The 'brains' and 'action' heavies who had meaty roles and lots of dialog ... and the players who were fathers, ranch owners, lawman, mayors, judges, lawyers, storekeepers, newspaper editors, wardens, etc.

MacQuarrie in 1935 and about 57 years old.

MacQuarrie in 1914 and about 36 years old.

Born in San Francisco on August 25, 1878, Murdock MacQuarrie attended public schools there. His acting career began around the age of seven or eight in child roles in stock and repertory companies on the West coast. He also served in the U. S. Navy during the Spanish American War.

Murdock and his three brothers - Albert, Frank and George - came to Hollywood in the early days of silent film.

In silents, Murdock did lead and character roles as well as some directing. Circa 1914, he was on Universal's payroll. His next stop was directing for the Signal Film Corporation. And he also worked for Biograph, FBO, many other production companies. Trade papers and fan magazines indicate he specialized in character roles, generally portraying an older gent.

MacQuarrie was a charter member of the Los Angeles branch of the Motion Picture Directors Association (MPDA) which was formed in 1915.

When talkies arrived, Murdock had hit the half century mark in age. He became a fairly prolific performer in 1930s B westerns, appearing as a friendly rancher, father of the heroine, occasional lawman ... as well as a background face in crowd scenes and saloons. Most of his sound film appearances were uncredited / unbilled and you can spot him in oaters with Rex Bell, Tom Tyler, Bob Baker, Gene Autry, Buck Jones, Johnny Mack Brown, Three Mesquiteers, Reb Russell, Ken Maynard, others.

One of his best roles - and one of his last - was playing a crooked judge and gang boss in the Rough Riders adventure GHOST TOWN LAW (Monogram, 1942). He was billed fifth in the opening titles and credits, behind Buck Jones, Tim McCoy, Raymond Hatton and heroine Virginia Carpenter. Alas - they (mis)spelled his last name as McQuarrie.

Les Adams has him pegged in about 190 sound era films, of which 134 are westerns and 8 are serials.

Murdock passed away on August 20, 1942 at St. Vincents Hospital, Los Angeles, and cause of death was coronary occlusion and peritonitis from a stomach perforation.

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Murdock and his three brothers:

     Murdock MacQuarrie: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0534259/
     George MacQuarrie (1873-1951): https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0534255/
     Albert MacQuarrie (1882-1950): https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0534252/
     Frank MacQuarrie (1875-1950): https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0534254/

Above - photo ad for MacQuarrie in the 1930 Motion Picture News Bluebook (available at the Internet Archive).

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), California Death Index, and the death certificate provide more on Murdock MacQuarrie:

• 1880 census summary and census takers worksheet - living in San Francisco, California are 45 year old James Mc Quarrie (born Ireland; occupation "carpenter"), his 37 year old wife Catharine (born Ireland), 12 year old daughter Catharine (born Massachusetts), 9 year old son John (born California), 7 year old son George (born California), 4 year old daughter Mary (born California), 1 year old son Murdock (born California), and 5 year old son Frank (born California): https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6P6-B9H
• 1890 census is unavailable - it was lost in a 1921 fire (and water damage) at the Commerce Building in Washington, D.C.
• World War I draft registration dated September, 1918: 40 year old Murdock James Mac Quarrie lists his birth date as August 25, 1878; his occupation is "Motion Picture actor and director" and employer is "Loyalty Film Co". He and wife Clarice live at 1967 Beachwood, Los Angeles: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-26181-22784-85?cc=1968530&wc=M9SG-M82:1041244207
• 1920 census summary and census takers worksheet - the Family Search website has spelling errors when their record was converted to digital format - 41 year old Murdock Macinarrie [sic] (born California) and 41 year old wife Lina C. (born Georgia) own their home at 1967 Beachwood Drive, Los Angeles. His occupation is "Director - Motion Picture" and hers is "Broker - Real Estate": https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHQF-LVG
• 1930 census: 52 year old Murdock M. Mac Quarrie (born California), 52 year old wife Clarice M. (born Georgia) and 20 year old nephew Lynn Manning (born Alabama) own their home at 7943 Selma (?) Avenue, Los Angeles; Mac Quarrie's occupation is "Actor - Motion Pictures", and Clarice's occupation is "Broker - Real Estate": https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XCV9-ZSV
• 1940 census summary and census takers worksheet - 61 year old Murdock Mcquarrie (born California) and 60 year old wife Clarice (born Tennessee) are renting at 111 Doheny Drive in Los Angeles. Murdock' occupation was "Actor - Moving Picture", and in 1939, he worked 24 weeks and earned $4000.00. Clarice's occupation is "Broker - Real Estate": https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9C2-XCZ
• Death certificate: 66 year old Murdock MacQuarrie was born August 25, 1878 in San Francisco, California; he was a Spanish American war veteran; parents were Daniel J. MacQuarrie and Katherine McKay, both born in Canada. He passed away on August 20, 1942 at St. Vincents Hospital, Los Angeles, and cause of death was coronary occlusion and peritonitis from a stomach perforation. He and wife Clarice MacQuarrie lived at 111 North Doheny Drive, Los Angeles. Pierce Bros. Hollywood was the funeral director and burial at Sawtelle Cemetery.
• The California Death Index has a record for Murdock Macquarrie, born August 25, 1878 in California, and he passed away on August 20, 1942 in the Los Angeles area: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP2N-DMQ
• Ancestry had a military burial record for U. S. Navy and Spanish American War veteran Murdock James Mac Quarrie (born August 25, 1878 and died August 24, 1942). Interment in Section 84, Row G, Site 16 at Los Angeles National Cemetery, 950 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.

Find A Grave website has a photo of the grave marker for Navy veteran Murdock James Mac Quarrie at the Los Angeles National Cemetery: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35126007/murdock-macquarrie

The Google Newspaper archive has a January, 1915 article which mentions his early stage career and current Hollywood work: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JAhhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Q2QNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1549,3063321&dq=murdock-macquarrie&hl=en

(Courtesy of Les Adams) Jack Perrin did a series for Bernard B. Ray and Harry S. Webb at Reliable Pictures in the mid 1930s. Above is a scene from Perrin's NORTH OF ARIZONA (Reliable, 1935), a disappointing and disjointed mess. From left to right are Perrin, Jack Hendricks (background), Barney Beasley (background), Lane Chandler, unidentified older man, Blackie Whiteford, Blanche Mehaffey, and Murdock MacQuarrie (as the local lawman). (From Old Corral collection) Above from left to right are John Wayne, Muriel Evans, Murdock MacQuarrie and Mary MacLaren in Wayne's THE NEW FRONTIER (Republic, 1935).

Horace B. Carpenter Full name: Horace Bernard Carpenter 1875 - 1945

(Courtesy of Jack Tillmany)

Horace Bernard Carpenter was born January 31, 1875 in Minnesota.

His acting career began on the stage and with traveling repertory companies. Carpenter's earliest film work was for Selig and the Lasky Picture company in the 1910s. In the 1920s, he even did some directing.

He had a kindly face and meek demeanor, and got work as a ranch owner, an old miner, etc. (but Lafe McKee, Lloyd Ingraham and John Elliott seemed to be the luckier ones getting meatier roles). Generally, Carpenter was a background performer, bystander, spectator - i.e., one of the townsmen, one of the ranchers, an old-timer in the saloon, etc. and many of his 1930s-1940s roles were uncredited.

Bob Steele lost a lot of fathers in his many oaters. SMOKEY SMITH (A. W. Hackel/Supreme, 1935) is one of his best and includes a closing battle with the good guys, led by Bob and Earl Dwire (as the sheriff), wearing white bandanas on their foreheads to identify themselves from the outlaws. Warner Richmond was the nasty gang boss - to get his hands on a ring, he shoots off the finger of Steele's dad, kindly ol' Horace Carpenter. Another good (unbilled) Carpenter role is portraying toothless oldtimer "Pop" in the Johnny Mack Brown FLAME OF THE WEST (Monogram, 1945).

Les Adams has Carpenter in 300+ sound era films, and that includes 218 westerns and 22 serials.

Suffering from heart problems, he passed away on May 21, 1945 at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, Los Angeles.

There is confusion with his birth location (Minnesota vs. Wisconsin vs. Michigan). Some biographies (such as the Internet Movie Database) have him born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Based on marriage and census records as well as trade biographies and his amended death certificate, Carpenter was born in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.

(Courtesy of Ed Phillips) Carpenter circa 1936

Above - 1911 newspaper ad for Horace and company doing a play in Utah. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Carpenter circa 1934

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), California Death Index, ProQuest obituaries, and the death certificate provide more on Horace Carpenter and family:

• 1885 Minnesota State census - living in Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota are 50 year old S. P. Carpenter (born Michigan), his 31 year old wife Eva (born Illinois), three daughters and two sons, one of which is 8 year old Horace (born Minnesota): https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQX7-RD7
• 1890 census is unavailable - it was lost in a 1921 fire (and water damage) at the Commerce Building in Washington, D.C.
• 1897 marriage record (not the marriage license) - Horace B. Carpenter (born Sauk Rapids, Minnesota) married Ella N. Hilger (born Wisconsin) on September 6, 1897 in West Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin. His parents were Samuel P. Carpenter and Eva L. Coburn. Her parents were Michael Hilger and Mary Eliza Deitlein: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRLH-6LW
• 1900 census summary and census takers worksheet - 23 year old Horace Carpenter, his 17 year old wife Ella (born Wisconsin), and their 1 year old son Earl are living with Ella's parents, Mike and ??? Hilger, in Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMKX-382
• 1905 Wisconsin State Census - living in Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin are 68 year old S. P. Carpenter, his 51 year old wife Eva E., and four children, one of whom is 29 year old Horace Carpenter (born Minnesota). Wife Ella and son Earl are not with Horace. Occupation of Horace is "Actor" and his father is "Police ???": https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMSB-161
• 1910 census summary and census takers worksheet - living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma are 30 year old Horace B. Carpenter (born Minnesota) and his 25 year old wife Beatrice A. (born Utah). Both have occupation of Theater: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML7M-HXS
• Western States Marriage Index at Brigham Young University-Idaho has a marriage index record (not the marriage certificate) - H. B. Carpenter married Beatrice A. Allen on May 6, 1911 in Florence, Pinal County, Arizona: http://abish.byui.edu/specialCollections/westernStates/westernStatesRecordDetail.cfm?recordID=353434
• World War I draft registration dated September 12, 1918 - 43 year old Horace Bernard Carpenter was born January 31, 1875. Occupation is "Actor" for the "Diando Film Co.", Verdugo Rd., Glendale, California. Nearest relative is wife Beatrice A. Carpenter, and they lived at 216 Hawthorne, Glendale, California: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-26183-7209-63?cc=1968530
• 1920 census summary and census takers worksheet - renting in Los Angeles are 40 year old Horace P. Carpenter (no birth location specified), his 30 year old wife Beatrice (born Utah), 5 year old daughter Anila [sic] (born California), and three lodgers. Horace's occupation is "Actor - Motion Picture Co": https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHQK-D6D
• 1930 census summary and census takers worksheet - renting at 5425 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California are 53 year old Horace B. Carpenter (born Minnesota), his 46 year old wife Beatrice A. (born Utah) and their 15 year old daughter Auda L. (born California). Occupation of Horace is "Director - Motion Picture", and he was not a veteran: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCJ1-Y89
• 1940 census summary and census takers worksheet - living in Los Angeles, California are 65 year old Horace Carpenter (born Wisconsin), his 57 year old wife Beatrice (born Utah) and their 25 year old daughter Auda (born California). They are renting at unit 310 at the New Hollywood Apartments on Hollywood Boulevard. Horace's occupation is "Actor - Movie Co.", and in 1939, he worked 17 weeks and earned $1040.00: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9CD-GNT
• Death certificate: Horace Bernard Carpenter was born January 31, 1875 in Grand Rapids, Michigan; parents were Samuel P. Carpenter and Eva Coburn; his occupation was "Actor - Stage and Screen". He passed away on May 21, 1945 at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, Los Angeles, and cause of death was coronary occlusion and arteriosclerosis. Death certificate informant was wife Beatrice, and they lived at 1204 North Seward, Los Angeles. Pierce Bros. Hollywood was the funeral director and burial at Hollywood Cemetery.
  An amended death certificate was filed July, 1946 to correct Horace's birth location from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.
• California Death Index mirrors the death certificate - Horace Bernard Carpenter, born 1/31/1875 in Michigan, Mother's maiden name of Coburn, and he passed away on 5/21/1945.
• The May 23, 1945 Los Angeles Times newspaper carried his obituary and funeral notice. Excerpts: "Funeral services for Horace Bernard Carpenter ... at Pierce Bros. Hollywood Chapel under the auspices of the Troupers Club ... leaves his widow Beatrice ... a daughter, Auda, a son, Dr. Earl E., and two brothers ..."

For those with a subscription to Ancestry.com, locate the Carpenter Family Tree. There you'll find a bunch of photos of Horace and Dr. Earl Carpenter (his son from his first marriage to Ella).

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Horace B. Carpenter: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139356/

And the IMDb has a record for Beatrice Allen, who appears to be Horace's second wife Beatrice: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0020291/

Find A Grave website confirms that Carpenter is interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9360709/horace-bernard-carpenter

(Courtesy of Ed Tabor) The above lobby card - and crop/blowup - is from GROWING BETTER (Sanford, 1923), a Bill Patton silent helmed by Carpenter. A youngish Carpenter (in his late 40s) is wearing the checkerboard shirt. The other two players are unidentified.

Fred Parker - 1934

Fred Parker Full name: Fred F. Parker 1876 - 1960

Above newspaper ad is from Parker's 1912 performance in Brainerd, Minnesota. "Daisy Ashmore" was the stage name of wife number one, Florence C. 'Daisy' Barden. After their divorce, Parker married Myrtle Reeves, and she became his leading lady.

Fred Parker was born August 31, 1876 in Iowa.

His acting career began in the early 1900s in traveling repertory companies which included his own "Parker's Players" troupe, and later with the Elwin Strong Company.

He was married and divorced twice - he tied the knot with Florence C. 'Daisy' Barden in 1902 and Myrtle Reeves in 1914. Both Daisy and Myrtle became his leading ladies, and newspapers have them doing plays in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, many other locales in 1907 - 1914.

Fred began doing movies in the 1920s and his last film job was circa 1944 when he was in his late sixties. Most of his movie roles were low budget western features and shorts, and he rarely was billed/credited. He portrayed lawmen, ranch owners, father of the heroine, bartenders ... and often was one of the faces in crowd scenes, court rooms, and saloons.

Checking Parker's movie stats, his busiest years were the 1930s and he appeared in about 150 films during that decade. He also got lots of work from producer/director/writer Robert Emmett 'Bob' Tansey. Between 1931 - 1940, Parker was in twenty nine films in which BobTansey was involved.

83 year old Fred F. Parker passed away from bronchial pneumonia on February 29, 1960 at the Greenacres Lodge medical facility, San Gabriel, Los Angeles County, California.

Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), California Death Index, newspapers, and funeral information provide more on Fred Parker and his two marriages. There are several Fred F. Parker family trees on Ancestry.com which were created by family members. They - as well as myself - have yet to locate several census records and draft registrations for Parker.

• 1880 census - living in Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa are 48 year old John T. Parker (born Ohio; occupation "Carpenter"), his 44 year old wife Albina S. Parker (born Indiana), and five sons and two daughters. One of the sons is five year old Fred Parker (born Iowa): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD2R-C16
• 1890 census is unavailable - it was lost in a 1921 fire (and water damage) at the Commerce Building in Washington, D.C.
• January 11, 1902 marriage record of 26 year old Fred F. Parker (born Sigourney, Iowa; occupation "Theatrical") and 29 year old Daisy Barden (born Michigan) in Logan, Harrison County, Iowa. His parents were J. T. Parker and Albina McCauley. Her parents were David G. Barden and Alma L. Potter.: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KC4D-1J3
• 1905 Iowa census - 30 year old Fred Parker was born in Iowa; not a military veteran; occupation was "Theatrical" and he lived in Keokuk County, Iowa: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVM5-85GP
• 1910 census and census takers worksheet - head of household is Alma L. Barden (widowed). With her are daughter Florence D. (born Michigan; occupation "Actress - Theatrical") and husband/son-in-law Fred F. Parker (born Iowa; occupation "Actor - Theatrical"), and the family lived in Washington, Keokuk County, Iowa: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGMD-HML
• March 14, 1914 marriage of 38 year old Fred F. Parker and 26 year old Myrtle Reeves in Woodbury, Iowa: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDS-59CX
  Ancestry.com had a more detailed marriage record - 38 year old Fred F. Parker (born Sigourney, Iowa; occupation "Theatrical Man") and 26 year old Myrtle Reeves (born Missouri) and they married on March 6, 1914 in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa. Was the second marriage for both. His parents were J. T. Parker and A. S. McCauley.
• 1930 census - this LOOKS like our guy: 53 year old Fred H. Parker (born Iowa) is a roomer living on North Hudson Avenue, Los Angeles. He was single; a Spanish American War veteran; and occupation was "General line - Studio" (whatever that is?). Fred indicated his father was born in Ohio and mother in Indiana, and that parentage matches the 1880 census info above: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCVC-99D
• From mid 1930s through mid 1940s, California voter registrations included an occupation with each name. Ancestry.com had many Los Angeles County voter registrations and city directories for actor Fred F. Parker, No "Mrs. Parker" listed at his addresses.
  1925 San Diego City Directory: Parker, Fred F, actor, 1230 31st
  1936 Los Angeles County voter registration: Parker, Fred F, 1155 N Las Palmas av, actor
  1938 Los Angeles County voter registration: Parker, Fred F, 942 N Seward st, actor
  1940 Los Angeles County voter registration: Parker, Fred F, 942 N Seward st, actor
  1942 Los Angeles County voter registration: Parker, Fred F, 543 N Arden blvd, actor
  1944 Los Angeles County voter registration: Parker, Fred F, 23430 Ventura blvd, actor
  1946 Los Angeles County voter registration: Parker, Fred F, 23430 Ventura blvd, no occupation listed
  1948 Los Angeles County voter registration: Parker, Fred F, 23430 Ventura blvd, no occupation listed
• Delayed Iowa birth record for Fred Parker filed in October, 1940 - he was born August 31, 1876 in Sigourney Township, Keokuk, Iowa and parents were John Thomas Parker and Albina Stanhope Mcculley [sic]: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24Z-K49M
• Ancestry.com had death and funeral info from California funeral director Pierce Brothers - 83 year old Fred F. Parker passed away from bronchial pneumonia on February 29, 1960 at the Greenacres Lodge medical facility, South San Gabriel, Los Angeles County, California. He was born August 31, 1876 in Iowa; occupation was "Actor - Free Lance - Motion Picture"; was divorced; not a military veteran; informant was cousin Jack T. Parker, Garden Grove, California. Funeral service was scheduled for March 4, 1960 at Pierce Bros. Hollywood and interment at Valhalla: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BZ-F9QL-7?i=291
• California Death Index for Fred F. Parker - he was born August 31, 1876 in Iowa, mother's maiden name was McCauley, and he passed away on February 29, 1960 in Los Angeles County, California: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPWT-L5V

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Fred Parker: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0662252/

The Internet Movie Database has a "People Working Together" search function - Fred Parker did 29 films with producer/director/writer Robert Emmett Tansey during the years 1931 - 1940: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?role=nm0662252,nm0849806

The Library of Congress has 1911-1912 newspapers with ads in Iowa and South Dakota for Fred Parker and his "Folks from Vermont" play. This link will open in a separate window / tab: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/search/pages/results/?state=&dateFilterType=yearRange&date1=1777&date2=1963&language=&ortext=daisy+myrtle&andtext=Parker&phrasetext=Folks+from+Vermont&proxtext=&proxdistance=5&rows=20&searchType=advanced

Find A Grave has a photo of the marker for Fred's first wife, actress 'Daisy' Barden. Florence C. Barden Parker (1869 - 1939) is interred at Forest Home Cemetery, Greenville, Montcalm County, Michigan: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5678772/florence-c-parker

(Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Franklyn Farnum, Fred Parker, hero Wally Wales and Karla Cowan in a scene from the three reel short, ARIZONA CYCLONE (Imperial, 1934). Bob Tansey was the director. (Courtesy of Ed Tabor) Above is a lobby card from the Wally Wales starrer THE LONE RIDER (William Pizor/Imperial, 1934). On the left are Fred Parker and Myrla Bratton (billed as Merla Bratton). The "directed by Robert Emmett" is Robert Emmett 'Bob' Tansey. This was the last of the three reel shorts (approximately 27 minutes running time) that Wales did for Pizor/Imperial. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above - Wally Wales holds a very young Fay McKenzie in a lobby card and crop/blowup from SUNDOWN TRAIL (William Pizor/Imperial, 1934). On the far left are Herman Hack and Fred Parker and on the far right is Jack Kirk. Out cold on the floor are no-goods Sherry Tansey and Barney Beasley. Helmed by Bob Tansey. (From Old Corral collection) L-to-R are Fred Parker, Forrest Taylor, Johnny Mack Brown (all 'duded' up) and Hal Price in a lobby card from DESERT PHANTOM (A. W. Hackel/Supreme, 1936). Director on this was S. Roy Luby ... not Tansey.