After serving in The Marine Corps for 4 years during the Korean War,—Wilford Brimley—-worked as a cowboy in Idaho, Nevada & Arizona.
He went to work for businessman Howard Hughes’ Summa Corp as a bodyguard, as well as a ranch hand, wrangler and blacksmith.
His big break came when he started to shoe horses for film and television.
He looked so grisly and stodgy, he started getting bit parts as a riding extra, then stunt rider in westerns.
Working as an extra on the set of the TV series The Waltons, Brimley caught lighting in a bottle when the director thought he looked the
part of a blacksmith which he was, indeed, in real life.
His big break came when old friend Robert Duvall got him a speaking role in “Tender Mercies”.
By accident and the grace of the Good Lord, Wilfred Brimley became a much sought after character actor literally by “being there”.
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