Justus D. Barnes

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 both the Western and action genres, setting a new "narrative standard" in the motion picture industry. Kim Newman says it is "probably the first Western film with a storyline".

Career Barnes was born in Little Falls, New York. His father was an immigrant from Scotland, while his mother was born in 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, Barnes 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 is buried in Weedsport Rural Cemetery, in Weedsport, New York.

Tributes Barnes appears on a postage stamp issued in 1988 to honor The Great Train Robbery.

Selected filmography Year Title Role Notes 1903 The Great Train Robbery Bandit who fires at camera Uncredited 1910 Young Lord Stanley The girl's father Alternative title: His Only Son 1911 The Declaration of Independence Samuel Adams 1911 David Copperfield Ham Peggotty 1912 On Probation The Rich Old Widower 1912 Nicholas Nickleby Nicholas' Uncle Ralph 1912 The Baby Bride The Minister 1912 When Mandy Came to Town The Father 1912 The Portrait of Lady Anne Lady Anne's Father in 1770 1912 Cousins Father on Farm 1912 The Voice of Conscience Doctor Credited as Justice Barnes 1912 Aurora Floyd Aurora's father 1912 The Star of Bethlehem Gaspar, a Magi 1912 With the Mounted Police Mounted Policeman 1913 When the Studio Burned Director 1913 While Mrs. McFadden Looked Out Mr. McFadden 1913 For Another's Sin Bank Examiner 1913 A Victim of Circumstances The Father 1913 When Darkness Came The Senior Partner 1913 The Farmer's Daughters Father 1913 He Couldn't Lose Green, a lawyer 1913 A Beauty Parlor Graduate Uncle Bill 1913 An Amateur Animal Trainer Belle's father 1914 Joseph in the Land of Egypt Undetermined role 1914 Percy's First Holiday Undetermined role Uncredited 1914 A Leak in the Foreign Office Abdool – Trevor's Afghan companion 1914 A Can of Baked Beans Mr. Morton 1914 Their Best Friend Jack's Father 1914 Cardinal Richelieu's Ward Huguet Credited as Justus Barnes 1914 A Debut in the Secret Service Abdul 1914 The Infant Heart Snatcher The Judge 1914 The Mohammedan's Conspiracy Abdul 1914 A Dog of Flanders The Rich Miller Lost film 1914 From the Shadows Stage Manager Alternative title: Out of the Shadows 1914 His Enemy John Baird 1914 The Harlow Handicap George Carnes 1914 Arty, the Artist Mr. Miles – May's Father 1914 Gold The Village Bully 1914 The Mettle of a Man John Ross 1914 The Harvest of Regrets Mr. Sheldon 1914 The Diamond of Disaster The Bandit 1914 Lucy's Elopement Ezra Jenkins 1915 The Home of Silence Ralph's father 1915 Helen Intervenes Store Manager 1915 The Smuggled Diamond Chief of the Secret Service 1915 The Adventure of Florence Mr. Clark – Florence's Father 1915 The Final Reckoning Judge Granger 1915 Bianca Forgets Bianca's father 1915 Love and Money The American Suitor's Father 1915 The Heart of the Princess Marsari Paul's Wealthy Uncle 1915 God's Witness Judge Lost film 1915 Bud Blossom Bud's grandfather 1915 The Country Girl The Squire, her Guardian 1915 Old Jane of the Gaiety Choreographer 1915 His Two Patients The Blacksmith 1915 The Marvelous Marathoner Ewing Webster 1915 Snapshots Henry Spear – Editor 1915 From the River's Depths William Hewins – Dorothy's Father Alternative title: A Call from the Dead 1915 Weary Walker's Woes Lawyer 1915 Mr Meeson's Will Mr. Meeson 1916 Outwitted The Contractor 1916 Fear Jasper 1916 Arabella's Prince The Prince 1917 Her Life and His Political Boss 1917 Hinton's Double Detective Denton 1917 The Candy Girl Officer Quinn 1917 An Amateur Orphan Dave's Father Credited as Justus Barnes 1917 It Happened to Adele Vincent's Uncle 1917 Cy Whittaker's Ward Simmons Credited as J.D. Barnes