American actor Wilford Brimley became famous for his roles in popular TV series and feature films. The greatest fame was brought to the performer of work in westerns and character roles. He has starred in the films China Syndrome, The Thing, Tough Target, Gentle Mercy, and the Tough Walker TV series.
Before the start of his film career, Wilford Anthony managed to visit a cowboy on a ranch, a blacksmith and even a bodyguard for the famous Howard Hughes. Yes, and in the cinema, the future star first got to take care of the horses, then work as a stuntman.
The beginning of the path to the vocation
The biography of a famous artist in the future began in 1934. The child was born in Salt Lake City on September 27 in the family of a real estate agent.
Brimley never dreamed of an artistic career as a child, and even later. He was tuned into serious classes. Therefore, having received an education at school, the graduate went to serve in the Marine Corps. After demobilization, Wilford worked on a ranch and worked as a bodyguard in search of a vocation.
Gradually, the young man came to the conclusion that such activity does not give him any pleasure. A friend, actor Robert Duvall, recommended Brimley a job in the cinema. The applicant started by caring for horses for filming Westerns. The employees of the film industry drew attention to the diligent specialist. After learning about Brimley's riding skills, they suggested that he duplicate the artists in the corresponding scenes and perform the stunts in the picture. So Wilford became a stuntman.
He first appeared on the screen in 1969 in the film Real Courage. He played a small role, the actor's name was not in the credits. The same situation happened with his character Mark Corman in "Representative of the Law" in 1971.
The invitation to appear in the TV series "The Waltons" came in the same period. Horace became the character of the artist. The project received high marks and critics from the audience. Other figures in the film industry drew attention to the aspiring performer. Sheriff Daniels became the hero of the actor in the TV serial “How the Wild West Was Conquered”. The character role was a noticeable step towards success. After working in the mini-series "A Trip to Oregon" and "The Earth Awakens" appeared the first starring role of the actor.
Confession
In 1979 he was invited to the film "China Syndrome". The name of the project was given by the jargon expression of American physicists. An explanation of the meaning is given by one of the characters in the film. According to him, after the accident in the United States, the reactor can burn through the earth, that is, to China.
In the film, Brimley played Ted Spindler. His characteristic appearance, directness and characteristic accent made him recognizable. All this attracted attention to the artist and made him popular with the audience. Along with the main characters, Wilford gained recognition.
A new success was his work in the film "Without Malice", which premiered in 1981. The character of the artist was an outspoken and avaricious assistant attorney James Wells. According to the scenario, the main character is engaged in the wholesale trade of alcoholic beverages. Unexpectedly for everyone, he turns into the main suspect after a scandalous publication in the press.
The journalist who wrote the article received materials from an investigator who had failed to solve the case. He is trying with all his might to obtain new information in order to complete the investigation at any cost.
In the 1982 fantasy horror film "The Thing," Wilford Brimley reincarnated as Dr. Blair, a senior biologist infected with an alien virus.
Events are developing at a research station in Antarctica. Polar explorers will have to face and fight with an alien creature that takes the form of station inhabitants and infects them with a virus. The heroes do not know which of them is no longer human.
New successes
Figures were released by McFarlane Toys in September 2000. One of them was Wilford's hero.
Interesting was the role of Pope Fischer, the jaded manager of the baseball team in The Nugget. The picture is the success story of the famous player Roy Hobbs. His career was interrupted at the very beginning by an accident. After 15 years, he joined one of the worst baseball teams in the country, the New York Knights, managing to single-handedly lead them to the top.
In the fantastic 1985 project "Cocoon" Wilford got one of the main roles, Ben Luckett, a caring grandfather and a wonderful friend. Together with other residents of the nursing home, he learns about the existence of a mysterious artifact of alien origin in an abandoned pool. Having bathed in a strange place, old people again get a surge of energy and youth. They are unable to keep a secret, as a result, all the inhabitants of the house are sent to the pool.
Fifty-year-old Brimley looked significantly younger than his character, and was biologically younger than him. Therefore, I had to repaint his hair in a gray shade to meet the requirements of the script.
In the same way, the actor appeared in the sequel to the film "Cocoon: The Return" three years after the premiere. According to the plots, the heroes are back on Earth to complete their affairs and rescue the alien, who ended up at the Institute of Oceanography in the status of an object for military research.
All facets of talent
In the nineties, he was called successful as William Devasher, an imperturbable expert, head of the security service in the film "The Firm" by Sidney Pollack.
Brimley has successfully appeared in commercials as the face of Quaker Oats.
The artist has good vocal abilities. In 1993 he performed at a benefit concert with the Cal State Northridge Jazz Band. He released an album of jazz compositions in 2004. The actor masterfully plays the harmonica, which he convincingly demonstrated in 2011 during the program "The Late Late Show".
The personal life of the performer also took shape. His first choice was actress Lynn Bagley. After an official ceremony in early July 1956, they became husband and wife. The family has four sons. In 2000, the wife passed away.
Beverly Berry helped the performer to regain family happiness in 2007. After the wedding on October 21, she and her husband founded the non-profit organization HATS. Brimley is actively involved in charity work, supports people with diabetes.
