Francis McDonald
Actor
Biography
Francis McDonald (August 22, 1891 – September 18, 1968) was an American actor whose career spanned 52 years.
McDonald's started acting professionally in stock theater with the Forepaugh Stock Company in Cincinnati. Following eight months with it, he worked one season with a stock company in Seattle, after which he performed for three seasons with a troupe in San Diego and Honolulu. He concluded his tenure in stock theater as juvenile leading man with the American Stock Company in Spokane, Washington.
By 1913 McDonald began to perform in the rapidly expanding film industry, initially working for Marion Leonard's Monopole Company in Hollywood. He was cast in over 280 films between 1913 and 1965, including The Temptress in 1926 with Greta Garbo. After he was designated "Hollywood's Prettiest Man," McDonald sought a tougher image by shaving his mustache and seeking roles of villains.
McDonald was one of Cecil B. DeMille's favorite character actors.[citation needed] DeMille gave him credited supporting roles in six of his films: The Plainsman (1936), The Buccaneer (1938), Union Pacific (1939), North West Mounted Police (1940), Samson and Delilah (1949), and The Ten Commandments (1956).
Filmography
Notorious
as Man (uncredited) 1946
Bad Day at Black Rock
as Tall - White-haired Cafe Lounger (uncredited) 1955
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
as Extra (uncredited) 1916
The Great Race
as Russian (uncredited) 1965
Samson and Delilah
as Story Teller 1949
Duel in the Sun
as Gambler (uncredited) 1946
The Three Musketeers
1948
Morocco
as Sergeant Tatoche 1930
The Sea Hawk
as Kroner 1940
Rancho Notorious
as Harbin 1952
Beau Geste
as Arab Scout (uncredited) 1939
Battling Butler
as Alfred 'Battling' Butler 1926
Union Pacific
as Gen. Dodge 1939
Robin and the 7 Hoods
as Old Man at Robbo's Club 1964
The Paleface
as Lance (as Francis J. McDonald) 1948
Blood and Sand
as Manolo's Friend (uncredited) 1941