Wilford Brimley

Biography

After serving in the Marine Corps and working as a ranch hand, Wilford Brimley became an American actor who started as an extra and stuntman in Westerns before breaking through on The Waltons as the blacksmith Horace Brimley in the 1970s. His first credited film role came in The China Syndrome (1979), and he went on to play gruff or stodgy older men in Tender Mercies (1983), The Natural (1984), and Cocoon (1985), where he was cast as retirement-home leader Ben Luckett despite being far younger than his character. He appeared in The Thing (1982), Absence of Malice (1981), and The Firm (1993) as a sinister security chief, and later in In & Out (1997), Crossfire Trail (2001), and Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009). He was also the face of Quaker Oats commercials and a jazz singer.

85years old at death

Born September 27, 1934Salt Lake City
Died August 1, 2020St. George
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Anthony Wilford Brimley (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 28
Career span: 40 years1979 to 2019

Genres

Drama54%, 15 films
Comedy25%, 7 films
Thriller21%, 6 films
Adventure18%, 5 films
Action14%, 4 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Big break
Brimley got his onscreen breakthrough when he was cast as Horace Brimley, a blacksmith and resident of Walton's Mountain, in the 1970s television series The Waltons. He appeared seven times between 1974 and 1977.
Big break
Robert Duvall, a close friend of Brimley, helped him get the part of Harry in Tender Mercies. Director Bruce Beresford thought Brimley was too old for the role but later agreed to cast him.
A change of course
Brimley shod horses for film and television before acting. Robert Duvall, a close friend and fellow actor, encouraged him, and in the 1960s he worked in westerns as a riding extra and stunt man.
Beyond film
Brimley self-released a 2004 album of jazz standards, This Time, The Dream's On Me, and in 2013 partnered with Riders in the Sky on the album Home on the Range, singing country and folk songs.

Wilford Brimley movies on Netflix

I Believe2019IMDb rating 5.9as Pastor
Did You Hear About the Morgans?2009IMDb rating 5.0as Earl Granger
Crossfire Trail2001IMDb rating 7.1as Joe Gill
Progeny1998IMDb rating 4.9as Dr. David Wetherly
In & Out1997IMDb rating 6.4as Frank Brackett
My Fellow Americans1996IMDb rating 6.5as Joe Hollis
Last of the Dogmen1995IMDb rating 7.0as Narrator
Mutant Species1994IMDb rating 3.6as Devro
Hard Target1993IMDb rating 6.2as Uncle Douvee
The Firm1993IMDb rating 6.9as William Devasher
Where The Red Fern Grows Part 21992IMDb rating 5.1as Grandpa Will
Cocoon: The Return1988IMDb rating 5.4as Benjamin 'Ben' Luckett
Act of Vengeance1986IMDb rating 6.0as Tony Boyle
Cocoon1985IMDb rating 6.7as Ben Luckett
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor1985IMDb rating 5.4as Noa
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins1985IMDb rating 6.4as Harold Smith
Harry & Son1984IMDb rating 5.8as Tom Keach
The Hotel New Hampshire1984IMDb rating 5.8as Iowa Bob
The Natural1984IMDb rating 7.4as Pop Fisher
10 to Midnight1983IMDb rating 6.3as Captain Malone
High Road to China1983IMDb rating 6.1as Bradley Tozer
Tender Mercies1983IMDb rating 7.3as Harry
Death Valley1982IMDb rating 5.5as The Sheriff
The Thing1982IMDb rating 8.2as Blair
Absence of Malice1981IMDb rating 6.9as Wells
Borderline1980IMDb rating 6.0as Scooter Jackson
The China Syndrome1979IMDb rating 7.4as Ted Spindler
The Electric Horseman1979IMDb rating 6.5as Farmer

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Thing1982 Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fias Blair
IMDb rating 8.2536K votes
The Firm1993 Drama, Mystery, Thrilleras William Devasher
IMDb rating 6.9164K votes
Cocoon1985as Ben Luckett
IMDb rating 6.774K votes
The Natural1984as Pop Fisher
IMDb rating 7.458K votes
Hard Target1993as Uncle Douvee
IMDb rating 6.261K votes
Cocoon: The Return1988as Benjamin 'Ben' Luckett
IMDb rating 5.418K votes
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor1985as Noa
IMDb rating 5.412K votes
In & Out1997as Frank Brackett
IMDb rating 6.447K votes

Most often with

Sydney Pollack directed three of these films. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Charles Bronson

Ellen Barkin

Tom Selleck

Robert Duvall

Ed Harris

Jane Fonda

Sydney PollackDirector, 3 films

Films together

Charles Bronson3 films together, 1980 to 1986
Charles Bronson's page
- Act of Vengeance1986IMDb rating 6.0Brimley as Tony BoyleBronson as Joseph 'Jock' Yablonski
- 10 to Midnight1983IMDb rating 6.3Brimley as Captain MaloneBronson as Leo Kessler
- Borderline1980IMDb rating 6.0Brimley as Scooter JacksonBronson as Jeb Maynard
Ellen Barkin3 films together, 1983 to 1986
Ellen Barkin's page
- Act of Vengeance1986IMDb rating 6.0Brimley as Tony BoyleBarkin as Annette Gilly
- Harry & Son1984IMDb rating 5.8Brimley as Tom KeachBarkin as Katie Wilowski
- Tender Mercies1983IMDb rating 7.3Brimley as HarryBarkin as Sue Anne
Tom Selleck3 films together, 1983 to 2001
Tom Selleck's page
- Crossfire Trail2001IMDb rating 7.1Brimley as Joe GillSelleck as Rafe Covington
- In & Out1997IMDb rating 6.4Brimley as Frank BrackettSelleck as Peter Malloy
- High Road to China1983IMDb rating 6.1Brimley as Bradley TozerSelleck as Patrick O' Malley
Robert Duvall2 films together, 1983 to 1984
Robert Duvall's page
- The Natural1984IMDb rating 7.4Brimley as Pop FisherDuvall as Max Mercy
- Tender Mercies1983IMDb rating 7.3Brimley as HarryDuvall as Mac Sledge
Ed Harris2 films together, 1980 to 1993
Ed Harris's page
- The Firm1993IMDb rating 6.9Brimley as William DevasherHarris as Wayne Tarrance
- Borderline1980IMDb rating 6.0Brimley as Scooter JacksonHarris as Hotchkiss
Jane Fonda2 films together, 1979
Jane Fonda's page
- The China Syndrome1979IMDb rating 7.4Brimley as Ted SpindlerFonda as Kimberly Wells
- The Electric Horseman1979IMDb rating 6.5Brimley as FarmerFonda as Hallie
Sydney PollackDirector, 3 films, 1979 to 1993
All films by Sydney Pollack
- The Firm1993IMDb rating 6.9Brimley as William Devasher
- Absence of Malice1981IMDb rating 6.9Brimley as Wells
- The Electric Horseman1979IMDb rating 6.5Brimley as Farmer
Also two films together24 more actors
- Paul NewmanHarry & Son (1984) and Absence of Malice (1981)
- Robert RedfordThe Natural (1984) and The Electric Horseman (1979)
- Maury ChaykinAct of Vengeance (1986) and Harry & Son (1984)
- Jack LemmonMy Fellow Americans (1996) and The China Syndrome (1979)
- Steve GuttenbergCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Barbara HersheyLast of the Dogmen (1995) and The Natural (1984)
- Patrick KilpatrickCrossfire Trail (2001) and Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
- Hume CronynCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Paul GleasonEwoks: The Battle for Endor (1985) and Tender Mercies (1983)
- Arnold VoslooProgeny (1998) and Hard Target (1993)
- Jessica TandyCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Don AmecheCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Ken PogueCrossfire Trail (2001) and Act of Vengeance (1986)
- Maureen StapletonCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Jack GilfordCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Gwen VerdonCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Herta WareCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Barret OliverCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Linda HarrisonCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Cosie CostaRemo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) and 10 to Midnight (1983)
- Tahnee WelchCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Mike NomadCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Tyrone Power Jr.Cocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Wendy J. CookeCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.