Francis Ford (actor)

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Francis Ford
Born	August 14, 1881 Portland, Maine
Died	September 5, 1953 Los Angeles, California
Other name(s)	J. Francis O'Fearna
Occupation	Actor Film director
Years active	1909 - 1953

Francis Ford (August 14, 1881 - September 5, 1953) a prolific film actor, writer, and director. He was the older brother of film director John Ford. He also appeared in many of John Ford's movies, including Young Mr. Lincoln and The Quiet Man .

He starred in the 1912 two-reeler The Deserter by Thomas H. Ince and acted in over 400 films. He made his directorial debut alongside fellow Hollywood director Thomas H. Ince the same year with the Western dramatic short The Post Telegrapher, starring Ann Little and popular child actress Mildred Harris. Among his most memorable roles is that of the demented old man in The Ox-Bow Incident (1943).

Francis Ford was born Francis Feeney in Portland, Maine. He was the son of John A. Feeney, who was born in the village of Spiddal, County Galway, Ireland, on June 15, 1854. By 1878 John had moved to Portland, Maine and opened a grocery store, at 42 Center Street, that posed as a front for a saloon. John opened four others in following years. His saloons became gathering places where John would greet new immigrants, help them settle, find jobs, and register them as citizens and voters.

Francis's younger brother, John M. Feeney, was a successful fullback and defensive tackle on a Portland High state championship football team. He earned the nickname "Bull" because he would lower his leather helmet like a bull and charge through the line. Later Bull followed his older brother Francis to Hollywood, changed his name to John Ford and directed the classic Irish film, The Quiet Man among others (The Grapes of Wrath, Stagecoach, etc.).

Francis's son, Philip Ford, would also become a film director and actor.

[edit] Selected filmography

• Charlie Chan at the Circus (1936)
• The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936)
• Steamboat Round the Bend (1935)
• The Informer (1935)
• Judge Priest (1934)
• Pilgrimage (1933)
• The Man from Monterey (1933)
• The Lost Special (1932)
• The Jade Box (1930)
• The Black Watch (1929)
• Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
• The Trail of '98 (1928)
• Upstream (1927)
• Officer 444 (1926)
• The Winking Idol (1926)
• The Fighting Heart (1925)
• Perils of the Wild (1925)
• Soft Shoes (1925)
• Hearts of Oak (1924)
• The Fighting Skipper (1923)
• Three Jumps Ahead (1923)
• The Village Blacksmith (1922)
• Action (1921)
• The Great Reward (1921)
• Thunderbolt Jack (1920)
• The Mystery of 13 (1919)
• The Silent Mystery (1918)
• The Craving (1918)
• The Mystery Ship (1917)
• The Tornado (1917)
• The Adventures of Peg o' the Ring (1916)
• The Broken Coin (1915)
• A Study in Scarlet (1914)
• Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery (1914)
• The Deserter (1912)
• The Immortal Alamo (1911)

[edit] External links

• Francis Ford at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
NAME	Ford, Francis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Actor, Film director
DATE OF BIRTH	August 14, 1881
PLACE OF BIRTH	Portland, Maine
DATE OF DEATH	September 5, 1953
PLACE OF DEATH	Los Angeles, California