Known For
Acting
Known Credits
34
Gender
Male
Birthday
October 2, 1862 (163 years old)
Place of Birth
Little Falls, New York, USA
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.
| 1917 | Cy Whittaker's Wardas Simmons | |
| 1917 | It Happened to Adeleas Vincent's Uncle | |
| 1917 | The Candy Girlas Officer Quinn | |
| 1917 | Her Life and Hisas Political Boss | |
| 1915 | Mr. Meeson's Willas Mr. Meeson | |
| 1915 | Weary Walker's Woesas Lawyer | |
| 1915 | From the River's Depthsas William Hewins - Dorothy's Father | |
| 1915 | The Marvelous Marathoneras Ewing Webster | |
| 1915 | His Two Patientsas The Blacksmith | |
| 1915 | Old Jane of the Gaietyas | |
| 1915 | The Country Girlas The Squire, her Guardian | |
| 1915 | God's Witnessas Judge | |
| 1915 | The Heart of the Princess Marsarias Paul's Wealthy Uncle | |
| 1915 | Love and Moneyas American Suitor's Father | |
| 1914 | A Dog of Flandersas The Rich Miller | |
| 1914 | A Debut in the Secret Serviceas Abdul | |
| 1914 | Their Best Friendas Jack's Father | |
| 1914 | The Danceras N.Z. Wood | |
| 1914 | Joseph in the Land of Egyptas | |
| 1913 | Peggy's Invitationas | |
| 1913 | Uncle's Namesakesas | |
| 1913 | The Farmer's Daughtersas Father | |
| 1913 | When the Studio Burnedas Director | |
| 1913 | The Dove in the Eagle's Nestas | |
| 1912 | Star of Bethlehemas Mage Gaspar | |
| 1912 | The Voice of Conscienceas Doctor | |
| 1912 | When a Count Countedas W.T. Wilson, Attorney at Law | |
| 1912 | Cousinsas Father on Farm | |
| 1912 | The Portrait of Lady Anneas Lady Anne's Father in 1770 | |
| 1912 | Nicholas Nicklebyas Uncle Ralph | |
| 1911 | David Copperfieldas Ham Peggotty (in part one) | |
| 1911 | A Circus Stowawayas Ringmaster | |
| 1910 | Young Lord Stanleyas the girl's father | |
| 1903 | The Great Train Robberyas Bandit Who Fires at Camera (uncredited) |