Wilford Brimley Dead at 85
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.
We’re told Brimley passed away Saturday morning at his home in Utah. 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.
Wilford had a lengthy career on camera, dating back to the 1970s with over 70 acting credits. 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.
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. One of the best character actors without a doubt.
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.
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 was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in 1979, and managed the disease ever since then — obviously, he was very open about it. The American Diabetes Association honored him for his lifetime of advocacy in 2008.
