A stocky, friendly-faced character actor, Ford was born Samuel Jones in England and lived for a while in an orphanage after being separated from his parents. While still young, he was sent to a Toronto branch of the orphanage. At age 11, after living in 17 foster homes, he ran away and joined a vaudeville troupe called the Winnepeg Kiddies. with whom he stayed until 1914. He then joined a friend n ...
show all A stocky, friendly-faced character actor, Ford was born Samuel Jones in England and lived for a while in an orphanage after being separated from his parents. While still young, he was sent to a Toronto branch of the orphanage. At age 11, after living in 17 foster homes, he ran away and joined a vaudeville troupe called the Winnepeg Kiddies. with whom he stayed until 1914. He then joined a friend named Wallace Ford and the two 'hoboed" their way into the United States. After the friend was crushed to death by a railroad car, he took the name Wallace Ford in his memory and found work in theatrical troupes and repertory companies. On Broadway he acted in "Abraham Lincoln, " "Abie's Irish Rose", and "Bad Girl". He left Broadway in 1932 to appear with Joan Crawford in "Possessed". In all he appeared in over 200 films including 4 directed by John Ford (The Last Hurrah, The Whole Town's Talking, The Lost Patrol and The Informer). He also appeared with Henry Fonda in the TV series "The Deputy."
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