Justus D. Barnes (October 2, 1862 – February 6, 1946) was an American stage and silent film actor. Barnes is best known for his role as an outlaw in the 1903 short silent Western, The Great Train Robbery.
Justus 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 film debut in 1903 in The Great Train Robbery, one of the first American films to emphasize narrative. In a memorable scene, Barnes as an outlaw points his pistol at the camera and fires all six shots at the viewers. The Great Train Robbery became one of the most successful and best known commercial films of the early silent screen 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.
Later years and death
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.
Tributes
Justus Barnes appears on a postage stamp issued in 1988 to honor The Great Train Robbery.
Filmography
Actor
1917
Cy Whittaker's Ward as
Simmons (as J.D. Barnes)
1917
It Happened to Adele as
Vincent's Uncle
1917
An Amateur Orphan as
Dave's Father (as Justus Barnes)
1917
The Candy Girl as
Officer Quinn
1917
Hinton's Double as
Det. Denton
1917
Her Life and His as
Political Boss
1916
Arabella's Prince (Short) as
The Prince
1916
Fear (Short) as
Jasper
1916
Outwitted (Short) as
The Contractor
1915
Mr. Meeson's Will (Short) as
Mr. Meeson
1915
Weary Walker's Woes (Short) as
Lawyer
1915
From the River's Depths (Short) as
William Hewins - Dorothy's Father
1915
Snapshots (Short) as
Henry Spear - Editor
1915
The Marvelous Marathoner (Short) as
Ewing Webster
1915
His Two Patients (Short) as
The Blacksmith
1915
Old Jane of the Gaiety (Short) as
Choreographer
1915
The Country Girl (Short) as
The Squire, her Guardian
1915
Bud Blossom (Short) as
Bud's Grandfather
1915
The House That Jack Moved (Short)
1915
God's Witness as
Judge
1915
The Heart of the Princess Marsari (Short) as
Paul's Wealthy Uncle
1915
Love and Money (Short) as
American Suitor's Father
1915
Bianca Forgets (Short) as
Bianca's Father
1915
The Final Reckoning (Short) as
Judge Granger
1915
The Adventure of Florence (Short) as
Mr. Clark - Florence's Father
1915
The Smuggled Diamond (Short) as
Chief of the Secret Service
1915
Nell's Strategy (Short)
1915
Helen Intervenes (Short) as
Store Manager
1915
The Home of Silence (Short) as
Ralph's Father
1914
Lucy's Elopement (Short) as
Ezra Jenkins
1914
Old Jackson's Girl (Short)
1914
The Diamond of Disaster (Short) as
The Bandit
1914
The Harvest of Regrets (Short) as
Mr. Sheldon
1914
The Mettle of a Man (Short) as
John Ross
1914
Gold (Short) as
The Village Bully
1914
Arty, the Artist (Short) as
Mr. Miles - May's Father
1914
In Peril's Path (Short)
1914
The Harlow Handicap (Short) as
George Carnes
1914
His Enemy (Short) as
John Baird
1914
From the Shadows (Short) as
Stage Manager
1914
A Dog of Flanders (Short) as
The Rich Miller
1914
The Mohammedan's Conspiracy (Short) as
Abdul
1914
The Infant Heart Snatcher (Short) as
The Judge
1914
A Debut in the Secret Service (Short) as
Abdul
1914
Cardinal Richelieu's Ward as
Huguet (as Justus Barnes)
1914
Their Best Friend (Short) as
Jack's Father
1914
A Can of Baked Beans (Short) as
Mr. Morton
1914
A Leak in the Foreign Office (Short) as
Abdool - Trevor's Afghan companion
1914
The Dancer (Short)
1914
Percy's First Holiday (Short) as
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
1914
Joseph in the Land of Egypt as
Undetermined Role
1914
Two Little Dromios (Short)
1913
An Amateur Animal Trainer (Short) as
Belle's Father
1913
His Father's Wife (Short)
1913
Peggy's Invitation (Short)
1913
Uncle's Namesakes (Short)
1913
A Beauty Parlor Graduate (Short) as
Uncle Bill
1913
He Couldn't Lose (Short) as
Green, a Lawyer
1913
The Farmer's Daughters (Short) as
Father
1913
His Last Bet (Short)
1913
The Missing Witness (Short)
1913
When Darkness Came (Short) as
The Senior Partner
1913
A Victim of Circumstances (Short) as
The Father
1913
For Another's Sin (Short) as
The Bank Examiner
1913
While Mrs. McFadden Looked Out (Short) as
Mr. McFadden
1913
When the Studio Burned (Short) as
Director
1913
The Dove in the Eagle's Nest (Short)
1912
With the Mounted Police (Short) as
Mounted Policeman
1912
The Star of Bethlehem (Short) as
Gaspar, a Magi
1912
Aurora Floyd (Short) as
Aurora's Father
1912
The Voice of Conscience (Short) as
Doctor (as Justice Barnes)
1912
When a Count Counted (Short) as
W.T. Wilson, Attorney at Law
1912
Cousins (Short) as
Father on Farm
1912
The Portrait of the Lady Anne (Short) as
Lady Anne's Father in 1770
1912
When Mandy Came to Town (Short) as
The Father
1912
The Baby Bride (Short) as
The Minister
1912
Nicholas Nickleby (Short) as
Nicholas' Uncle Ralph
1912
On Probation (Short) as
The Rich Old Widower
1911
David Copperfield (Short) as
Ham Peggotty (in part one)
1911
The Declaration of Independence (Short) as
Samuel Adams
1911
A Circus Stowaway (Short) as
Ringmaster
1910
Young Lord Stanley (Short) as
The girl's father
1903
The Great Train Robbery (Short) as
Bandit Who Fires at Camera (uncredited)
Archive Footage
2018
Het verhaal van.. Waylon (TV Movie documentary) as
