Richard Farnsworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Farnsworth
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Farnsworth in The Straight Story, his final role
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| Born |
Richard William Farnsworth
September 1, 1920 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Died | October 6, 2000 (aged 80) Lincoln, New Mexico, U.S.
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| Occupation | Stuntman, actor |
| Years active | 1937–1999 |
| Spouse(s) |
Margaret Hill
(m. 1947; |
| Children | 2 |
Richard William Farnsworth (born September 1, 1920 – died October 6, 2000) was an American actor and stuntman. He was famous for his roles in movies like The Grey Fox, Anne of Green Gables, and Misery. Richard Farnsworth was nominated for an Academy Award twice. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 1978 for Comes a Horseman. In 2000, he was nominated for Best Actor for The Straight Story. At that time, he was the oldest person ever nominated for that award.
Contents
Richard Farnsworth's Early Life
Richard William Farnsworth was born on September 1, 1920. His birthplace was Los Angeles, California, in the United States. His mother stayed at home to care for the family. His father worked as an engineer.
Richard Farnsworth's Acting Career
Richard Farnsworth started his career as a stuntman. He performed dangerous actions in movies. Over time, he began to act more in movies, especially Westerns.
Early Movie Roles
Farnsworth appeared in many movies without being officially named in the credits. Some of these early films include Gone with the Wind (1939) and The Ten Commandments (1956). In 1960, he was credited as Dick Farnsworth. He played a ranch hand in a TV Western show called Laramie.
Becoming a Recognized Actor
Richard Farnsworth received his first official acting credit in 1963. He continued to work in Western movies and TV shows. He had a role in the popular TV miniseries Roots (1977). He also acted alongside Wilford Brimley in The Boys of Twilight (1992).
Breakthrough Roles and Famous Movies
Farnsworth became widely known for his role in the 1982 Canadian film The Grey Fox. He played a real-life stagecoach robber named Bill Miner. For this role, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
He also played a baseball coach in The Natural (1984). In 1985, he starred as Matthew Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables. He played a kind, quiet cowboy in Sylvester (1985). He taught Melissa Gilbert's character how to train horses.
Other important roles include a rich oil man in The Two Jakes (1990). He also played a suspicious sheriff in the movie Misery (1990). This film was based on a book by Stephen King.
Richard Farnsworth's Personal Life
Richard Farnsworth was married for a long time. He and his wife had two children together. After his wife passed away, he lived on a ranch. His ranch was located in Lincoln, New Mexico.
Awards and Special Honors
Richard Farnsworth received many awards and nominations during his career.
Awards for Comes a Horseman (1979)
- National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor (won)
- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor (won)
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (nominated)
Awards for The Grey Fox (1982)
- Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign Actor (won)
- London Film Critics' Circle Award for Actor of the Year (won)
- Taormina Film Fest: Golden Mask (won)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (nominated)
Awards for Anne of Green Gables (1985)
- Gemini Award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actor (won)
Awards for The Straight Story (1999)
- Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival Award for Best Actor (won)
- Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead (won)
- New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor (won)
- Academy Award for Best Actor (nominated)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (nominated)
Other Honors
In 1997, Richard Farnsworth was honored. He was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers. This hall is located at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
He also received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. This happened on August 17, 1992. His star can be found at 1560 Vine Street. It recognizes his important work in movies.
Richard Farnsworth's Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | A Day at the Races | Jockey | Uncredited |
| 1938 | The Adventures of Marco Polo | Mongol Warrior | |
| 1939 | Gunga Din | Bit Part | |
| Gone with the Wind | Soldier | ||
| 1943 | This Is the Army | Soldier | |
| 1948 | Red River | Dunston Rider | |
| The Paleface | Minor Role | ||
| 1949 | Mighty Joe Young | Cowboy | |
| 1950 | The Flame and the Arrow | Outlaw | |
| 1953 | Arena | Cowboy | |
| Arrowhead | Cavalryman | ||
| The Wild One | Unknown | ||
| 1954 | The Violent Men | Anchor Rider | |
| 1955 | A Lawless Street | Townsman | |
| 1956 | The Ten Commandments | Chariot Driver | |
| 1957 | The Tin Star | Unknown | |
| The Hard Man | Posse Man | ||
| 1960 | Spartacus | Salt Mine Slave / Gladiator / Slave General | |
| 1963 | The Jolly Genie | Thug | Short film |
| 1966 | Duel at Diablo | Wagon Driver #1 | Uncredited |
| Texas Across the River | Medicine Man | ||
| 1968 | The Stalking Moon | Unknown | Uncredited |
| 1970 | Monte Walsh | Cowboy | |
| 1971 | Skin Game | Man In Saloon Fight | Uncredited |
| 1972 | The Cowboys | Henry Williams | |
| Pocket Money | Man | Uncredited | |
| Ulzana's Raid | Trooper | ||
| The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean | Outlaw | ||
| 1973 | The Soul of ... Charley | ||
| Papillon | Manhunter #1 | Uncredited | |
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles | Sheriff | |
| 1975 | The Apple Dumpling Gang | Mover | |
| 1976 | The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox | Stagecoach Driver | |
| The Outlaw Josey Wales | Comanchero | Uncredited | |
| 1977 | Another Man, Another Chance | Stagecoach Driver | |
| 1978 | Comes a Horseman | Dodger | |
| 1980 | Tom Horn | John C. Coble | |
| Ruckus | Sheriff Jethro Pough | ||
| Resurrection | Esco | ||
| 1981 | The Legend of the Lone Ranger | 'Wild Bill' Hickok | |
| 1982 | The Grey Fox | Bill Miner | |
| Waltz Across Texas | Frank Walker | ||
| 1983 | Independence Day | Evan | |
| 1984 | The Natural | 'Red' Blow | |
| Rhinestone | Noah Farris | ||
| 1985 | Into the Night | Jack Caper | |
| Sylvester | Foster | ||
| Space Rage | Colonel | ||
| 1988 | The River Pirates | Percy | |
| 1990 | The Two Jakes | Earl Rawley | |
| Misery | Sheriff Buster | ||
| Havana | Professor | ||
| 1991 | Highway to Hell | Sam | |
| 1994 | The Getaway | 'Slim' | |
| Lassie | Len Collins | ||
| 1999 | The Straight Story | Alvin Straight | Final film |
Richard Farnsworth's Television Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | The Adventures of Kit Carson | Henchman (uncredited) | Episode: "Fury at Red Gulch" Episode: "The Desperate Sheriff" |
| 1954 | Army Wagon Driver | Episode: "The Gatling Gun" | |
| 1955 | Soldiers of Fortune | 'Gaucho' (uncredited) | Episode: "The General" |
| 1956 | Zane Grey Theatre | Trooper | Episode: "Star Over Texas" |
| 1958 | Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok | Butler | Episode: "Jingles on the Jailroad" |
| Cimarron City | Ira Youngman | Episode: "Twelve Guns", uncredited | |
| 1959 | State Trooper | Caleb Smith | Episode: "Lonely Valley" |
| The Rebel | Trooper | Episode: "Yellow Hair" | |
| 1960 | Wanted: Dead or Alive | Rance / Hal | Episodes: "The Partners" & "To the Victor" |
| Laramie | Gault Ranch Hand / Manley (uncredited) | Episodes: "Street of Hate" & "Ride into Darkness" | |
| 1961 | Laramie | Hank | Episode: "The Tumbleweed Wagon" |
| 1965 | The Big Valley | Bolin | Episode: "The Odyssey of Jubal Tanner" |
| 1966 | Businessman | Episode: "Image of Yesterday" | |
| 1967 | Cimarron Strip | Dusty Rhodes / Benefiel | Episodes: "Journey to a Hanging" & "The Battleground" |
| 1970 | The High Chaparral | Lloyd | Episode: "The Long Shadow" |
| 1971 | Bonanza | Sourdough | Episode: "Top Hand" |
| 1972 | Tate / Troy | Episodes: "The Saddle Stiff" & "He Was Only Seven" | |
| 1974 | Honky Tonk | Driver | TV movie |
| 1975 | Strange New World | Elder | |
| 1977 | Roots | Trumbull | TV miniseries |
| Little House on the Prairie | Wall | Episode: "Quarantine" | |
| 1981 | The Texas Rangers | Ranger J.W. Stevens | TV movie |
| A Few Days in Weasel Creek | Jason Stayvey | ||
| The Cherokee Trail | Ridge Fenton | ||
| 1983 | Travis McGee | Van Harder | |
| Ghost Dancing | Russ Ward | ||
| 1985 | Wild Horses | Chuck Reese | |
| Chase | Judge Grand Pettitt | ||
| Anne of Green Gables | Matthew Cuthbert | ||
| 1987 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Carl | Episode: "Travelin' Man" |
| Highway to Heaven | Grandpa Jet Sanders | Episode: "A Dream of Wild Horses" | |
| 1989 | Desperado: The Outlaw Wars | Sheriff Campbell / Bisby Arizona | TV movie |
| Red Earth, White Earth | Helmer | ||
| 1992 | The Boys of Twilight | Sheriff Cody McPherson | |
| 1993 | The Fire Next Time | Frank Morgan | TV movie |
| 1998 | Best Friends for Life | Will Harper |
Images for kids
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Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story
See also
In Spanish: Richard Farnsworth para niños
