About

Known credits:
29
Birthday:
1862-10-02
Place of birth:
Little Falls, New York, USA
Website:
N/A

Justus D. Barnes

Overview

Justus D. Barnes (October 2, 1862 – February 6, 1946), named George Barnes in some sources, was an American stage and film actor. He is best known for his role in the 1903 silent short The Great Train Robbery, which the American Film Institute and many film historians and critics recognize as the production that first established the Western genre, setting a new "narrative standard" in the motion picture industry.

Barnes was born in Little Falls, New York. He was a veteran stage actor before he made his screen debut in 1903 in The Great Train Robbery. In that film's memorable ending, Barnes points his pistol at the camera and slowly fires all six shots at the viewer. The Great Train Robbery became one of the most successful and best known commercial films of the early silent era.

In July 1908, Barnes was hired as an actor in the stock company of the Edison Manufacturing Company, the film production company owned by Thomas Edison. In 1910, he signed on with the Thanhouser Company in New Rochelle, New York. Between 1910 and 1917, Justus appeared in more than seventy films for the Thanhouser, usually in the role of a villain. He played Ham Peggotty in David Copperfield, the earliest known film adaption of the 1850 novel by Charles Dickens. He also played supporting roles in Nicholas Nickleby (1912), Aurora Floyd (1912), and A Dog of Flanders (1914).

In 1917, he was released from the Thanhouser Company due to the company's financial issues. Barnes made his final onscreen appearance for the Edison Studio in Cy Whittaker's Ward, in 1917. After retiring from acting, Barnes moved to Weedsport, New York, where he worked as a milkman. He later owned a cigar store. Barnes died on February 6, 1946, in Weedsport at the age of 83. He is buried in Weedsport Rural Cemetery, in Weedsport, New York.

Known for

Acting
1917 Cy Whittaker's Ward Actor Simmons N/A
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1917 It Happened to Adele Actor Vincent's Uncle N/A
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1915 Mr. Meeson's Will Actor Mr. Meeson N/A
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1915 Weary Walker's Woes Actor Lawyer N/A
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1915 From the River's Depths Actor William Hewins - Dorothy's Father N/A
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1915 The Marvelous Marathoner Actor Ewing Webster 58
Average
1915 His Two Patients Actor The Blacksmith N/A
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1915 Old Jane of the Gaiety Actor 59
Average
1915 The Country Girl Actor The Squire, her Guardian N/A
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1915 The Heart of the Princess Marsari Actor Paul's Wealthy Uncle N/A
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1915 Love and Money Actor American Suitor's Father N/A
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1914 A Dog of Flanders Actor The Rich Miller N/A
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1914 A Debut in the Secret Service Actor Abdul N/A
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1914 Their Best Friend Actor Jack's Father N/A
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1914 The Dancer Actor N.Z. Wood N/A
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1914 Joseph in the Land of Egypt Actor 59
Average
1913 Peggy's Invitation Actor N/A
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1913 Uncle's Namesakes Actor 59
Average
1913 The Farmer's Daughters Actor Father 58
Average
1913 When the Studio Burned Actor Director 58
Average
1913 The Dove in the Eagle's Nest Actor N/A
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1912 Star of Bethlehem Actor Mage Gaspar 58
Average
1912 The Voice of Conscience Actor Doctor 59
Average
1912 Cousins Actor Father on Farm N/A
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1912 The Portrait of Lady Anne Actor Lady Anne's Father in 1770 58
Average
1912 Nicholas Nickleby Actor Uncle Ralph 59
Average
1911 David Copperfield Actor Ham Peggotty (in part one) N/A
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1910 Young Lord Stanley Actor the girl's father 59
Average
1903 The Great Train Robbery Actor Bandit Who Fires at Camera (uncredited) 65
Fair