Donald Crisp
Biography
Donald Crisp was an English actor, producer, director, and screenwriter whose career ran from the silent era into the 1960s. Born in Bow, London, he came to the United States in 1906, where his singing in a ship's concert led to work in opera and then stage direction. He befriended D.W. Griffith and went with him to Hollywood in 1912. Crisp appeared in nearly 100 silent films, including Broken Blossoms (1919), and directed some 70 films, among them The Navigator and Don Q, Son of Zorro. After sound arrived, he devoted himself to acting and became a sought-after character actor. His roles ranged from father figures in National Velvet (1944) and Lassie Come Home (1943) to Commander Beach in The Uninvited (1944). He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for How Green Was My Valley (1941). His final screen role was in Spencer's Mountain (1963). He received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1960.
91years old at death
- Born Bow
- Died Van Nuys
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
- George William Crisp (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 44
- Career span
- 49 years1914 to 1963
Genres
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Big break
Crisp's singing during a ship's concert in July 1906 caught the ear of opera impresario John C. Fisher, who hired him on the spot for his company.
A change of course
Crisp served in British army intelligence during World War I, then in the U.S. Army Reserve during World War II, reaching the rank of colonel.
Donald Crisp movies on Netflix
Spencer's Mountainas Grandpa Spencer
Greyfriars Bobbyas James Brown
Pollyannaas Mayor Karl Warren
Saddle the Windas Dennis Deneen
The Last Hurrahas The Cardinal
The Long Gray Lineas Old Martin
The Man From Laramieas Alec Waggoman
Prince Valiantas King Aguar
Home Town Storyas John MacFarland
Bright Leafas Major Singleton
Whispering Smithas Barney Rebstock
Ramrodas Jim Crew
Son of Lassieas Sam Carraclough
The Valley of Decisionas William Scott
National Velvetas Mr. Brown
The Uninvitedas Commander Beech
Lassie Come Homeas Sam Carraclough
The Battle of Midwayas Main Narrator
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hydeas Sir Charles Emery
How Green Was My Valleyas Mr. Morgan
Brother Orchidas Brother Superior
City for Conquestas Scotty MacPherson
Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bulletas Minister Althoff
Knute Rockne All Americanas Father John Callahan, C.S.C
The Sea Hawkas Sir John Burleson
Juarezas Maréchal Bazaine
The Oklahoma Kidas Judge Hardwick
The Old Maidas Doctor Lanskell
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essexas Francis Bacon
Wuthering Heightsas Dr. Kenneth
Jezebelas Dr. Livingstone
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouseas Police Inspector Lewis Lane
The Dawn Patrolas Phipps
The Life of Emile Zolaas Maitre Labori
Mary of Scotlandas Huntly
The Charge of the Light Brigadeas Col. Campbell
Mutiny on the Bountyas Burkitt
The Little Ministeras Docteur McQueen
Red Dustas Guidon
Svengalias The Laird
The Black Pirateas MacTavish
Don Q Son of Zorroas Don Sebastian
Broken Blossomsas Battling Burrows
The Avenging Conscience
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
John Ford directed five of these films, Michael Curtiz four and William Dieterle three. Henry O'Neill appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.








Films together
Henry O'Neill6 films together, 1937 to 1940
Henry O'Neill's page Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet1940IMDb rating 7.4Crisp as Minister AlthoffO'Neill as Dr. Lentz
Knute Rockne All American1940IMDb rating 6.7Crisp as Father John Callahan, C.S.CO'Neill as Doctor
Juarez1939IMDb rating 6.8Crisp as Maréchal BazaineO'Neill as General Miguel Miramon
Jezebel1938IMDb rating 7.4Crisp as Dr. LivingstoneO'Neill as General Theopholus Bogardus
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse1938IMDb rating 7.0Crisp as Police Inspector Lewis LaneO'Neill as Judge
The Life of Emile Zola1937IMDb rating 7.1Crisp as Maitre LaboriO'Neill as Colonel Picquart
Bette Davis4 films together, 1938 to 1939
Bette Davis's page Juarez1939IMDb rating 6.8Crisp as Maréchal BazaineDavis as Empress Carlotta von Hapsburg
The Old Maid1939IMDb rating 7.4Crisp as Doctor LanskellDavis as Charlotte Lovell
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0Crisp as Francis BaconDavis as Queen Elizabeth
Jezebel1938IMDb rating 7.4Crisp as Dr. LivingstoneDavis as Julie Marsden
John Litel4 films together, 1937 to 1940
John Litel's page Knute Rockne All American1940IMDb rating 6.7Crisp as Father John Callahan, C.S.CLitel as Committee Chairman
Jezebel1938IMDb rating 7.4Crisp as Dr. LivingstoneLitel as Jean La Cour
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse1938IMDb rating 7.0Crisp as Police Inspector Lewis LaneLitel as Mr. Monroe, Prosecuting Attorney
The Life of Emile Zola1937IMDb rating 7.1Crisp as Maitre LaboriLitel as Charpentier
Errol Flynn4 films together, 1936 to 1940
Errol Flynn's page The Sea Hawk1940IMDb rating 7.6Crisp as Sir John BurlesonFlynn as Geoffrey Thorpe
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0Crisp as Francis BaconFlynn as Earl of Essex
The Dawn Patrol1938IMDb rating 7.5Crisp as PhippsFlynn as Capt. Courtney
The Charge of the Light Brigade1936IMDb rating 7.0Crisp as Col. CampbellFlynn as Maj. Geoffrey Vickers
Ward Bond3 films together, 1938 to 1955
Ward Bond's page The Long Gray Line1955IMDb rating 7.2Crisp as Old MartinBond as Captain Herman Kohler
The Oklahoma Kid1939IMDb rating 6.4Crisp as Judge HardwickBond as Wes Handley
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse1938IMDb rating 7.0Crisp as Police Inspector Lewis LaneBond as Tug
Henry Fonda3 films together, 1938 to 1963
Henry Fonda's page Spencer's Mountain1963IMDb rating 7.0Crisp as Grandpa SpencerFonda as Clay Spencer
The Battle of Midway1942IMDb rating 6.1Crisp as Main NarratorFonda as Narrator
Jezebel1938IMDb rating 7.4Crisp as Dr. LivingstoneFonda as Preston Dillard
John FordDirector, 5 films, 1936 to 1958
All films by John Ford The Last Hurrah1958IMDb rating 7.3Crisp as The Cardinal
The Long Gray Line1955IMDb rating 7.2Crisp as Old Martin
The Battle of Midway1942IMDb rating 6.1Crisp as Main Narrator
How Green Was My Valley1941IMDb rating 7.7Crisp as Mr. Morgan
Mary of Scotland1936IMDb rating 6.3Crisp as Huntly
Michael CurtizDirector, 4 films, 1936 to 1950
All films by Michael Curtiz Bright Leaf1950IMDb rating 6.7Crisp as Major Singleton
The Sea Hawk1940IMDb rating 7.6Crisp as Sir John Burleson
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0Crisp as Francis Bacon
The Charge of the Light Brigade1936IMDb rating 7.0Crisp as Col. Campbell
William DieterleDirector, 3 films, 1937 to 1940
All films by William Dieterle Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet1940IMDb rating 7.4Crisp as Minister Althoff
Juarez1939IMDb rating 6.8Crisp as Maréchal Bazaine
The Life of Emile Zola1937IMDb rating 7.1Crisp as Maitre Labori
Also three films together17 more actors
- Humphrey BogartBrother Orchid (1940), The Oklahoma Kid (1939) and The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938)
- Ray TealSaddle the Wind (1958), Whispering Smith (1948) and Ramrod (1947)
- Edward G. RobinsonBrother Orchid (1940), Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940) and The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938)
- David NivenWuthering Heights (1939), The Dawn Patrol (1938) and The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)
- Robert BarratThe Life of Emile Zola (1937), Mary of Scotland (1936) and The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)
- Alan HaleThe Sea Hawk (1940), The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) and The Little Minister (1934)
- Nigel BruceSon of Lassie (1945), Lassie Come Home (1943) and The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)
- Harry DavenportDr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940), Juarez (1939) and The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
- Louis CalhernDr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940), Juarez (1939) and The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
- Maureen O'HaraSpencer's Mountain (1963), The Long Gray Line (1955) and How Green Was My Valley (1941)
- Spring ByingtonJezebel (1938), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936) and Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
- Thurston HallBright Leaf (1950), City for Conquest (1940) and The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938)
- Arthur ShieldsNational Velvet (1944), Lassie Come Home (1943) and How Green Was My Valley (1941)
- Henry StephensonThe Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936) and Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
- Montagu LoveDr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940), The Sea Hawk (1940) and Juarez (1939)
- Lumsden HareDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941), The Little Minister (1934) and Svengali (1931)
- James StephensonThe Sea Hawk (1940), The Old Maid (1939) and The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Donald Crisp's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$44.1 million
13 of the 44 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 44 films: 13 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 29 figure not found.
- 13Worldwide figure
- 2US gross only
- 29Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 85% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$9.1M20.7% of the total
- 2$5.8M13.2% of the total
- 3$4.8M10.9% of the total
- 4$4.5M10.2% of the total
- 5$4.5M10.1% of the total
- 6$3.8M8.5% of the total
- 7$2.7M6.2% of the total
- 8$2.4M5.4% of the total
Awards
Two awards and honors, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 1942 | Best Supporting Actor | How Green Was My Valley | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.










