Charley Grapewin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charley Grapewin
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New York Clipper, 1900
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| Born |
Charles Ellsworth Grapewin
December 20, 1869 Xenia, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | February 2, 1956 (aged 86) Corona, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1900–1956 |
| Spouse(s) |
Anna Chance
(m. 1896; died 1943)Loretta McGowan Becker
(m. 1945; div. 1950) |
Charley Grapewin (born Charles Ellsworth Grapewin, December 20, 1869 – February 2, 1956) was a talented American actor. He started his career as a circus performer and writer before becoming a well-known stage and film actor. Charley appeared in over 100 movies!
He is best remembered for playing Uncle Henry in the famous movie The Wizard of Oz (1939). He also played "Grandpa" William James Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and Jeeter Lester in Tobacco Road (1941).
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About Charley Grapewin
Charley Grapewin was born in Xenia, Ohio. When he was young, he ran away from home to join the circus! He became an acrobat and a trapeze artist. He traveled all over the world with the famous P. T. Barnum circus.
After his time in the circus, Charley became an actor. He even appeared in the original 1903 Broadway play of The Wizard of Oz. This was 36 years before he played Uncle Henry in the movie version!
Charley's Acting Career
Charley Grapewin started acting in movies very early, around 1900. His first films were short "moving image" movies. These were made by Frederick S. Armitage. They were called Chimmie Hicks at the Races and Chimmie Hicks and the Rum Omelet.
During his long career, Charley acted in more than 100 films. Some of his well-known movies include The Good Earth, The Petrified Forest, and Captains Courageous.
He worked with actress Judy Garland (who played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz) in two other movies. These were Broadway Melody of 1938 and Listen, Darling. Later, in the 1940s, he played Inspector Queen in a series of Ellery Queen mystery films.
Charley's Family and Later Life
Charley Grapewin married actress Anna Chance in 1896. They were together for many years until she passed away in 1943. Two years later, in 1945, he married Loretta McGowan Becker.
Charley Grapewin died on February 2, 1956. He was 86 years old and passed away at his home in Corona, California. His ashes are buried with his first wife's ashes in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Selected Films
- The Shannons of Broadway (1929) as Swanzey (film debut)
- Only Saps Work (1930) as Simeon Tanner
- The Millionaire (1931) as Ed Powers
- Gold Dust Gertie (1931) as Nicholas Hautrey
- Heaven on Earth (1931) as Doc Boax
- Hell's House (1932) as Henry Clark
- The Big Timer (1932) as Pop Baldwin
- Disorderly Conduct (1932) as Limpy
- Are You Listening? (1932) as Pierce (uncredited)
- Huddle (1932) as Doctor (uncredited)
- The Woman in Room 13 (1932) as Andy
- The Washington Masquerade (1932) as Senator Simmons (uncredited)
- Lady and Gent (1932) as Grocer
- American Madness (1932) as Mr. Jones (uncredited)
- The Night of June 13 (1932) as "Grandpop" Jeptha Strawn
- Wild Horse Mesa (1932) as Sam Bass
- No Man of Her Own (1932) as George, the Clerk
- Hello, Everybody! (1933) as Jed
- The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933) as Schultz
- Heroes for Sale (1933) as Pa Dennis
- Midnight Mary (1933) as Clerk
- Don't Bet on Love (1933) as Pop McCaffery
- Pilgrimage (1933) as Dad Saunders
- Turn Back the Clock (1933) as Dr. Henderson (uncredited)
- Beauty for Sale (1933) as Freddy Gordon
- Torch Singer (1933) as Judson
- Wild Boys of the Road (1933) as Mr. Cadman (uncredited)
- Female (1933) (uncredited)
- Hell and High Water (1933) as Peck Wealin
- Two Alone (1934) as Sandy Roberts
- Caravan (1934) as Notary
- The Quitter (1934) as Ed Tilford
- She Made Her Bed (1934) as Joe Olesen
- The Loudspeaker (1934) as Pop Calloway
- Return of the Terror (1934) as Jessup
- Judge Priest (1934) as Sergeant Jimmy Bagby
- The President Vanishes (1934) as Richard Norton
- Anne of Green Gables (1934) as Dr. Tatum
- In Spite of Danger (1935) as Pop Sullivan
- Eight Bells (1935) as Grayson
- Party Wire (1935) as Will Oliver
- One Frightened Night (1935) as Jasper Whyte
- Shanghai (1935) as Truesdale
- Alice Adams (1935) as J. A. Lamb
- King Solomon of Broadway (1935) as Uncle Winchester
- Rendezvous (1935) as Martin
- Super-Speed (1935) as Terry Devlin
- Ah, Wilderness! (1935) as Dave McComber
- The Petrified Forest (1936) as Gramp Maple
- The Voice of Bugle Ann (1936) as Cal Royster
- Small Town Girl (1936) as Dr. Ned Fabre
- Libeled Lady (1936) as Mr. Bane
- Without Orders (1936) as J.P. Kendrick
- Sinner Take All (1936) as Aaron
- The Good Earth (1937) as Old Father
- A Family Affair (1937) as Frank Redmond
- Captains Courageous (1937) as Uncle Salters
- Between Two Women (1937) as Dr. Webster
- Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) as James K. Blakeley
- Bad Guy (1937) as Dan Gray
- Big City (1937) as The Mayor
- The Bad Man of Brimstone (1937) as Barney Lane
- Of Human Hearts (1938) as Jim Meeker
- The Girl of the Golden West (1938) as Uncle Davy
- Three Comrades (1938) as Local Doctor
- Three Loves Has Nancy (1938) as Grandpa Briggs
- Listen, Darling (1938) as Uncle Joe
- Artists and Models Abroad (1938) as James Harper
- Stand Up and Fight (1939) as 'Old Puff'
- Burn 'Em Up O'Connor (1939) as 'Doc' Heath
- Sudden Money (1939) as Grandpa Casey Patterson
- The Man Who Dared (1939) as Ulysses Porterfield
- The Wizard of Oz (1939) as Uncle Henry
- Dust Be My Destiny (1939) as Pop
- Hero for a Day (1939) as Uncle Frank 'Lucky' Higgins
- Sabotage (1939) as Major Matt Grayson
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940) as William James "Grandpa" Joad
- Johnny Apollo (1940) as Judge Emmett T. Brennan
- Earthbound (1940) as Mr. Whimser
- Rhythm on the River (1940) as Uncle Caleb
- Ellery Queen, Master Detective (1940) as Insp. Queen
- Texas Rangers Ride Again (1940) as Ranger Ben Caldwalder
- Tobacco Road (1941) as Jeeter
- Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery (1941) as Inspector Richard Queen
- Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime (1941) as Insp. Queen
- Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring (1941) as Insp. Queen
- They Died with Their Boots On (1941) as California Joe
- A Close Call for Ellery Queen (1942) as Inspector Queen
- A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen (1942) as Insp. Queen
- Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen (1942) as Inspector Richard Queen
- Crash Dive (1943) as Pop (uncredited)
- Follow the Boys (1944) as Nick West
- Atlantic City (1944) as Jake Taylor
- The Impatient Years (1944) as Benjamin L. Pidgeon, Bellboy
- Gunfighters (1947) as Inskip - Rancher
- The Enchanted Valley (1948) as Grandpa
- Sand (1949) as Doug
- When I Grow Up (1951) as Grandpa Reed (final film role)
