Richard Farnsworth Biography (1920-2000)

Born September 1, 1920, in Los Angeles, CA; married Maggie Farnsworth, 1947;children: two. Career: Actor and stuntman. Stuntmen's Association,cofounder, 1961. Also participated in rodeo events. Awards, Honors: Academy Award nomination, best supporting actor, 1979, for Comes a Horseman; Genie Award (Prix Genie), best performance by a foreign actor or actress, 1983, and Golden Globe nomination, best performance by an actor in a motion picture--drama, 1984, both for The Grey Fox; Gemini Award (Prix Gemini), best performance by a supporting actor, 1986, for Anne of Green Gables; Academy Award nomination, best actor, 2000, for The Straight Story. Addresses: Agent: Diane Davis, Twentieth Century Artists, 4605 Lankershim Blvd., Suite 305, North Hollywood, CA 91602.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor, stuntman
Birth Details: September 1, 1920; Los Angeles, California, United States
Death Details: October 6, 2000; Lincoln, New Mexico

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
(Uncredited) A Day at the Races,1937
(Uncredited) The Adventures of Marco Polo,1938
(Uncredited) This is the Army,1943
(Uncredited) Red River,1948
(Uncredited) The Wild One,1954
(Uncredited) The Tin Star,1957
(Uncredited) Spartacus,1960
Thug, The Jolly Genie, Emerson Film Enterprises, 1963
(As Dick Farnsworth) Medicine man, Texas across the River, Universal, 1966
(Uncredited) First wagon driver, Ralph Nelson's Duel at Diablo, United Artists, 1966
Cowboy, Monte Walsh, National General, 1970
Henry Williams, The Cowboys, Warner Bros., 1972
Trooper, Ulzana's Raid, Universal, 1972
(As Dick Farnsworth) Outlaw, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean,National General, 1972
Pocket Money,1972
Walker, The Soul of Nigger Charley(also known as The Soul of Nigger Charlie), Paramount, 1973
(Uncredited) Rooster's deputy, Rooster Cogburn(also known as Rooster Cogburn ... and the Lady), Universal, 1975
Stage coach driver, The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1976
Stagecoach driver, Un autre homme, une autre chance(also known asAnother Man, Another Chance and Another Man, Another Woman), 1977
Dodger, Comes a Horseman, United Artists, 1978
John Coble, Tom Horn, Warner Bros., 1980
Esco, Resurrection, Universal, 1980
Wild Bill Hickok, The Legend of the Lone Ranger, Universal, 1981
Sheriff Jethro Pough, Ruckus(also known as The Loner and Ruckus in Madoc County), New World, 1982
Frank Walker, Waltz across Texas, Atlantic, 1982
Evan, Independence Day(also known as Follow Your Dreams), Warner Bros., 1982
Bill Miner/George Edwards, The Grey Fox, United Artists, 1983
Red Blow, The Natural, Universal, 1984
Noah Ferris, Rhinestone, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1984
Jack Caper, Into the Night, Universal, 1985
Foster, Sylvester, Columbia, 1985
Colonel, Space Rage(also known as A Dollar a Day, SpaceRage: Breakout on Prison Planet, and Trackers), Vestron, 1987
(As Rick Farnsworth) Jerry Giordano, Witchcraft(also known as La Casa 4, Ghosthouse 2, and Witchery), 1988
Perry, Good Ole Boy: A Delta Boyhood(also known as The River Pirates), 1988
Professor, Havana, Universal, 1990
Earl Rawley, The Two Jakes, Paramount, 1990
Buster, Misery, Columbia, 1990
Sam, Highway to Hell, Hemdale Releasing, 1992

Slim, The Getaway, Universal, 1994
Len Collins, Lassie, Paramount, 1994
Alvin Straight, The Straight Story,1999
Film Stuntman
A Day at the Races,1937
The Adventures of Marco Polo, United Artists, 1938
The Outlaw,1943
This Is the Army,1943
(Uncredited) Red River,1948
(Rodeo stunts: Spade Cooley) The Kid from Gower Gulch,1949
The Wild One,1954
The Tin Star,1957
Spartacus,1960
Weekend at Bernie's(also known as Hot and Cold), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1989
Best Friends for Life,1998
Worked in over three hundred other films as a stuntman.
Television Appearances
Movies
Honky Tonk, NBC, 1974
Elder, Strange New World, ABC, 1975
A Few Days in Weasel Creek, CBS, 1981
Van Harder, Travis McGee(also known as Travis McGee: The EmptyCopper Sea), ABC, 1983
Russ Ward, Ghost Dancing, ABC, 1983
Chuck Reese, Wild Horses, CBS, 1985
Judge Grant Pettitt, Chase,1985
Sheriff Campbell, Desperado: The Outlaw Wars,1989
Helmer Pehrsson, Red Earth, White Earth(also known as Snake Treaty), 1989
Percy, Good Old Boy(also known as Good Ole Boy, Good OleBoy: A Delta Boyhood, and The River Pirates), The Disney Channel,1994
Will, Best Friends for Life, CBS, 1996
(Uncredited) Matthew Cuthbert, Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story(also known as Anne 3), 2000
Specials
The Making of Anne of Green Gables, PBS, 1986
Carl, "Traveling Man" (also known as "Travelling Man"), CBS Summer Playhouse, CBS, 1987
Narrator, Back at the Ranch, PBS, 1987
Host, Buckaroo Bard, PBS, 1989
The 15th Annual IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards,2000
Series
Matthew Cuthbert, Anne of Green Gables, CBC, 1985 then aired on WonderWorks, PBS, 1986
Matthew Cuthbert, Anne of Avonlea, CBC, then The Disney Channel, 1987
Matthew Cuthbert, Anne of Avonlea: The Sequel(re-edited material from Anne of Avonlea), CBC, then aired on WonderWorks, PBS, 1988
Sheriff Cody McPherson, The Boys of Twilight, CBS, 1992
Miniseries
Frank Morgan, The Fire Next Time, CBS, 1993
Voice of Teddy Blue, The Wild West, syndicated, 1993
Pilots
Ranger J.W. Stevens, The Texas Rangers, NBC, 1981
Ridge Fenton, The Cherokee Trail, CBS, 1981
Episodic
"Jingles on the Jailroad," Adventures of Wild Bill Hickock,1958
"The Partners," Wanted: Dead or Alive, CBS, 1960
"To the Victor," Wanted: Dead or Alive, CBS, 1960
(As Dick Farnsworth) Bolin, "The Odyssey of Jubal Tanner," The Big Valley,1965
(As Dick Farnsworth) Businessman, "Image of Yesterday," The Big Valley,1967
"The Battleground," Cimarron Strip,1967
(As Dick Farnsworth) "Top Hand," Bonanza,1970
(As Dick Farnsworth) "Troy," Bonanza,1972
(As Dick Farnsworth) "Tate," Bonanza,1972
"A Dream of Wild Horses," Highway to Heaven, NBC, 1987

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Entertainment Weekly, October 5, 1999, 9, p. 36; March 1, 2000, p.20.
Los Angeles Magazine, p. 50.
Variety, January 3, 2000, p. 62.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:

forum