Richard Farnsworth: Movies, Awards & Box Office

Richard William Farnsworth (September 1, 1920 – October 6, 2000) was an American actor and stuntman. He built a reputable career in the film industry, spanning over six decades from 1937 to 1999. He was twice nominated for an Academy Award: in 1978 for Best Supporting Actor for 'Comes a Horseman', and in 2000 for Best Actor in 'The Straight Story', making him the oldest nominee for the award at the time. His filmography extends from uncredited appearances in numerous films such as 'Gone with the Wind' (1939), 'Red River' (1948), and 'The Ten Commandments' (1956), to credited roles in Roots (1977) and 'The Boys of Twilight' (1992). He significantly made his mark through prominent roles like a stagecoach robber in the 1982 Canadian film 'The Grey Fox' and the suspicious sheriff in Stephen King's 'Misery' (1990). His final role was playing Alvin Straight in the David Lynch film 'The Straight Story' (1999).

In addition to his work in cinema, his personal life was also noteworthy. Farnsworth was married once to Margaret Hill, with whom he had two children. Following his wife's death in 1985, he lived his later years on a ranch in Lincoln, New Mexico. On October 6, 2000, after suffering from terminal cancer that left him partially paralyzed and in great pain, Farnsworth ended his life at his ranch in Lincoln. During his lifetime, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City in 1997 and received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star for his contributions in motion pictures on August 17, 1992.