Wilford Brimley
Highest Rated: 100% Country (1984)
Lowest Rated: 12% Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)
Birthday: Sep 27, 1934
Birthplace: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
The actor of choice to play gruff, but lovable grandfathers, old salts and dispensers of sage advice in the 1980s, Wilford Brimley was a former real-life ranch hand who worked his way up the Hollywood food chain from stunt rider and extra to popular character actor and television pitchman. On the advice of friend Robert Duvall, Brimley set his course down the acting path and earned his big break in "The China Syndrome" (1979). By the mid-1980s, Brimley was adding old-fashioned grit and homespun charm to high-profile pictures like "The Natural" (1984), "Cocoon" (1985) and "The Firm" (1993), as well as on the primetime series "Our House" (NBC, 1986-88). His profile lessened in subsequent years, though his avuncular presence was well used in a series of ads for Quaker Oats and the Liberty Medical supply company, keeping fresh his distinctly whiskered visage to audiences.
Photos
Filmography
Movies
| Credit | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | I Believe | Pastor (Character) | - | 2017 |
| No Score Yet | 56% | Timber the Treasure Dog | Hawk Jones (Character) | - | 2016 |
| No Score Yet | 80% | The Natural: The Best There Ever Was |
Pop Fisher / |
- | 2015 |
| No Score Yet | 20% | The Path of the Wind | Harry Caldwell (Character) | - | 2009 |
| 12% | 27% | Did You Hear About the Morgans? | Earl (Character) | $29.6M | 2009 |
| 71% | 62% | The Road Home | Coach Weaver (Character) | - | 2003 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Round and Round | Governor (Character) | - | 2002 |
| No Score Yet | 73% | The Ballad of Lucy Whipple | Deputy Sheriff Ambrose Scraggs (Character) | - | 2001 |
| 40% | 77% | Louis L'Amour's Crossfire Trail | Joe Gill (Character) | - | 2001 |
| 71% | 80% | Brigham City | Stu (Character) | $851.1K | 2001 |
| No Score Yet | 65% | Summer of the Monkeys | Grandpa Sam Ferrans (Character) | - | 1998 |
| No Score Yet | 26% | Progeny | Dr. David Wetherly (Character) | - | 1998 |
| 71% | 52% | In & Out | Frank Brackett (Character) | $63.9M | 1997 |
| 47% | 64% | My Fellow Americans | Joe Hollis (Character) | $22.3M | 1996 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Chapter Perfect | Chief Hawkins (Character) | - | 1996 |
| No Score Yet | 8% | Mutant Species | Devro (Character) | - | 1995 |
| No Score Yet | 64% | The Good Old Boys | C.C. Tarpley (Character) | - | 1995 |
| No Score Yet | 43% | Heaven Sent | Al (Character) | - | 1995 |
| No Score Yet | 80% | A Place to Grow | Jake (Character) | - | 1995 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger | Burt Mueller (Character) | - | 1993 |
| 58% | 49% | Hard Target | Uncle Douvee (Character) | $31.5M | 1993 |
| 75% | 64% | The Firm | William Devasher (Character) | $157.0M | 1993 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Where the Red Fern Grows, Part II | Grandpa Will (Character) | - | 1992 |
| No Score Yet | 38% | Blood River | U.S. Marshal Winston Patrick Culler (Character) | - | 1991 |
| No Score Yet | 71% | Eternity |
King/ |
- | 1990 |
| No Score Yet | 50% | Billy the Kid | Gov. Lew Wallace (Character) | - | 1989 |
| 60% | 41% | End of the Line | Will Haney (Character) | - | 1988 |
| 33% | 34% | Cocoon: The Return | Benjamin "Ben" Luckett (Character) | $18.5M | 1988 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Thompson's Last Run | Red Haines (Character) | - | 1986 |
| No Score Yet | 67% | American Justice | Sheriff Mitchell (Character) | - | 1986 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Shadows on the Wall | Floyd Buckman (Character) | - | 1986 |
| No Score Yet | 57% | Act of Vengeance | Tony Boyle (Character) | - | 1986 |
| No Score Yet | 51% | Ewoks: The Battle for Endor | Noa (Character) | - | 1985 |
| 41% | 58% | Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins | Harold Smith (Character) | $14.4M | 1985 |
| 75% | 60% | Cocoon | Ben Luckett (Character) | $75.9M | 1985 |
| No Score Yet | 20% | Murder in Space | Dr. Andrew McCallister (Character) | - | 1985 |
| 30% | 37% | Harry and Son | Tom Keach (Character) | - | 1984 |
| 67% | 42% | The Stone Boy | George Jansen (Character) | - | 1984 |
| 83% | 88% | The Natural | Pop Fisher (Character) | - | 1984 |
| 100% | 69% | Country | Otis (Character) | - | 1984 |
| No Score Yet | 62% | Tough Enough | Bill Long (Character) | - | 1983 |
| No Score Yet | 64% | High Road to China | Bradley Tozer (Character) | - | 1983 |
| 84% | 82% | Tender Mercies | Harry (Character) | - | 1983 |
| 40% | 50% | 10 to Midnight | Captain Malone (Character) | - | 1983 |
| No Score Yet | 28% | Death Valley | Sheriff (Character) | - | 1982 |
| 83% | 92% | The Thing | Dr. Blair (Character) | - | 1982 |
| No Score Yet | 40% | The Big Black Pill | Wally Haskell (Character) | - | 1981 |
| 81% | 63% | Absence of Malice | Wells (Character) | - | 1981 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Rodeo Girl | Bingo Gibbs (Character) | - | 1980 |
| No Score Yet | 34% | Borderline | Scooter Jackson (Character) | - | 1980 |
| 64% | 57% | The Electric Horseman | Farmer (Character) | - | 1979 |
| 87% | 81% | The China Syndrome | Ted Spindler (Character) | - | 1979 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Oregon Trail | Joseph Burke (Character) | - | 1975 |
TV
| Credit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Score Yet | 100% | The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson | Music Performer | 2013 |
| 89% | 92% | Seinfeld | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 |
| No Score Yet | 8% | Walker, Texas Ranger | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1995 |
| 91% | 100% | Homicide: Life on the Street | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1994 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Our House | Gus Witherspoon (Character) | 1986-1988 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Waltons | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1974-1976 |
| No Score Yet | 100% | Kung Fu | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1975 |