Cast & creator
Francis McDonald
Best known for Perry Mason, Perry Mason, Perry Mason
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).
Also known as: Francis James McDonald, Francis J. MacDonald, Francis MacDonald, Francis J. McDonald, Frank McDonald
224
film credits
46
television credits
270
1913–1965 · acting roles
6.7
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (270)
Showing 270 of 270 credits
Perry Mason
Capt. Noble
1957Perry Mason
Walter 'Salty' Sims
1957Perry Mason
Peg-Leg Jasper
1957
Maverick
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
Gotch (as Francis MacDonald)
1957
Lassie
1954
The Virginian
Saul Weintraub
1962The Virginian
Storekeeper
1962
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1955
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Juan Hernandez
1958Wanted: Dead or Alive
Liveryman
1958
The Lone Ranger
Wade Tanner
1949The Lone Ranger
Chief Gray Horse
1949
Lawman
1958
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Yancey Hatton
1956Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
William Wethered
1956
Bat Masterson
Winkler
1958
The Texan
1958The Texan
Sheriff
1958
Highway Patrol
Charlie Barrett
1955
Bronco
1958
Sugarfoot
Pete Stone
1957Sugarfoot
Jericho Dooley
1957
Trackdown
1957
Adventures of Superman
1952
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
The Deputy
1959
The Gene Autry Show
1950The Gene Autry Show
Dave Jamison
1950
The Cisco Kid
Gen. Lawrence
1950
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
1956
Cavalcade of America
Calaveras Kid
1952
The Adventures of Kit Carson
1951The Adventures of Kit Carson
Sheriff Nolan
1951The Adventures of Kit Carson
George
1951The Adventures of Kit Carson
Sheriff Banyon
1951
Law of the Plainsman
Watkins
1959
Mr. Lucky
1959
The Ten Commandments
Simon
1956
The Roy Rogers Show
1951
Wichita Town
1959
Science Fiction Theatre
1955
Stories of the Century
Sheriff
1954
My Friend Flicka
1955
Samson and Delilah
Story Teller
1949
The Adventures of Champion
Will Calhoun
1955The Adventures of Champion
Grubstake Smith
1955
The Great Race
Russian (uncredited)
1965
General Electric Theater
Pecos Kid
1953
Notorious
Man (uncredited)
1946
The Three Musketeers
1948
Bad Day at Black Rock
Tall - White-haired Cafe Lounger (uncredited)
1955
Duel in the Sun
Gambler (uncredited)
1946
The Sea Hawk
Kroner
1940
The Prisoner of Shark Island
John Wilkes Booth
1936
Morocco
Sergeant Tatoche
1930
Union Pacific
Gen. Dodge
1939
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Old Man at Robbo's Club (uncredited)
1964
The Sea Wolf
Svenson
1941
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Extra (uncredited)
1916
Ten Wanted Men
1955
North West Mounted Police
Louis Riel
1940
If I Were King
Casin Cholet
1938
The Stranger Wore a Gun
Frank
1953
Walk the Proud Land
The Shaman (uncredited)
1956
Son of Ali Baba
Palace Official (uncredited)
1952
Red Mountain
Marshal Roberts
1951
Blood and Sand
Manolo's Friend (uncredited)
1941
Rancho Notorious
Harbin
1952
Beau Geste
Arab Scout (uncredited)
1939
The Plainsman
A River Gambler
1936
The Last Train from Madrid
Mora (uncredited)
1937
Canyon Passage
Cobb (uncredited)
1946
One Night in the Tropics
Escobar's Aide (uncredited)
1940
The Guns of Fort Petticoat
Col. Chivington's Aide (uncredited)
1957
Till We Meet Again
Cart Driver (uncredited)
1944
Belle of the Yukon
Miner Investing on River-Freeze Date (uncredited)
1944
Saddle Pals
Sheriff
1947
The Paleface
Lance (as Francis J. McDonald)
1948
The Soldier and the Lady
Chieftain (Uncredited)
1937
Mystery of the Riverboat
Batiste
1944
Faust and Marguerite Test Footage
1923
Magnificent Doll
Jenks (uncredited)
1946
Green Hell
Gracco
1940
Woman-Wise
Charley (uncredited)
1937
Idiot's Delight
Flight Captain
1939
Zorro's Black Whip
Dan Hammond
1944
The Bandits of Corsica
Grisha
1953
St. Elmo
Murray Hammond
1914
Sadie McKee
Joe, Alderson’s Chauffeur (uncredited)
1934
Valley of the Sun
Governor's Interpreter (uncredited)
1942
So This Is Marriage?
Smith
1924
Strange Cargo
Moussenq - Convict (uncredited)
1940
The Woman from Monte Carlo
Karkuff
1932
Panhandle
Crump
1948
The Nevadan
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
1950
Battling Butler
Alfred 'Battling' Butler
1926
Rim of the Canyon
Charlie Lewis
1949
The Light That Failed
George
1939
The Devil Is Driving
Ticker (uncredited)
1932
Bobbed Hair
Pooch
1925
California Passage
County Recorder Joe Kane
1950
Captain Caution
French Seaman in Pub
1940
Wild Bill Hickok Rides
Kidnapper
1942
Last Stagecoach West
Old Man Colter
1957
Gene Autry and the Mounties
Batiste
1951
Woman in Hiding
North Carolina Cannoneer (uncredited)
1950
Duel at Apache Wells
Joe Dunn
1957
Tony America
Tony America
1918
Men of the Timberland
Jean Collet
1941
The Dead Don't Dream
Bart Lansing
1948
Daughter of the Jungle
Montu
1949
The Kansan
Gil Hatton
1943
Straightaway
Rogan
1933
Robin Hood of El Dorado
Pedro
1936
The Perils of Pauline
Western Saloon Set Heavy
1947
Roll on Texas Moon
Steve Anders
1946
Trilby
Geko
1923
Monte Cristo
Benedetto
1922
The Big Fisherman
Scribe Spokesman
1959
The Lawyer's Secret
The Weasel
1931
The Naked Dawn
Railroad guard
1955
The Carson City Kid
Laramie
1940
Son of God’s Country
Tom Ford
1948
Operator 13
Denton (uncredited)
1934
Real Folks
Jimmie Dugan
1918
The Girl from Alaska
Pelly
1942
The Bar-C Mystery
1926
The Answer
Guido Garcia
1918
The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date
Santos the Portuguese
1940
Bad Men of the Border
Captain Jose Garcia
1945
The Palace of Pleasure
Captain Fernandez
1926
The Gay Bride
Detroit gangster (uncredited)
1934
The Raiders
Mr. John Cummings
1952
The Buccaneer
Camden Blount
1938
Brothers in the Saddle
Hoyt Parker
1949
The Devil's Playground
Roberts
1946
The Final Close-Up
Jimmie Norton
1919
Son of a Badman
Joe Christ
1949
Fort Massacre
Piute Man
1958
Girl in Danger
Tony - Russo Henchman (uncredited)
1934
Captain Fly-by-Night
Second Stranger
1922
West Point of the Air
Civilian Pilot
1935
Pawnee
Uncle Tip Alden (as Francis J. McDonald)
1957
In Line of Duty
Jacques Dupres
1931
Rose of the Yukon
Alaskan
1949
Night Train to Memphis
Doctor
1946
The Valley of Hell
Creighton Steele
1928
The Legion of the Condemned
Gonzolo Vasquez
1928Puppets
Bruno
1926
The Voice on the Wire
'Red' Warren
1917
The Devil's in Love
Officer Reading Verdict
1933
In Spite of Danger
Race Driver
1935
70,000 Witnesses
Dominic Silvera (uncredited)
1932
Mr. Dolan of New York
'Spider' Flynn (as Francis MacDonald)
1917
Fort Osage
Osage Chief
1952
Texas Buddies
Blake
1932
A Girl in Every Port
Circus Manager
1928
The Catman of Paris
Devereaux
1946
Night Flight
Radioman (uncredited)
1933
My Lady of Whims
Rolf
1925
The Devil's Pipeline
Gaddi Sang
1940
Mummy's Boys
Rasheed Bey
1936The Hand at the Window
Tony Brachieri
1918
The Runaway Bride
Barney Black
1930
The Wreck
1927
Big Brown Eyes
Malley (Uncredited)
1936
The Viking
Viking Friend of Leif (uncredited)
1928
The Temptress
Timoteo
1926
Outlaws of Red River
Ben Tanner
1927
Honor of the Mounted
Jean La Train
1932
Go Straight!
The Dove
1925
Criminal Lawyer
Jack 'Fingy' Doremus (uncredited)
1937
White Fang
Suds
1936
South of the Rio Grande
Torres
1945
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
Ray Ridpath - Henchman [Chs. 1-6]
1934Burn 'Em Up Barnes
Ray Ridpath - Henchman
1934
Pretty Smooth
Jimmy Hartigan
1919
Carmen
Don Jose
1913
The Light Within
Dr. Green
1918
Mary of the Movies
James Seiler
1923
The Buster
Swing
1923
Mississippi
Gambler (uncredited)
1935
Life in Hollywood No. 4
1927
The Devil at His Elbow
Andrew Sealey (as Frank McDonald)
1916
Dangerous Venture
Kane
1947
Dig That Uranium
The Indian Chief
1955
Dangerous Paradise
Ricardo
1930The Call of the North
Achille Picard
1921
Texas Masquerade
Sam Nolan
1944
Perils of the Secret Service
(Episode #3)
1917
Voice in the Night
Henchman Jackson
1934
The Kid from Kansas
Cesar
1941
Devil's Playground
Romano
1937
The Love Doctor
Hildreth
1917
Nomads of the North
Buck McDougall
1920
The Desert's Toll
Frank Darwin
1926Kickin' the Crown Around
Disputin
1933
Diamond Jim
Gambler
1935
Stolen by Gypsies or Beer and Bicycles
Henchman (as Frances McDonald)
1933
Apache Chief
Mohaska
1949
Strange Confession
Hernandez
1945
Wyoming
Dawson - Henchman
1940
Forgotten Faces
1928
His Debt
Blair Whitcomb
1919
Satan in Sables
Emile
1925
Red Morning
Sakki
1934
The Invisible Informer
Jules Ravelle
1946
The Gates of Doom
Jang Sattib
1917
Lumberjack
Clyde Fenwick
1944
The Line-Up
Trigger - Henchman
1934
Brothers
Tony
1930
Bad Lands
Manuel Lopez
1939
Two Gun Marshal
Blake Cody
1953
Terror Trail
Tad McPherson
1933
Prudence on Broadway
Grayson Mills
1919
The Kentucky Colonel
Philip Burwood
1920
A Successful Failure
Radical Speaker
1934
Abandoned
Winey - Pool Player (uncredited)
1949The Marriage Bargain
Ben Ainsley
1935
The Ghost Flower
1918
Buckskin Frontier
Duval
1943
Powder River Rustlers
Shears Williams
1949
The Bold Frontiersman
Adam Post
1948
Burning Up
'Bullet' McGhan
1930
East of Broadway
Professor Mario
1924
The Drag Net
Sniper Dawson
1928
The Gray Ghost
Williams
1917
Thunder Over Arizona
Pliny Warren
1956Puppets of Fate
Gabriel Palombra
1921
The Yankee Señor
Juan Gutiérrez
1926
Safety in Numbers
Phil Kemptom
1930
River Gang
Indignant Man
1945
The Carnation Kid
The Carnation Kid
1929
The Trumpet Blows
Vega
1934
The Woman Conquers
Lawatha, Indian Guide
1922
Bar 20
Quirt Rankin
1943
Strange Gamble
Henchman Longhorn
1948
The Arizona Express
Victor Johnson
1924
Gun Law
Henchman Nevada
1938
The Gang Buster
Pete Caltek
1931
Tangier
Sanchez
1946
Range War
Morgan
1939
My Pal Trigger
Storekeeper
1946
Love's Prisoner
Party Guest (uncredited)
1919
Mystery Man
Bert Rogan
1944
Black Orchids
George Renoir / Ivan De Maupin
1917The Hunted Woman
Joe De Bar
1925
Cheyenne Wildcat
Jim Douglas
1944
Bordertown Trail
Matthews
1944
Going Up
Jules Gaillard
1923
Corpus Christi Bandits
Dad Christie
1945
The Golden Snare
Pierre Thoreau
1921
Great Stagecoach Robbery
Con Hollister
1945
Trailing the Killer
Pierre LaPlant (as Francis MacDonald)
1932
Broadway Bad
Charley Davis
1933
Girl Overboard
Francisco
1929
Parole Racket
Nat Beldon
1937
The Notorious Lady
Manuela Silvera
1927The She-Devil
Albert Alwain
1916
The Courageous Coward
Tom Kirby (as Francis J. McDonald)
1919
Toton
Pierre
1919
Hidden Valley
Frank Gavin
1932
Look Your Best
Alberto Cabotto
1923
The Confession
Tom Bartlett
1920
Trooper O'Neill
Pierre
1922
The Gun Woman
The Gent
1918
Wild West Days
Assayer Purvis, member of the Secret 7
1937The Express Messenger
Dave Snowden
1915
The Northern Code
Raoul La Fane
1925