Francis Ford

Francis Ford
Born	Francis Feeney August 14, 1881(1881-08-14) Portland, Maine, U.S.
Died	September 5, 1959 (aged 78) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other name(s)	J. Francis O'Fearna
Occupation	Actor Film director Writer
Years active	1909 – 1953

Francis Ford (August 14, 1881 – September 5, 1953) was 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.

Selected filmography

• The Immortal Alamo (1911)
• The Deserter (1912)
• Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery (1914)
• A Study in Scarlet (1914)
• The Broken Coin (1915)
• The Adventures of Peg o' the Ring (1916)
• The Tornado (1917)
• The Mystery Ship (1917)
• The Craving (1918)
• The Silent Mystery (1918)
• The Mystery of 13 (1919)
• Thunderbolt Jack (1920)
• The Great Reward (1921)
• Action (1921)
• The Village Blacksmith (1922)
• Three Jumps Ahead (1923)
• The Fighting Skipper (1923)
• Hearts of Oak (1924)
• Soft Shoes (1925)
• Perils of the Wild (1925)
• The Fighting Heart (1925)
• The Winking Idol (1926)
• Officer 444 (1926)
• Upstream (1927)
• The Trail of '98 (1928)
• The Black Watch (1929)
• The Jade Box (1930)
• Frankenstein (1931)
• Heroes of the West (1932)
• The Lost Special (1932)
• The Man from Monterey (1933)
• Pilgrimage (1933)
• Judge Priest (1934)
• The Informer (1935)
• Steamboat Round the Bend (1935)
• The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936)
• Charlie Chan at the Circus (1936)
• Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
• The Sun Shines Bright (1953)

External links

• Francis Ford at the Internet Movie Database
• Francis Ford at Find A Grave