Harry L Simpson (1904 - 1980)

Born 17 Jul 1904 in Leonia, Bergen, New Jersey, United States

Died 24 Feb 1980 at age 75 in Malibu, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Biography

Harry Simpson is one of twins.

Wikidata: Item Q17485906, en:Wikipedia - Hollywood actor and agent John Darrow

Harry was born in 1904. He was the son of Henry Leslie "Harry" Simpson and Lina Hart. He was the twin brother of Alice Alexandria Simpson. His middle name was probably Leslie.

In the 1910 census Harry (age 5) was the son of Henry L Simpson in Cortlandt, Westchester, New York, United States.^[1]

His father is presumed to have passed away after 1910 and his mother remarried a much younger man from Virginia.

In the 1920 census Harry (age 15) was the single stepson of Varencus O Nelle in New York City, New York, United States. His mother does not appear on the index, but there is an Emelyn Nelle on the record itself.^[2]

He began acting in theatre with a stock company, right after graduating high school. Shortly after, he would begin his film career with a featured role in the 1927 silent film, High School Hero.

In the 1930 census Harry (age 25) was the single son of Emelyn H Simpson in Los Angeles (Districts 0001-0250), Los Angeles, California, United States.^[3]

He moved to Los Angeles, California in the late 1920s, along with his mother and siblings, including his newly married twin sister. Over the next few years he appeared prominently in several leading or featured roles before abruptly retiring from acting in 1935.

A couple of contemporary records show him arriving in New York in 1936 from overseas twice within the year - possibly promoting his movies in European markets.^[4][5]

He switched to representation, becoming one of Hollywood's better known agents.

While he never married he was in a long-term relationship with film director Charles Walters.

John, son of Hart, died (age 76) on 24 February 1980 in Los Angeles, California, United States.^[6][7]

John died on 24 February 1980 and was buried in Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States.^[8]

Find A Grave: Memorial #85375712

Sources

1. ↑ 1910 Census: "United States Census, 1910"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T624; Digital film/folder number: 004973084; FHL microfilm: 1375103; Image number: 56; Sheet number: 6; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03542-2
   FamilySearch Record: M572-YB6 (accessed 29 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRJ1-ZHJ
   Harry L Simpson Twin (5), single son, in household of Henry L Simpson (46) in Cortlandt, Westchester, New York, United States. Born in New Jersey.
2. ↑ 1920 Census: "United States Census, 1920"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Line: 62; Digital film/folder number: 004966705; FHL microfilm: 1821209; Image number: 235; Sheet number: 22; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N02086-0
   FamilySearch Record: MJBX-5KV (accessed 29 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRNN-6QD
   Harry H Simpson (15), single son, in household of Varencus O Nelle (32) in New York City, New York, United States. Born in New Jersey.
3. ↑ 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T626; Line: 26; Digital film/folder number: 004950125; FHL microfilm: 2339869; Image number: 334; Sheet number: 4; Sheet letter: A; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03990-8
   FamilySearch Record: XCJ1-65X (accessed 29 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR48-W2L
   Harry L Simpson (25), single son, in household of Emelyn H Simpson (60) in Los Angeles (Districts 0001-0250), Los Angeles, California, United States. Born in New Jersey.
4. ↑ Immigration: "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957"
   citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.)
   FamilySearch Record: 24K4-BSQ (accessed 29 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-G5FG-WL5 Image number 00491
   Name: Henry L Simpson; Immigration Date: 1936; Immigration Place: New York, New York, United States; Birth Date: 1904; Birth Place: Leonia N J; Age: 32; Ship Name: Berlin.
5. ↑ Immigration: "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957"
   citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.)
   FamilySearch Record: 24KH-F5N (accessed 29 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-95FZ-S3NF Image number 00537
   Name: Henry L Simpson Or Darrow; Immigration Date: 1936; Immigration Place: New York, New York, United States; Birth Date: 1904; Birth Place: Leonia N J; Age: 32; Ship Name: Europa.
6. ↑ Death: "United States Social Security Death Index"
   citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing)
   FamilySearch Record: V9T6-HW5 (accessed 29 August 2023)
   John Darrow death Feb 1980 (born 17 Jul 1904) residing in Malibu, Los Angeles, California.
7. ↑ Death: "California Death Index, 1940-1997"
   FamilySearch Record: VGBH-JT5 (accessed 29 August 2023)
   John Darrow death 24 Feb 1980 (born 17 Jul 1904), son of Hart, in Los Angeles, California, United States.
8. ↑ Burial: "Find A Grave Index"
   citing record ID 85375712, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com
   FamilySearch Record: QV2B-6YMG (accessed 29 August 2023)
   John Darrow burial (died on 24 Feb 1980) in Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.

• Familysearch: Harry L Simpson
• https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0201690/ John Darrow at IMDB

Research Notes

Wikipedia has a different birth date. I believe the records support the 1904 date stated here.