Richard W. Farnsworth American actor and stuntman Date of Birth: 01.09.1920 Country: USA

1. Biography of Richard Farnsworth
2. Recognition and Awards
3. The Straight Story and Later Years
4. Personal Life and Tragic End

Biography of Richard Farnsworth

Richard Farnsworth was an American actor and stuntman who had a successful career primarily in western films. He was born in 1920 in Los Angeles, California to an engineer father and a homemaker mother. Farnsworth grew up during the Great Depression and after his father's death when he was seven years old, he lived with his mother, aunt, and sisters. To support his family, Farnsworth started working at a young age and soon found a job as a stuntman due to his familiarity and skill with horses. This marked the beginning of his career in the film industry. In the 1930s, Farnsworth worked on films such as "A Day at the Races," "The Adventures of Marco Polo," "Gunga Din," and "Gone with the Wind," although his name did not appear in the credits at that time.

Recognition and Awards

For many years, Farnsworth primarily played supporting roles in westerns. It wasn't until later in his career, when he was already in his mature years, that he began receiving offers for leading roles. In 1978, Farnsworth was nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Supporting Actor for his role in the western film "Comes a Horseman" directed by Alan J. Pakula. In 1982, he starred in the biographical western film "The Grey Fox" directed by Phillip Borsos and received a Genie Award for his performance as Bill Miner, a daring and romantic gangster-robber. He became well-known for his catchphrase "Hands up!" In 1985, Farnsworth won a Gemini Award for his role as the silent and loving Matthew in the family drama "Anne of Green Gables" directed by Kevin Sullivan. He was also recognized by Russian audiences for his role in the film "Lassie."

The Straight Story and Later Years

In the biographical drama film "The Straight Story" directed by David Lynch, Farnsworth portrayed Alvin Straight, an elderly man living with his mentally ill daughter in a quiet town. Seeking reconciliation with his estranged brother who had suffered a heart attack, Alvin embarked on a journey from Iowa to Wisconsin. Along the way, he encountered numerous chance encounters and received help from kind strangers before finally reuniting with his brother. The film was released in 1999, and Farnsworth's portrayal earned him an Oscar nomination, making him the oldest nominee for Best Actor. Unfortunately, he did not win the award. Around this time, Farnsworth was battling a debilitating illness, which was not known to the public. Some critics mocked his casting as a seventy-year-old man when he appeared to be "at least 85." Despite this, he received eight prestigious awards for his performance and was named "Best Actor of the Year" by the New York Film Critics Circle.

Personal Life and Tragic End

Farnsworth was married to Margaret 'Maggie' Hill for 38 years, and they had two children together. However, Margaret passed away in 1985. After her death, Farnsworth met Julie Van Vlack, who was 35 years younger than him, and they formed a harmonious and stable relationship. On October 6, 2000, Farnsworth tragically ended his life with a self-inflicted gunshot. He had been battling terminal cancer, which had partially paralyzed him. Farnsworth's partner, Julie, discovered him on their ranch in Lincoln, New Mexico. In an interview with CNN, Julie revealed that he had reached the final stage of cancer but had courageously fought against it while working on "The Straight Story" and did not want the world to know about his illness.