Wilford Brimley has died. The 85-year-old diabetic – who’d been on dialysis and suffering from other medical issues – passed away on Saturday morning in a hospital in St. George, Utah.
Brimley served as a blacksmith, a rodeo rider, a Hollywood extra, and a bodyguard for Howard Hughes before making it as an actor. He starred in a legion of films including “The China Syndrome,” “Absence of Malice,” “The Firm,” "Cocoon" and most recently “Did You Hear About the Morgans?”
But that was the big screen, on television his work included a stint on the classic drama,“The Waltons." Still, many know him as a pitchman with a gravelly voice that made us want to buy insurance and eat Quaker Oatmeal. Ironically, he was never a fan of Hollywood. In fact, he once described it as, "Too many people, too congested and too fast."
Brimley leaves his wife, Beverly, and three sons to mourn his death. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 44 years, Lynne.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter