Biography for
Wilford Brimley More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

27 September 1934, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Birth Name

Anthony Wilford Brimley

Height

5' 8" (1.73 m)

Mini Biography

He was a farmer and rodeo rider who, after gaining weight, became a blacksmith and then a film actor.

IMDb Mini Biography By: James L. Mason

Spouse

Lynne Brimley

(6 July 1956 - 14 June 2000) (her death) 4 children

Trade Mark

His unique pronunciation of the word "Diabetes"

His moustache

Trivia

Was a bodyguard to Howard Hughes.

Is diabetic

Enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict and spent three years in the Aleutian Islands.

Has three sons with his wife, Lynne Brimley: Bill Brimley, Jim Brimley and John Brimley.

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.

Known for his Quaker Oats commercials.

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.

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.

Has diabetes and has served as a spokesperson for the diabetes testing-supplies company Liberty Medical.

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.

Father was a real estate broker.

Was often mistaken for the trolley conductor in the 1991 Hardee's (now Carl's Junior) TV commercials for the Frisco Burger.

Personal Quotes

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.

I just try to be myself. (on his acting technique)

Where Are They Now

(May 2001) Announces radio adverts (U.S.) for Liberty Medical, a distributor of diabetes-detection equipment.

(January 2008) Endorsed U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) for President, during the New Hampshire Republican primary.

(June 2008) Lives in Greybull, Wyoming and likes to eat at the Uptown Cafe in Greybull.