Wilford Brimley

Wilford Brimley was a famous American actor and singer who is well-known for his Quaker Oats commercials. Before his acting career, he worked as a Sergeant in the US marine who fought during the Korean conflict and spent more than three years in the Aleutian Islands. After his job as a US marine, he did many odd jobs for a living. He is remembered as an enjoyable person who used to loosen up the moods for his castmates by cracking up small jokes every now and then, making everyone laugh.

Besides, the actor was a bodyguard to one of the most financially successful businessmen, Howard Robard Hughes Junior. He worked as a ranch hand, blacksmith and wrangler before joining the television line with minor roles like shoeing horses. His actual acting began in the 1960s when he worked as a stuntman and an extra in Westerns. According to Brimley, his first-ever acting performance was in front of a live audience at the Los Angeles Actor’s Theater.

Where was Wilford Brimley born?

Anthony Wilford Brimley was an American actor and singer born on September 27, 1934, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to mother Lola Samantha Nelson and father Wilford Charles Brimley, a real estate broker. He was the second child to his parents’ five children. He had an elder sister, Donna Janeen, three younger siblings, Sterling Nelson, Mary Lucile, and Alyce Carol. Also, he had three half-siblings from his father’s first marriage, namely Donald E., Dorothy, and Ruth.

The actor never really received any professional acting coaching classes, and his first-ever work in the television line of work was shoeing horses for television. Anthony was unfortunately diagnosed with diabetes. To promote awareness among the others, he educated many people about the disease and was even honored by the American Diabetes Association for his contribution. Wilford Brimley sadly passed away at 85 due to a terrible kidney condition on August 1, 2020, at a hospital in St. George, Utah. His star sign was Libra.

What is the educational detail of Brimley?

Not much is known about Wilford Brimley’s education, but it is known that he dropped out of high school in the year 1950 as he was patriotic and wanted to experience his duties as a marine. He joined the US Marines, fought during the Korean conflict, and spent three years in the Aleutian Islands, located between Alaska and Russia.

What is Wilford’s distinctive feature?

Wilford Brimley was an American and was of English, Scottish, Danish, Welsh, German and Swiss-German descent. Wilford was a devoted Mormon.

He stood 5 feet and 8 inches (1.75m/175cms) tall and weighed around 105kgs (231.4lbs). In his late years, Brimley had white-colored hair with a white beard and mustache with a pair of brown eyes.

How did Wilford Brimley begin his career?

Wilford Brimley started his career as a US marine who fought during the Korean conflicts. He was discharged from duty. Later he found jobs as a wrangler, hand-ranch, a blacksmith, and even a bodyguard to Howard Hughes. He accidentally entered the television line when he was shoeing horses for television. There he met the legendary American actor and later a good friend, Robert Duvall. Robert suggested that Brimley should try for an extra or a stuntman in Western genre movies. He got fascinated by the idea and started his career in the movie industry in an uncredited role of a stuntman in various films like the 1968’s Western movie ‘Bandolero!’, ‘True Git’ in 1969 and ‘Lawman’ in 1971.

Brimley’s career received a significant breakthrough when he starred as Horace Brimley in the popular television series ‘The Waltons.’ In the series, he appeared in eight of its episodes from 1974 till 1977. In between this, he also appeared in an episode of the drama television series ‘Kung Fu.’ Also, he featured in two episodes of the 1976 television series ‘The Oregon Trail.’

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In 1979, Brimley got his first credited role as Ted Spindler in the 1979 American drama neo-noir thriller movie ‘The China Syndrome.’ He also appeared as a farmer the same year in the film ‘The Electric Horseman.’ Between 1980 and 1986, Brimley appeared in various television movies like ‘The Wild West Revisited,’ ‘Amber Waves,’ ‘Rodeo Girl,’ ‘Roughnecks,’ ‘Murder in Space.’ Likewise, he featured in ‘The Big Black Pill,’ ‘Ewoks: The Battle for Endor,’ ‘Thompson’s Last Run’ and ‘Act of Vengeance.’

In the 1980s, he appeared in 22 movies, making himself known in the industry. He played the critical role of Assistant US Attorney James A. Wells in the 1981 movie ‘Absence of Malice.’ He also played the role of Blair, a biologist in the 1982 American science-fiction horror movie ‘The Thing.’ In 1985, he had his first lead role, for which he is best-known in the industry today as Ben Luckett in the award-winning movie ‘Cocoon.’ He later played in the 1986 drama series ‘Our House’ as Gus Witherspoon from 1986 to 1988.

In the 1990s, he appeared in 14 movies. The most remarkable among them is his role as a creepy head of security in the 1993 movie ‘The Firm.’ In 1997, Brimley decided to leave Hollywood to appear in independent productions like Lunker Lake, Chapter Perfect, Progeny, A Place to Grow, and many more.

Commercials

Besides movies and television series, Brimley frequently appeared in Quaker Oats commercials. He was especially notable and famous for saying their slogan, ‘It’s the right thing to do.’ In addition, since he was an active promoter of diabetes, he also appeared in Liberty Medicals’ commercials and American Diabetes Association commercials.

Musical Interests

Brimley is known to have a warm and rich voice. In a 1993 concert, Brimley sang with Cal State Northridge’s Jazz Endowment Scholarship Fund. In 2004, he released an album ‘This Time, The Dream’s on Me.’ He is also an expert harmonica player as he played ‘Oh! Susanna’ in the 2011 ‘The Late Show with Craig Ferguson.’

What are Wilford Brimley’s achievements?

Wilford Brimley became nominated in the CableACE Awards. He received this by Actor in a Movie or Miniseries for his work in ‘Act of Vengeance’ in 1987. Similarly, he became a nominee in the Maverick Movie Awards for his work in ‘Masque’ in 2013. In addition, he has made the 2005 Golden Boot Award to his name.

Who is Wilford Brimley’s wife?

Wilford Brimley first married Lynne Bagley in 1956. He had four children-all sons, namely Jim, John, Lawrence, and Bill. They were living happily together when, unfortunately, Lynne passed away on June 14, 2000.

Later in 2007, Brimley married Beverly Berry. Likewise, this couple started a non-profit organization called Hands Across the Saddle. The organization had a primary goal. They assist people with paying rent, small medical bills, or even providing them with food when necessary.

Brimley stayed married to Beverly until his sad demise at the age of 85. Wilford Brimley was active on Twitter (@RealWilfordB) with 61 thousand followers, but the account was not verified.

What is the Net Worth of Wilford Brimley?

Wilford Brimley mainly earned his 50 years long acting career, which earned him a lot of name and fame. His net worth at the time of his death is $6 million.

• Beverly Berry
• Lynne Bagley
• The Electric Horseman
• The Waltons