Richard Farnsworth

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.