Justus D. Barnes
Encyclopedia
Justus D. Barnes was an American
film actor
, most famous for his role as an outlaw
in The Great Train Robbery, a Western
and the first movie with a complete narrative made. He is seen pointing his gun directly at the camera, a famous scene. He also played Ham Peggotty in David Copperfield
(1911), the oldest known film version of the novel
by Charles Dickens
. He worked for the Thanhouser Company
, one of the first movie studios.
in New Rochelle, New York.
, then a young actor, and Charlie Chaplin
who like him appeared in many silent movies. He inspired many actors such as Clint Eastwood
and Gavin Abbott.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, most famous for his role as an outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
in The Great Train Robbery, a Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
and the first movie with a complete narrative made. He is seen pointing his gun directly at the camera, a famous scene. He also played Ham Peggotty in David Copperfield
David Copperfield (1911 film)
David Copperfield is a 1911 American black-and-white silent film based on the novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. It is the oldest known film adaptation of the novel....
(1911), the oldest known film version of the novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
. He worked for the Thanhouser Company
Thanhouser Company
The Thanhouser Company was one of the first motion picture studios, founded in 1909 by Edwin Thanhouser.-See also:...
, one of the first movie studios.
Life and work
Barnes was born in Little Falls, New York. He later worked for the Thanhouser CompanyThanhouser Company
The Thanhouser Company was one of the first motion picture studios, founded in 1909 by Edwin Thanhouser.-See also:...
in New Rochelle, New York.
Death and legacy
Justus D. Barnes died on February 6, 1946 in Weedsport, New York. Thousands packed the streets to see his cortege drive by. The official eulogies were given by his close friends John WayneJohn Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
, then a young actor, and Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
who like him appeared in many silent movies. He inspired many actors such as Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
and Gavin Abbott.