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Wilford Brimley's presence on-screen was as undeniable as his distinctive voice and rugged visage. Born into the world on September 27, 1934, in the hustle of Salt Lake City, Utah, Brimley was the son of a [real estate](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-real-estate) broker, giving him a glimpse into the complexities of American life from a young age. His family was his cornerstone, with siblings sharing the Brimley name, though none as widely known as Wilford himself. He was a man who carved his path from bodyguard to beloved character [actor](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-actor-actress), leaving a legacy marked by a range of memorable performances. ## Early Life and Career Brimley's life had humble beginnings, with his upbringing painting a picture of classic Americana. Though his educational journey and early aspirations remain less documented, the world of [entertainment](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-entertainment) soon beckoned. The year 1969 marked his inaugural step into acting, albeit behind the scenes, where he performed stunt work in the [film](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-movie-film) industry. His pivot to acting came to fruition, and [audiences](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-audience) first saw Brimley in front of the [camera]( https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-camera) in the 1970s in a non-starring role, setting the stage for what was to come. It wasn't until 1982 when Brimley's portrayal of Blair in John Carpenter's chilling [sci-fi](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-science-fiction-scifi) [horror](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-horror-genre) , "The Thing," earned him critical acclaim and a place in the hearts of [movie](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-movie-film) enthusiasts. This role solidified his standing in [Hollywood](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-hollywood-film-industry), but it was his heartfelt performance as Pop Fisher in "The Natural" in 1984 that truly showcased his depth and charm, endearing him to a broader audience. Brimley's filmography was further distinguished by his role in "The Firm" (1993), where his portrayal of the enigmatic William Devasher added another layer to his complex persona on-screen. A testament to his talent, Brimley received a smattering of awards and nominations, highlighting the diverse range of [characters](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-character-film) he adeptly brought to life. His off-screen life was just as rich, having shared a life with his wife Beverly and their children. Known for his straight-shooting advocacy for diabetes awareness, his interests and talents were multifaceted, including a passion for singing and championing causes close to his heart. Wilford Brimley's impact on the [industry](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-industry) was profound, marked by a steadfast presence that often provided a grounding force in the narratives he inhabited. His authenticity and everyman persona resonated with audiences, rendering him an icon whose legacy is a testament to a [career](https://inleo.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-career) that was as varied as it was distinguished. His indelible mark on the industry is a narrative of a man who transcended his roles and became a familiar face that defined a generation of storytelling. ## Filmography

Year	Title	Role
2017	I Believe	Pastor Chuck McWhorter
2016	Wilson's Floral (Short)	Doggie Rodriguez
2016	Timber the Treasure Dog	Hawk Jones
2012	Masque	Maskmaker
2009	Did You Hear About the Morgans?	Earl Granger
2009	The Path of the Wind	Harry Caldwell
2004	Liberty Medical Commercial (Short)	Diabetes Announcer
2003	Pitcher and the Pin-Up	Coach Weaver
2002	Resurrection Mary (Short)	Morty
2002	The Round and Round	Governor
2001	PC and the Web	Unknown
2001	Brigham City	Stu
2001	The Ballad of Lucy Whipple (TV Movie)	Deputy Sheriff Ambrose Scraggs
2001	Crossfire Trail (TV Movie)	Joe Gill
2000	Comanche (Short)	Doctor
1998	All My Friends Are Cowboys	Charlie
1998	Lunker Lake	The Storyteller
1998	Summer of the Monkeys	Grandpa Sam Ferrans
1998	Progeny	Dr. David Wetherly
1997	Seinfeld (TV Series)	Postmaster General Henry Atkins
1997	In & Out	Frank Brackett
1997	Chapter Perfect	Chief Hawkins
1996	My Fellow Americans	Joe Hollis
1995	A Place to Grow	Jake
1995	Last of the Dogmen	Narrator (uncredited)
1995	The Good Old Boys (TV Movie)	C.C. Tarpley
1995	OP Center (TV Mini Series)	Adm. Troy Davis
1995	Walker, Texas Ranger (TV Series)	Burt Mueller
1995	Mutant Species	Devro
1994	Heaven Sent	Al (Security Guard)
1994	Homicide: Life on the Street (TV Series)	Harry Prentice
1993	Hard Target	Uncle Douvee
1993	The Firm	William Devasher
1992	Where the Red Fern Grows: Part Two	Video \| Grandpa Will
1992	The Boys of Twilight (TV Series)	Deputy Bill Huntoon
1991	Blood River (TV Movie)	U.S. Marshal Winston Patrick Culler
1990	Eternity	King \| Eric
1989	Billy the Kid (TV Movie)	Gov. Lew Wallace
1988	Cocoon: The Return	Ben Luckett
1986–1988	Our House (TV Series)	Gus Witherspoon
1987	End of the Line	Will Haney
1986	Shadows on the Wall	Floyd Buckman
1986	Jackals	Sheriff Mitchell
1986	Act of Vengeance (TV Movie)	Tony Boyle
1986	Thompson's Last Run (TV Movie)	Red Haines
1985	Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (TV Movie)	Noa
1985	Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins	Harold Smith
1985	Murder in Space (TV Movie)	Dr. Andrew McCallister
1985	Cocoon	Ben Luckett
1984	Country	Otis
1984	The Natural	Pop Fisher
1984	The Stone Boy	George Jansen
1984	The Hotel New Hampshire	Iowa Bob
1984	Harry & Son	Tom Keach
1983	The Firm (TV Series)	Martin Berry
1983	Tough Enough	Bill Long
1983	10 to Midnight	Captain Malone
1983	Tender Mercies	Harry
1983	High Road to China	Bradley Tozer
1982	The Thing	Dr. Blair (as A. Wilford Brimley)
1982	Death Valley	Sheriff (as A. Wilford Brimley)
1981	Absence of Malice	James J. Wells
1981	The Big Black Pill (TV Movie)	Wally Haskell
1980	Rodeo Girl (TV Movie)	Bingo Gibbs
1980	Roughnecks (TV Movie)	Willie Clayton
1980	Borderline	Scooter Jackson (as A. Wilford Brimley)
1980	Brubaker	Rogers - Prison Board
1980	Amber Waves (TV Movie)	Pete Alberts
1979	The Electric Horseman	Farmer
1979	The Wild Wild West Revisited (TV Movie)	President Grover Cleveland (as Wilford A. Brimley)
1979	The China Syndrome	Ted Spindler
1979	How the West Was Won (TV Series)	Sheriff Daniels
1978	The Awakening Land (TV Mini Series)	Jude McWhirter (as A. Wilford Brimley)
1974–1977	The Waltons (TV Series)	Horace Brimley
1976–1977	The Oregon Trail (TV Series)	Joseph Burke \| Ludlow
1975	Kung Fu (TV Series)	Blacksmith (as A. Wilford Brimley)
1971	Lawman	Marc Corman (uncredited)
1969	True Grit	Minor Role (uncredited)

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