Justus D. Barnes
Introduction '''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. 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, 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 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
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