Actor and former Marine Wilford Brimley dies, age 85
Wilford Brimley
Multiple sources are reporting that longtime actor Wilford Brimley has passed away after battling a kidney disease. Known for his role in Cocoon and as the spokesman for Quaker Oats, the affable character actor had dozens of roles to his credit.
Before taking up a career in acting and hawking “diabeetus” supplies, Brimley served with the USMC. Serving from 1953 to 1956, he was stationed in the Aleutian Islands. He’d risen to the rank of Sergeant by the time he mustered out.
My personal favorite role Brimley had was as the Postmaster General in an episode of Seinfeld.
Category: Marines
RIP Sgt!
He also had a great role in “The Firm” with Tom Cruise.
RIP Sgt!
He tended to be great in westerns, too.
Yep, even though he generally played an evil bastard…
Played a particularly evil bastard in “The Firm” as I recall…
He was a good guy in ‘The Thing’. Still a great horror movie.
Played Joe Gill in ‘Crossfire Trail’ with Tom Selleck. One of my favorites from a book by Louis L’amour.
He had a great role in Absence of Malice with Paul Newman.
Pop in “The Natural”. Defined what a character actor should be. Never a scene stealer. always positively contributed to the whole movie. Sat a horse like he knew what he was doing… not entirely a shock since he was a rancher in Wyoming for years. Hard to pick his best role, since he was always so good, even in movies like “High Road to China” or “In and Out”.
Yes… a very good and talented actor…
Hate to see the greats leave us.
That postmaster clip is hilarious.
How he could keep a straight face while looking
at Kramer must have been difficult.
RIP Former Marine Wilford Brimley, and rest easy Good Sir!
Thanks for all the good scenes in addition to your Service to our Country. The passing of another of our era. You don’t really see a lot of good multi character actors any more. And if IIRC, he was married to the same Lady from about the mid 50s til she passed in around 2000(?). Don’t see that either, ‘specially with Hollyweird types, much anymore.
May he RIP. Haven’t seen may movies in the last few years but I doubt there’re any more if his kind coming up in Hollywood these days.
While a smaller role, I loved his character in, “Absence Of Malice.”
“You know and I know that we can’t tell you what to print, or what not to. We *hope* the press will act responsibly. But when you *don’t,* there ain’t a lot we can do about it.”
Semper Fi.
Rest in peace Brother.
Fair winds and following seas, Sergeant Brimley.
RIP, jarhead.
I’m just glad it wasn’t the diabeetus.
“High Road to China” with Tom Selleck. I think the first one they did together. Dumb movie but still fun to watch
As a fan of “The Destroyer” series of novels, I wasn’t all that hyped with the movie “Remo Williams,” but Brimley’s portrayal of Harold Smith was a high point in the film. He didn’t portray Smith in any way like the character in the books … and I liked Brimley’s portrayal a lot.
RIP, Mr. Brimley, and thank you for your service.
There’s no such thing as a “former” Marine!