Wilford Brimley, the mustached actor known for Cocoon, The Natural and The Firm, has died. SANTA CLARA, Utah, Aug. 1, 2020 (Gephardt Daily) -- Utah-born character actor Wilford Brimley, known for his work in westerns, thrillers, ⦠On Chris Harrison, Rachael KirkConnell ... ©2021 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. He was 85. He became an extra for Western films, and in little more than a decade, he had established himself as a character actor in films such as The China Syndrome (1979), The Thing (1982), and The Natural (1984). ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. hide caption. The actor died Saturday morning at a Utah hospital, according to his manager, Lynda Bensky. Actor Wilford Brimley, who starred in more than 70 roles on television and on film and was a longtime spokesperson for Quaker Oats, died Saturday at his Utah home, the St. George News reported. Brimley is best known for his role in Cocoon, where he was one of a group of older adults who discover aliens and gain youthful rejuvenation from them. in New York City on December 14, 2009 Brimley passed away on August 1, 2020 at 85. He is survived by his wife Beverly and three sons. According to TMZ, Brimley ⦠Anthony Wilford Brimley was the American actor and singer who served in the Marines and took on a variety of odd jobs is dead at 85 years. Brimley had been sick for two months with a kidney ailment, his agent, Lynda Bensky, told The New York Times. Wilford Brimley was born on September 27, 1934 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA as Anthony Wilford Brimley. He was 85. I'm sad that I will no longer get to hear my friend's wonderful stories. Folks might remember Wilford more for commercials though over the years -- specifically, his campaigns with Quaker Oats through the '80s and '90s, and maybe even more memorable ... his classic diabetes ads for Liberty Medical -- which was often spoofed, but also beloved. "Wilford Brimley was a man you could trust," Bensky said. Wilford Brimley, who worked his way up from movie stunt rider to an indelible character actor who brought gruff charm, and sometimes menace, to a ⦠He was 85. Wilford Brimley, who worked his way up from movie stunt rider to an indelible character actor who brought gruff charm, and sometimes menace, to a range of films that included âCocoon,â âThe Naturalâ and âThe Firm,â has died. He was 85. Wilford Brimley, Cocoon and The Thing Star, Dead at 85 Brimley's manager tells E! Brimley died Saturday at a hospital near St. George, Utah, where the actor resided. Actor Wilford Brimley attends the premiere of Did You Hear About the Morgans? He went on to star in countless other movies and shows, notably on "Our House," in which he starred in over 40 episodes, as well one-off appearances in hit series like "Walker, Texas Ranger," "Seinfeld," and so many others. The Cocoon star passed away at his home in Utah on Sunday after a stint in intensive care in hospital. He appeared in an ad for Liberty Medical. Brimley, who had been on dialysis due to his failing health, died Saturday in an intensive care unit. Brimley had been suffering from a kidney ⦠We're told Brimley passed away Saturday morning at his home in Utah. Wilford Brimley, the actor with the walrus mustache whose down-home geniality seen in such films as Cocoon, The Natural and Absence of Malice endeared him to moviegoers, has died. Next, the passing of an actor whose supporting roles often stole the show. Brimleyâs early life included ⦠He was 85. in New York City on December 14, 2009 Brimley passed away on August 1, 2020 at 85. In a 2011 interview with Craig Ferguson, the actor broke out a harmonica to play a rendition of "Oh, Susannah". Actor Wilford Brimley has died aged 85. In the '80s, he started breaking out into more traditional films, appearing in flicks like "High Road to China," "10 to Midnight," "Tough Enough," "Jackals," "End of the Line," and a bunch of other B-movies where he'd often play an authority figure or a grandfatherly figure with his deep, comforting Southern accent. He was 85. Wilford Brimley, the mustached actor known for Cocoon, The Natural and The Firm, has died. He died on ⦠He was 85. News the actor passed away on Saturday, August 1, while he was hospitalized in St. George, Utah. 14 The mustached Brimley was a familiar face ⦠Anthony Wilford Brimley (September 27, 1934 â August 1, 2020) was an American actor and singer. He became a beloved Internet meme after appearing in a Liberty Medical ad because of his pronunciation of diabetes. He was married to Beverly Berry and Lynne Brimley. Wilford Brimley, a character actor known for memorable performances in films such as âThe Naturalâ and âCocoon,â died Saturday at 85. COCOON and The Thing actor Wilford Brimley has died at the age of 85 in hospital, says his manager who praised his "tender heart". TMZ was the first to hear that Wilford Brimley had died Saturday morning at his home in Utah. Brimleyâs manager Lynda Bensky said the actor died Saturday morning in a Utah hospital. The actor died Saturday morning at a Utah hospital, according to his manager, Lynda Bensky. Wilford had a lengthy career on camera, dating back to the 1970s with over 70 acting credits. For generations of film and television viewers, Wilford Brimley â who died on Saturday at the age of 85 â was a ubiquitous presence. "He said what he meant and he meant what he said. If price is your only concern, please do business with my competitor.". He's perhaps most known for roles in cult classic films like "Cocoon," "The Natural," "The Thing," "Hard Target," and countless other memorable on-screen appearances, big and small. Brimley Died After Suffering A Kidney Illness. âWilford Brimley was a man you could trust. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 27, 1934. COCOON and The Thing actor Wilford Brimley has died at the age of 85 in hospital, says his manager who praised his "tender heart". Utah-born Brimley worked his way up from movie stunt rider to an indelible character actor who brought gruff charm, and sometimes menace, to a range of films. An earlier version of this story mistakenly said Wilford Brimley appeared in a Liberty Mutual ad. Wilford Brimley, an actor who starred in films like Cocoon, The Natural and Absence of Malice and was the face of Quaker Oats for many years, has died.He was 85. Transcript for Actor Wilford Brimley dead at 85. Getty Wilford Brimley -- an iconic actor who was the face of Quaker Oats for years, as well as a spokesperson for diabetes education -- has died... a rep tells TMZ. Actor Wilford Brimley, who starred in more than 70 roles on television and on film and was a longtime spokesperson for Quaker Oats, died Saturday at his Utah home. He was an actor, known for Cocoon (1985), The Natural (1984) and The Thing (1982). Brimley was also a talented singer and musician, and has released several albums including "This Time, the Dream's On Me," and "Wilford Brimley with the Jeff Hamilton Trio." © 2021 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. Sources with direct knowledge of Wilford's health tell us he was in an ICU wing of a hospital on dialysis, and very sick for days. The American Diabetes Association honored him for his lifetime of advocacy in 2008. He was 85. The film won two Academy Awards, and Brimley returned for a 1988 sequel. He's survived by his wife, Beverly, and his three children. Character actor Wilford Brimley, whose myriad credits include TVâs The Waltons and Our House and the movie Cocoon, has died at the age of 85. He went on to star in a bunch of TV movies, such as "The Wild Wild West Revisited," "Amber Waves," "Roughnecks," "Rodeo Girl," 'The Big Black Pill,' and so on. Wilford Brimley, best known for his roles in âThe Natural,â the 1982 remake of âThe Thing,â âThe Firmâ and âCocoon,â died on Saturday. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Download the TMZ App on the Apple App Store, Download the TMZ App on the Google Play Store. On the small screen, Brimley was also known for his work as the Quaker Oats spokesman in a series of commercials in the '80s and '90s. The video earned him the name "diabeetus" guy, a moniker he personally accepted in a tweet. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! A rep for Wilford tells TMZ, one of his favorite quotes was from a sign at a blacksmith's shop. He was 85. Unfortunately, Wilford Brimley has now left this world at 85 years old. Actor Wilford Brimley, who starred in more than 70 roles on television and on film and was a longtime spokesperson for Quaker Oats, died Saturday at his Utah home, the St. George News reported. Wilford Brimley in 2009 (Evan Agostini/AP) LOS ANGELES â Wilford Brimley, who worked his way up from stunt performer to star of film such as âCocoonâ and âThe Natural,â has died. He had a gruff exterior and a tender heart. Brimley started out as mostly a TV actor, landing one-time roles on TV series like "How the West Was Won," 'Kung Fu,' "The Oregon Trail," and then eventually ... a recurring part on "The Waltons." Actor Wilford Brimley attends the premiere of Did You Hear About the Morgans? As an actor, he appeared in acclaimed films like Cocoon and Absence of Malice; he also starred in a series of ads for Quaker Oatmeal and was a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association. The actor was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in 1979 and had worked to raise awareness of the disease. Wilford Brimley -- an iconic actor who was the face of Quaker Oats for years, as well as a spokesperson for diabetes education -- has died ... a rep tells TMZ. He was one of a kind.". Wilford Brimley, whose work as an actor and as a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association made him a transgenerational favorite, is dead at 85. Actor Wilford Brimley, who starred in more than 70 roles on television and on film and was a longtime spokesperson for Quaker Oats, died Saturday at his Utah home, the St. George News reported. Wilford Brimley, the actor known for his work in Cocoon, The Natural and The Thing, has died. Wilford was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in 1979, and managed the disease ever since then -- obviously, he was very open about it. He was on dialysis and had several medical issues. 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