Wilford Brimley (1934-2020)
Monday, August 3, 2020 at 10:30AM by Nathaniel R
Wilford Brimley and 80s child star Barret Oliver in Cocoon (1985)
A beloved character actor passed away this weekend. Wilford Brimley was born and died in Utah, but he became a fixture in mainstream Hollywood for a couple of decades for his earthy appeal and facility with adorable curmudgeons. Though he'd been acting since the 1960s he didn't crossover into true fame until the mid 80s...
Wilford Brimley in Absence of Malice (1981)
A series of memorable supporting roles in high profile films -- Absence of Malice (1981), The Thing (1982), Tender Mercies (1983), and The Natural (1984) -- served as an almost perfect crescendo to the blockbuster Cocoon (1985) that would make finally make him a "name". Other hits followed like The Firm (1993) and In & Out (1997).
Wilford Brimley's last film role was three years ago, in a Christian movie I Believe, but his popularity lives on... at the very least in a pop culture meme kind of ways.
In recent years the funny Twitter account "Brimley/Cocoon Line" has poked loving fun at how Brimley always seemed to be an old man, even when he was much younger by comparing him to current celebrities. It's shocking to realize but when Cocoon arrived in 1985, though he was cast alongside Hume Cronyn and Don Ameche (both 25+ years older) as one of the rascally senior citizens, he was just 51 years old!
"I get older, they stay the same age." Born Nov. 4, 1969, Matthew McConaughey is 18,530 days old today, matching Wilford Brimley's age on the day 'Cocoon' was released. Congrats @McConaughey! You've reached the Brimley/Cocoon Line. pic.twitter.com/yVkGFkQuF2
— Brimley/Cocoon Line (@BrimleyLine) July 29, 2020
Born July 24, 1969, in the Bronx, Ms. Jennifer Lopez is 18,530 days old today, matching Wilford Brimley's age on the day 'Cocoon' was released. Congrats to @JLo, the one and only Jenny from the Block -- you've reached the Brimley/Cocoon Line. pic.twitter.com/794uJksD8Z
— Brimley/Cocoon Line (@BrimleyLine) April 17, 2020
Born 15 October 1969, actor Dominic West ('The Wire,' 'The Affair') is 18,530 days old today, matching Wilford Brimley's age on the day 'Cocoon' was released. Congrats, @DominicWest! You've reached the Brimley/Cocoon Line. pic.twitter.com/1bbK0NrHtI
— Brimley/Cocoon Line (@BrimleyLine) July 9, 2020
Born October 3, 1969, No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani is 18,530 days old today, making her the same age as Wilford Brimley on the day 'Cocoon' was released. Congrats, @gwenstefani! You've reached the Brimley/Cocoon Line. pic.twitter.com/ZIV02DeDdA
— Brimley/Cocoon Line (@BrimleyLine) June 27, 2020
Do you have a favourite Wilford Brimley performance?
We're partial to his small but expertly authoritative performance in Absence of Malice. Or maybe his baseball manager in The Natural.
Reader Comments (11)
Probably my favourite actor when I was a kid tied with Jack Lemmon.
I watched ABSENCE OF MALICE a few weeks ago for Supporting Actress Smackdown, and when Wilford Brimley shows up in his one scene, he enlivened up the whole thing. He's always a welcome sight in so many films. I was surprised he wasn't nominated for an Oscar for that role. I also thought he was menacing in THE FIRM, but when Tom Cruise beats him with a briefcase I actually felt bad for him. No one beats up, Mr. Brimley.
He seemed to be in everything when I was kid,co sign the Oscar nomination in 81.
Another terrific Wilford hour - COUNTRY, opposite Jessica Lange
Sorry to see him go. A very good character actor - two roles that come to mind are his colleague to Jack Lemmon in The China Syndrome and his music manager in Tender Mercies.
Any piece of art is instantly elevated when Wilford shows up. He will be missed.
Wilford Brimley is awesome. One of those great actors who I couldn't believe was still alive until recently. I think my favorite thing he did is in The Thing while I also have a fondness for his performance in In & Out as he and Debbie Reynolds played Kevin Kline's parents.
Man this year is just unrelenting in so many ways!! So many wonderful performers have left us along with all the other awfulness playing out.
Brimley was always a happy sight whenever he showed up in a movie making great ones a little better and providing at least one decent performance in bad ones.
Hard to pick a favorite but my first thought when I heard the news was of him in The China Syndrome as Jack Lemmon's somewhat doubting but loyal coworker and friend.
What a wonderful supporting actor. If he had been around in the golden age of Hollywood, he would have won more than one Oscar nomination and an award, no doubt.
The highway robbery of category fraud these days is leaving/has left out so many actors who should have awards to their name: John Lithgow, William H. Macy, Ed Harris, Ron Cephas Jones, Denis O'Hare, Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Clarkson, Alfre Woodard,Elizabeth Keener, Mare Winningham, Margo Martindale and many more.
Since AMPAS is going to implement inclusion quotas, they might as well establish parameters for when a performace if Lead or Support. Then, producers would NOT be allowed to advertise or promote the performance fraudulently. Not in For Your Consideration ads nor anywhere else. However, voters will vote as they like but, at least, they won't be predisposed from the get go!
May he RIP.
He also has small but good roles in The Natural (1984) and The Electric Horseman (1979), both with Robert Redford.