What Was Wilford Brimley's Net Worth and Salary?
Wilford Brimley was an American actor, singer, and television personality with a net worth of $8 million at the time of his death in 2020. Known for his iconic walrus mustache, Brimley became a beloved character actor, often portraying endearing curmudgeons. One of his most memorable roles was in Ron Howard's "Cocoon" (1985) and its sequel "Cocoon: The Return" (1988).
Brimley accumulated over 70 acting credits, including standout performances in "The China Syndrome" (1979), "The Thing" (1982), "The Natural" (1984), and "The Firm" (1993). On television, he was known for roles in "The Waltons" (1974–1977) and "Our House" (1986–1988). A talented singer, he released a jazz album in 2004 titled "This Time, The Dream's On Me." Additionally, Brimley became the face of Liberty Medical and Quaker Oats commercials. Wilford passed away in August 2020 from a kidney condition at the age of 85.
Early Life
Wilford Brimley was born Anthony Wilford Brimley on September 27, 1934, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Raised in a Mormon household, his parents were Lola and Wilford Brimley, Sr., a real estate broker. He left high school at 14 to work as a cowboy in Idaho, Arizona, and Nevada. During the Korean War, Brimley served as a Marine in the Aleutian Islands. Afterward, he worked various jobs including wrangler, ranch hand, blacksmith, and bodyguard for billionaire Howard Hughes. Encouraged by friend Robert Duvall, Brimley transitioned to acting, beginning as a stuntman in Westerns.
Career
Brimley's early career featured uncredited roles in "True Grit" (1969) and "Lawman" (1971). From 1974 to 1977, he portrayed Horace Brimley on the CBS series "The Waltons." He also appeared in "Kung Fu" (1975) and "The Oregon Trail" (1976–1977). Brimley starred alongside Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, and Michael Douglas in "The China Syndrome" (1979). He appeared in notable films like "The Electric Horseman" (1979), "Brubaker" (1980), and "Absence of Malice" (1981).
Brimley is widely recognized for roles in "The Thing" (1982), "Tender Mercies" (1983), and "Cocoon" (1985). In the 1980s, he starred in the TV movies "Amber Waves" (1980), "Murder in Space" (1985), and "Billy the Kid" (1989). From 1986 to 1988, Brimley was Gus Witherspoon on the NBC drama "Our House." He also guest-starred in "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1995) and "Seinfeld" (1997).
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In the 1990s, Brimley appeared in "Hard Target" (1993), "Heaven Sent" (1994), and "My Fellow Americans" (1996). He co-starred with Tom Cruise in "The Firm" (1993) and Kevin Kline in "In & Out" (1997). During the 2000s, his work included "Crossfire Trail" (2001) and "The Road Home" (2003). His final film, "I Believe," was released in 2017.
Personal Life
Wilford married Lynne Bagley in 1956, and they had four sons: James, John, Bill, and Lawrence, who sadly died in 1966. Lynne passed away in 2000. In 2007, Brimley married Beverly Berry. Together, they started a nonprofit called Hands Across the Saddle in 2009. After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the late '70s, Brimley became a prominent advocate for diabetes awareness. His Liberty Medical commercials, where he pronounced "diabetes" as "diabeetus," became an internet meme. Brimley also voiced his support for cockfighting and horse-race gambling, and he enjoyed playing poker, even competing in the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2001.
Death
Wilford Brimley passed away on August 1, 2020, at a Utah hospital after suffering from a kidney condition. He was 85 years old and on dialysis at the time of his death. The TV series "Yellowstone" paid tribute to him with a title card in the episode "Meaner Than Evil" that stated, "In loving memory of Wilford Brimley. A cowboy, an artist and a damn good friend."
Awards and Nominations
In 2005, Brimley received a Golden Boot Award. He was also nominated for a CableACE Award for Actor in a Movie or Miniseries for "Act of Vengeance" in 1987 and a Maverick Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Masque" in 2013.
Real Estate
Wilford Brimley owned a 276-acre ranch in Greybull, Wyoming, which he listed for $1.25 million in mid-2014. The property sold for just under $1.15 million in April 2015.
