse | Inspector Lane |
| 1938 | The Beloved Brat | John Morgan |
| 1938 | Jezebel | Dr. Livingstone |
| 1938 | Sergeant Murphy | Col. Carruthers |
| 1937 | That Certain Woman | Merrick, Sr. |
| 1937 | Confession | Presiding Judge |
| 1937 | *The Life of Emile Zola* | Maitre Labori |
| 1937 | Parnell | Davitt |
| 1937 | The Great O'Malley | Captain Cromwell |
| 1936 | Beloved Enemy | Burke |
| 1936 | A Woman Rebels | Judge Byron Thistlewaite |
| 1936 | The Charge of the Light Brigade | Col. Campbell |
| 1936 | Mary of Scotland | Huntly |
| 1936 | The White Angel | Dr. Hunt |
| 1935 | *Mutiny on the Bounty* | Burkitt |
| 1935 | Oil for the Lamps of China | Mr. McCarger |
| 1935 | Laddie | Mr. Pryor |
| 1935 | Vanessa, Her Love Story | George - the Inn Owner |
| 1934 | The Little Minister | Doctor McQueen |
| 1934 | What Every Woman Knows | Mr. David Wylie |
| 1934 | British Agent | Marshall O'Reilly (scenes deleted) |
| 1934 | The Life of Vergie Winters | Mike Davey |
| 1934 | The Key | Peadar Conlan |
| 1934 | The Crime Doctor | District Attorney |
| 1933 | Hamlet, Act I: Scenes IV and V (Short) | Marcellus |
| 1933 | Broadway Bad | Darrall |
| 1932 | Red Dust | Guidon |
| 1932 | A Passport to Hell | Sgt. Snyder |
| 1931 | Kick In | Police Commisioner Harvey |
| 1931 | Svengali | The Laird |
| 1930 | Scotland Yard | Charles Fox |
| 1929 | The Return of Sherlock Holmes | Colonel Moran |
| 1929 | The Pagan | Mr. Roger Slater |
| 1929 | Trent's Last Case | Sigsbee Manderson |
| 1928 | The Viking | Leif Ericsson |
| 1928 | The River Pirate | Caxton |
| 1928 | Stand and Deliver | London Club Member (uncredited) |
| 1926 | The Black Pirate | MacTavish (as Mr. Donald Crisp) |
| 1925 | Don Q Son of Zorro | Don Sebastian |
| 1921 | The Bonnie Brier Bush | Lachlan Campbell |
| 1919 | Broken Blossoms | Battling Burrows |
| 1916 | Joan the Woman | Unknown |
| 1916 | *Intolerance* | Extra (uncredited) |
| 1916 | Ramona | Jim Farrar (as James Needham) |
| 1915 | A Girl of Yesterday | A.H. Monroe |
| 1915 | The Foundling | (scenes deleted) |
| 1915 | May Blossom | Steve Harland |
| 1915 | The Commanding Officer | Col. Archer (the Commandant) |
| 1915 | The Love Route | Harry Marshall |
| 1915 | The Birth of a Nation | Gen. Ulysses S. Grant |
| 1915 | An Old-Fashioned Girl (Short) | Unknown |
| 1914 | Over the Ledge (Short) | Unknown |
| 1914 | A Question of Courage (Short) | Unknown |
| 1914 | The Sisters (Short) | Unknown |
| 1914 | Another Chance (Short) | The Tramp |
| 1914 | The Warning (Short) | Mr. Edwards |
| 1914 | His Mother's Trust (Short) | Dr. Keene |
| 1914 | The Great God Fear (Short) | Dick Stull |
| 1914 | Down the Hill to Creditville (Short) | Unknown |
| 1914 | A Lesson in Mechanics (Short) | Unknown |
| 1914 | Her Mother's Necklace (Short) | The Burglar |
| 1914 | The Tavern of Tragedy (Short) | Bob Jameson - the Spy |
| 1914 | The Idiot (Short) | Undetermined Role (unconfirmed) |
| 1914 | The Weaker Strain (Short) | Unknown |
| 1914 | Their First Acquaintance (Short) | (unconfirmed) |
| 1914 | The Birthday Present (Short) | The Burglar |
| 1914 | The Newer Woman (Short) | Unknown |
| 1914 | The Escape | 'Bull' McGee |
| 1914 | The Soul of Honor (Short) | Unknown |
| 1914 | The Mountain Rat (Short) | Steve |
| 1914 | Home, Sweet Home | The Mother's Son |
| 1914 | The Miniature Portrait (Short) | Unknown |
| 1914 | The Different Man (Short) | The Ranch Foreman |
| 1914 | Ashes of the Past (Short) | Unknown |
| 1914 | The Great Leap: Until Death Do Us Part | Second Father |
| 1914 | The Stiletto (Short) | Angelino |
| 1914 | The Battle of the Sexes | Frank Andrews |
| 1914 | The Mysterious Shot (Short) | Buck |
| 1913 | In the Elemental World (Short) | The Husband |
| 1913 | The Blue or the Gray (Short) | Southern Rival |
| 1913 | By Man's Law (Short) | Lee Calvert - Brother Owner |
| 1913 | The Bracelet (Short) | Blake |
| 1913 | His Secret (Short) | Husband |
| 1913 | Black and White (Short) | Unknown |
| 1913 | Olaf-an Atom (Short) | The Beggar |
| 1913 | The Sheriff's Baby (Short) | Unknown |
| 1913 | Pirate Gold (Short) | Unknown |
| 1912 | The Musketeers of Pig Alley (Short) | Rival Gang Member (uncredited) |
| 1912 | The Eternal Mother (Short) | In Field |
| 1911 | The Failure (Short) | Bank Employee |
| 1911 | The Miser's Heart (Short) | Policeman |
| 1911 | The Battle (Short) | A Union Soldier (uncredited) |
| 1911 | The Long Road (Short) | A Servant | The Landlord |
| 1911 | The Adventures of Billy (Short) | First Tramp |
| 1911 | The Making of a Man (Short) | Actor | Backstage |
| 1911 | Her Awakening (Short) | Accident Witness |
| 1911 | The Squaw's Love (Short) | Indian (uncredited) |
| 1911 | Swords and Hearts (Short) | At Frazier House | Bushwacker (uncredited) |
| 1911 | The Diving Girl (Short) | A Bather |
| 1911 | Out from the Shadow (Short) | At Dance |
| 1911 | The Primal Call (Short) | Unknown |
| 1911 | The White Rose of the Wilds (Short) | Unknown |
| 1911 | In the Days of '49 (Short) | Unknown |
| 1911 | Conscience (Short) | Policeman |
| 1911 | A Decree of Destiny (Short) | At the Club | At the Wedding |
| 1911 | The Lily of the Tenements (Short) | Unknown |
| 1911 | What Shall We Do with Our Old? (Short) | Night Court Bailiff |
| 1911 | Heart Beats of Long Ago (Short) | Courtier |
| 1911 | A Wreath of Orange Blossoms (Short) | A Servant | Man ;in Office |
| 1911 | The Poor Sick Men (Short) | Policeman |
| 1911 | Fate's Turning (Short) | The Valet |
| 1911 | Help Wanted (Short) | In Corridor |
| 1911 | The Italian Barber (Short) | At Ball |
| 1911 | The Two Paths (Short) | Footman |
| 1910 | Winning Back His Love (Short) | At Stage Door |
| 1910 | The Golden Supper (Short) | Courtier | Monk (uncredited) |
| 1910 | A Child's Stratagem (Short) | Policeman |
| 1910 | A Plain Song (Short) | At Station |
| 1910 | Sunshine Sue (Short) | Head of the Sweatshop |
| 1909 | Through the Breakers (Short) | At the Club |
| 1908 | The French Maid (Short) | Unknown |