Anthony Wilford Brimley is an American actor. He has appeared in such films as The China Syndrome, Cocoon, The Thing, and The Firm. He had a recurring role on the 1970s television series The Waltons. Brimley has also done television commercials, including advertisements for ...
John Brimley, Bill Brimley, Lawrence Dean Brimley, Jim Brimley
Nicknames
Allen Wilford Brimley , A. Wilford Brimley , Wilford A. Brimley , Anthony Wilford Brimley , Anthony Brimley , Tony Brimley
Albums
This Time the Dream's on Me.
Movies
The Thing, Cocoon, The Firm, The Natural, The China Syndrome, Absence of Malice, Hard Target, Crossfire Trail, In & Out, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, Tender Mercies, My Fellow Americans, Did You Hear About the Morgans?, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, High Road to China, The Stone Boy, Brubaker...
I thought The Thing stunk. The instant [John Carpenter] said, 'Action,' I knew I was in deep water.
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I just try to be myself. (on his acting technique)
4
Look, I like people very much. I'm not very good with people, but that doesn't mean I don't like them. I do like them. Because we actors are on that great big screen and so many people see us, we become familiar. People speak to us as if they've known us all our lives. That just tickles me to death.
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Fact
1
Is a talented jazz singer who has recorded several albums and played successful club engagements.
2
Wilford's paternal grandfather was an English immigrant, born in Blackrod, Lancashire, while Wilford's paternal grandmother's parents were Scottish, from Glasgow. Wilford's mother was of half Danish descent, with her other roots being Welsh, English, German, and Swiss-German.
3
Was often mistaken for the trolley conductor in the 1991 Hardee's (now Carl's Junior) TV commercials for the Frisco Burger.
4
Father was a real estate broker.
5
His first acting roles were in the 60s as a riding extra/stuntman in westerns. At that time he used the name Anthony (Tony) Brimley.
6
A controversial activist, he paid from his own funds for ads to have Utah allow horse-race gambling, and he was actively opposed to the banning of cockfighting. He has campaigned in Arizona and New Mexico against laws banning cockfighting.
7
Had a recurring role on The Waltons (1971). At the prodding of series star Ralph Waite, Brimley became a charter member of Waite's Los Angeles Actors Theater.
8
Known for his Quaker Oats commercials.
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Known to loosen up cast mates, with small practical jokes, between takes. For example, while filming Cocoon: The Return (1988), Courteney Cox was caught off guard by whoopee cushion pranks.
10
Has four sons with his wife, Lynne Brimley: Jim Brimley, John Brimley, Bill Brimley, and Lawrence Brimley (deseased).
11
Enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict and spent three years in the Aleutian Islands.
12
Has diabetes and has served as a spokesperson for the diabetes testing-supplies company Liberty Medical.