Samuel Jones, a stocky and friendly-faced character actor, was born in England, where the brutality of his childhood rivaled the fictional worlds created by Charles Dickens.
After being separated from his parents, Ford lived for a while in an orphanage, where he was eventually sent to a Toronto branch of the institution.
During his time in Toronto, Ford began a cycle of living in 17 foster homes, with the longest stint being with a farm family that treated him like a slave.
At the age of 11, Ford ran away from his foster home and joined a vaudeville troupe called the Winnipeg Kiddies, with whom he stayed until 1914.
After leaving the Winnipeg Kiddies, Ford joined a friend named Wallace Ford, and the two "hoboed" their way into the United States.
Tragically, his friend was crushed to death by a railroad car, and Ford took his friend's name as a tribute to his memory.
Ford then found work in theatrical troupes and repertory companies, eventually making his way to Broadway, where he appeared in productions such as "Abraham Lincoln," "Abie's Irish Rose," and "Bad Girl."
Ford's time on Broadway came to an end in 1932, when he left to appear in the film "Possessed" alongside Joan Crawford.
He also landed the lead role in MGM's notorious film "Freaks" in 1932, although his fellow actors proved to be more memorable.
In addition to his work in "Freaks," Ford co-starred as Walter Huston's amoral brother in the studio's gangster melodrama "The Beast of the City," which starred Jean Harlow in one of her most hard-bitten roles.
Throughout his career, Ford appeared in over 200 films, including five directed by John Ford: "The Last Hurrah," "The Whole Town's Talking," "They Were Expendable," "The Lost Patrol," and "The Informer."
Ford also appeared in the TV series "The Deputy" alongside Henry Fonda, which ran from 1959 to 1960.
Tragically, Ford died of a heart attack soon after his last memorable role as "Old Pa" in the hit Sidney Poitier drama "A Patch of Blue" in 1965.
