Richard Farnsworth
Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:47:20 PM Wikipedia source
Richard William Farnsworth (September 1, 1920 – October 6, 2000) was an American actor and stuntman. He was twice nominated for an Academy Award: in 1978 for Best Supporting Actor for Comes a Horseman, and in 2000 for Best Actor in The Straight Story, making him the second-oldest nominee for the award for the latter. Farnsworth was also known for his performances in The Grey Fox (1982), for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, as well as Anne of Green Gables (1985), Sylvester (1985), and Misery (1990).
Infobox
Born
Richard William Farnsworth(1920-09-01)September 1, 1920Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died
October 6, 2000(2000-10-06) (aged 80)Lincoln, New Mexico, U.S.
Resting place
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California
Occupation(s)
Stuntman, actor
Years active
1937–1999
Spouse
mw- Margaret Hill (m. 1947; died 1985)
Children
2
Occupations
Stuntman, actor
Tables
· Filmography › Film
1963
The Jolly Genie
Role(s)
Thug
Notes
Short subject
1966
Role(s)
Medicine Man
1972
Role(s)
Henry Williams
Role(s)
Trooper
Role(s)
Outlaw
1976
Role(s)
Stagecoach Driver
1988
The River Pirates
Role(s)
Percy
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1937 | A Day at the Races | Jockey | Uncredited |
| 1938 | The Adventures of Marco Polo | Mongol Warrior | |
| 1939 | Gunga Din | Bit Part | |
| Gone with the Wind | Soldier | ||
| 1943 | This Is the Army | Soldier | |
| 1948 | Red River | Dunston Rider | |
| The Paleface | Minor Role | ||
| 1949 | Mighty Joe Young | Cowboy | |
| 1950 | The Flame and the Arrow | Outlaw | |
| 1953 | Arena | Cowboy | |
| Arrowhead | Cavalryman | ||
| The Wild One | Unknown | ||
| 1954 | The Violent Men | Anchor Rider | |
| 1955 | A Lawless Street | Townsman | |
| 1956 | The Ten Commandments | Chariot Driver | |
| 1957 | The Tin Star | Unknown | |
| The Hard Man | Posse Man | ||
| 1960 | Spartacus | Salt Mine Slave / Gladiator / Slave General | |
| 1963 | The Jolly Genie | Thug | Short subject |
| 1966 | Duel at Diablo | Wagon Driver | Uncredited |
| Texas Across the River | Medicine Man | ||
| 1968 | The Stalking Moon | Unknown | Uncredited |
| 1970 | Monte Walsh | Cowboy | |
| 1971 | Skin Game | Man In Saloon Fight | Uncredited |
| 1972 | The Cowboys | Henry Williams | |
| Pocket Money | Man | Uncredited | |
| Ulzana's Raid | Trooper | ||
| The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean | Outlaw | ||
| 1973 | The Soul of Nigger Charley | Walker | |
| Papillon | Manhunter | Uncredited | |
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles | Sheriff | |
| 1975 | The Apple Dumpling Gang | Mover | |
| 1976 | The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox | Stagecoach Driver | |
| The Outlaw Josey Wales | Comanchero | Uncredited | |
| 1977 | Another Man, Another Chance | Stagecoach Driver | |
| 1978 | Comes a Horseman | Dodger | |
| 1980 | Tom Horn | John C. Coble | |
| Ruckus | Sheriff Jethro Pough | ||
| Resurrection | Esco | ||
| 1981 | The Legend of the Lone Ranger | 'Wild Bill' Hickok | |
| 1982 | The Grey Fox | Bill Miner | |
| Waltz Across Texas | Frank Walker | ||
| 1983 | Independence Day | Evan | |
| 1984 | The Natural | 'Red' Blow | |
| Rhinestone | Noah Farris | ||
| 1985 | Into the Night | Jack Caper | |
| Sylvester | Foster | ||
| Space Rage | Colonel | ||
| 1988 | The River Pirates | Percy |
· Filmography › Television
1951
Role(s)
Henchman (uncredited)
Notes
Episode: "Fury at Red Gulch"Episode: "The Desperate Sheriff"
1954
Army Wagon Driver
Role(s)
Episode: "The Gatling Gun"
1958
1959
1960
Role(s)
Gault Ranch Hand / Manley (uncredited)
Notes
Episodes: "Street of Hate" & "Ride into Darkness"
1961
Hank
Role(s)
Episode: "The Tumbleweed Wagon"
1966
Businessman
Role(s)
Episode: "Image of Yesterday"
1967
Role(s)
Dusty Rhodes / Benefiel
Notes
Episodes: "Journey to a Hanging" & "The Battleground"
1972
Tate / Troy
Role(s)
Episodes: "The Saddle Stiff" & "He Was Only Seven"
1974
Honky Tonk
Role(s)
Driver
Notes
TV movie
1977
1981
The Texas Rangers
Role(s)
Ranger J.W. Stevens
Notes
TV movie
A Few Days in Weasel Creek
Role(s)
Jason Stayvey
The Cherokee Trail
Role(s)
Ridge Fenton
1985
Role(s)
Chuck Reese
Chase
Role(s)
Judge Grand Pettitt
Role(s)
Matthew Cuthbert
1987
1989
Role(s)
Sheriff Campbell / Bisby Arizona
1998
Best Friends for Life
Role(s)
Will Harper
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1951 | The Adventures of Kit Carson | Henchman (uncredited) | Episode: "Fury at Red Gulch"Episode: "The Desperate Sheriff" |
| 1954 | Army Wagon Driver | Episode: "The Gatling Gun" | |
| 1955 | Soldiers of Fortune | 'Gaucho' (uncredited) | Episode: "The General" |
| 1956 | Zane Grey Theatre | Trooper | Episode: "Star Over Texas" |
| 1958 | The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok | Butler | Episode: "Jingles on the Jailroad" |
| Cimarron City | Ira Youngman | Episode: "Twelve Guns", uncredited | |
| 1959 | State Trooper | Caleb Smith | Episode: "Lonely Valley" |
| The Rebel | Trooper | Episode: "Yellow Hair" | |
| 1960 | Wanted: Dead or Alive | Rance / Hal | Episodes: "The Partners" & "To the Victor" |
| Laramie | Gault Ranch Hand / Manley (uncredited) | Episodes: "Street of Hate" & "Ride into Darkness" | |
| 1961 | Hank | Episode: "The Tumbleweed Wagon" | |
| 1965 | The Big Valley | Bolin | Episode: "The Odyssey of Jubal Tanner" |
| 1966 | Businessman | Episode: "Image of Yesterday" | |
| 1967 | Cimarron Strip | Dusty Rhodes / Benefiel | Episodes: "Journey to a Hanging" & "The Battleground" |
| 1970 | The High Chaparral | Lloyd | Episode: "The Long Shadow" |
| 1971 | Bonanza | Sourdough | Episode: "Top Hand" |
| 1972 | Tate / Troy | Episodes: "The Saddle Stiff" & "He Was Only Seven" | |
| 1974 | Honky Tonk | Driver | TV movie |
| 1975 | Strange New World | Elder | |
| 1977 | Roots | Trumbull | TV miniseries |
| Little House on the Prairie | Wall | Episode: "Quarantine" | |
| 1981 | The Texas Rangers | Ranger J.W. Stevens | TV movie |
| A Few Days in Weasel Creek | Jason Stayvey | ||
| The Cherokee Trail | Ridge Fenton | ||
| 1983 | Travis McGee | Van Harder | |
| Ghost Dancing | Russ Ward | ||
| 1985 | Wild Horses | Chuck Reese | |
| Chase | Judge Grand Pettitt | ||
| Anne of Green Gables | Matthew Cuthbert | ||
| 1987 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Carl | Episode: "Travelin' Man" |
| Highway to Heaven | Grandpa Jet Sanders | Episode: "A Dream of Wild Horses" | |
| 1989 | Red Earth, White Earth | Helmer | TV movie |
| Desperado: The Outlaw Wars | Sheriff Campbell / Bisby Arizona | ||
| 1992 | The Boys of Twilight | Sheriff Cody McPherson | 5 episodes |
| 1993 | The Fire Next Time | Frank Morgan | TV movie |
| 1998 | Best Friends for Life | Will Harper |
References
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/08/us/richard-farnsworth-stunt-man-and-2-time-oscar-nominee-80.html
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/10/08/richard-farnsworth-80-dies/0c9fa0b6-8abe-41e4-a5f2-6852a4b6106c/
- "Richard Farnsworth"https://archive.today/20080516223553/http://www.tickledorange.com/LMM/RichardFarnsworth.html
- Those Who Made It: Speaking with the Legends of Hollywoodhttps://books.google.com/books?id=0FxaCwAAQBAJ&pg=PP1
- Entertainment Weekly
- Peoplehttps://web.archive.org/web/20091213040038/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,618509,00.html
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/richard-farnsworth/