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Richard Farnsworth 1920 - 2000

Richard Farnsworth of Lincoln, Lincoln County, NM was born on September 1, 1920 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States, and died at age 80 years old on October 6, 2000 in Lincoln, Lincoln County, NM. Richard Farnsworth was buried on October 8, 2000 at Forest Lawn 6300 Forest Lawn Dr, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA.

Richard Farnsworth

Lincoln, Lincoln County, NM 88338

September 1, 1920

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States

October 6, 2000

Lincoln, Lincoln County, New Mexico, 88338, United States

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Richard Farnsworth Richard Farnsworth (1920 - 2000)

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Richard Farnsworth's History: 1920 - 2000

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Introduction

Richard Farnsworth Biography Born September 1, 1920 in Los Angeles, California, USA Died October 6, 2000 in Lincoln, New Mexico, USA (suicide by gunshot) Height 6' (1.83 m) Mini Bio (1) An American stuntman who, after more than 30 years in the business, moved into acting and became an acclaimed and respected character actor, Richard Farnsworth was a native of Los Angeles. He grew up around horses and as a teenager was offered an opportunity to ride in films. He appeared in horse-racing scenes and cavalry charges unbilled, first as a general rider and later as a stuntman. His riding and stunting skills gained him regular work doubling stars ranging from Roy Rogers to Gary Cooper, and he often doubled the bad guy as well. Although. like most stuntmen, he was occasionally given a line or two of dialogue, it was not until Farnsworth was over 50 that his natural talent for acting and his ease and warmth before the camera became apparent. When he won an Academy Award nomination for his role in Comes a Horseman (1978), it came as a surprise to many in the industry that this "newcomer" had been around since the 1930s. Farnsworth followed his Oscar nomination with a number of finely wrought performances, including The Grey Fox (1982) and The Natural (1984). In 1999 he came out of semi-retirement for a tour-de-force portrayal in The Straight Story (1999). Spouse (1) Margaret Hill (1947 - 7 August 1985) ( her death) ( 2 children) Was a stunt man for 30 years before becoming an actor. Co-founder of Stuntmen's Association in 1961 Known for a dislike of four-letter words, he was embarrassed by the language in The Getaway (1994). Died of self-inflicted gunshot wound. Had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. On March 25, 2001, during the telecast of the 73rd Annual Academy Awards of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, he was honored by being included in the always touching and memorable segment that pays tribute to those in the industry who have passed away over the course of the previous year. Billy Crystal singled out Farnsworth at the 72nd Academy Awards telling everyone it was "great to see him, and his nomination was a great story." Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1997. Is the oldest person to receive a Best Actor Oscar Nomination (79 at the time). Doubled for Kirk Douglas, Henry Fonda, Montgomery Clift, Steve McQueen and Roy Rogers. Engaged to Jewely Van Valin at the time of his death. One son and one daughter, Diamond Farnsworth and Missy. Shortly before his death, when asked by film critic Roger Ebert what he was most proud of in regard to his acting career, he replied that it was the fact that in over 60 movies he never says one cuss word. He was 43 years old when he received his first acting credit. Personal Quotes (9) But I don't really care for directors flaring up and trying to humble some actor, which they would do to try and make an example out of them so everybody else would stay on the ball--and [David Lynch] wasn't anything like that. No, I didn't audition, I didn't even know David Lynch until the week before I started the film. I worked with Cecil B. DeMille quite a few times. I worked for Sam Peckinpah on quite a bit of action in his films, and he got excited once in a while. I worked for John Ford, Howard Hawks, Henry Hathaway, Raoul Walsh--I worked for some real good directors. I was a stunt man for 35 years. [about The Ten Commandments (1956)] I don't know if you saw the parting of the Red Sea with the chariots on the horses, I did stuff like that. David Lynch was very good, very patient with us, and the reaction in the United States seems pretty good. [about his fellow stuntman, the legendary Boyd Stockman] One of the most underrated stuntmen ever . . . one of the best all-around hands.
09/1

1920

Birthday

September 1, 1920

Birthdate

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States

Birthplace

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Early Life & Education

Los Angeles, CA.
Professional Career

Stuntman and movie star. Acting From stunt work, Farnsworth gradually moved into acting in Western movies. He made uncredited appearances in numerous films, including Gone with the Wind (1939), Red River (1948), The Wild One (1953), and The Ten Commandments (1956). In 1960, Farnsworth (credited as Dick Farnsworth) appeared as a Gault ranch hand in the TV Western Laramie in the episode titled "Street of Hate". Farnsworth received his first acting credit in 1963 and went on to act in Western films and television shows. He had a role in Roots (1977). In 1992, he co-starred with Wilford Brimley in The Boys of Twilight. His breakthrough came when he played stagecoach robber Bill Miner in the 1982 Canadian film The Grey Fox. He appeared as a baseball coach in The Natural (1984). In 1985, he was the brother to Marilla and father figure to Anne in Anne of Green Gables. Other prominent roles include wealthy and ruthless oil man in The Two Jakes (1990) and the suspicious sheriff in the film version of Stephen King's Misery (1990). Farnsworth became well known in the Pacific Northwest as the groundskeeper who saw the mythical "Artesians" in the 1980s Olympia Beer advertising campaign.
Personal Life & Family

Started the Stuntman's Association.
10/6

2000

Death

October 6, 2000

Death date

Suicide by Gunshot

Cause of death

Lincoln, Lincoln County, New Mexico 88338, United States
Death location

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10/8

2000

Gravesite & Burial

October 8, 2000

Funeral date
Forest Lawn 6300 Forest Lawn Dr, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California 90068, United States
Burial location
Obituary

Actor Richard Farnsworth Kills Himself OCT. 7, 200012 AM FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS LINCOLN, N.M. — Richard Farnsworth, the oldest leading actor to get an Academy Award nomination, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Friday night, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department said. He was 80. Farnsworth’s fiancee, Jewely Van Valin, said he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Farnsworth, a former stuntman, was nominated earlier this year for an Oscar for best actor for his performance in “The Straight Story.” He had been involved in film making for more than 60 years and recently received a special award from the National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, Texas, for his work. Sheriff Tom Sullivan released a statement Friday night saying Farnsworth died at his home in Lincoln, about 130 miles southeast of Albuquerque. Authorities did not release any further details. Death On October 6, 2000, suffering from terminal cancer that left him partially paralyzed and in great pain, Farnsworth committed suicide by shooting himself at his ranch. He is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles in the Columbarium of Purity (N-63294) beside his wife, Margaret née Hill (1919–1985).

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6 Memories, Stories & Photos about Richard

Amanda S. Stevenson

16.8k+ favorites

01/15/2021

Richard Farnsworth

Richard Farnsworth with Robert Redford in the movie, THE NATURAL.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Jackie Burroughs with Richard Farnsworth

Amanda S. Stevenson

16.8k+ favorites

01/15/2021

Jackie Burroughs with Richard Farnsworth

In The Grey Fox, Richard Farnsworth is paired with Jackie Burroughs (see her Tribute) whom I met in a neighborhood restaurant on the West Side of Manhattan. Jackie was so pleased that I recognized her as the Lady Photographer in the movie, so she ordered some more coffee and enjoyed chatting with me.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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