Charley Grapewin
Birthdate: Dec 20, 1869
Birthplace: Xenia, Ohio, USA
Died: Feb 2, 1956
This old codger film favorite, born in 1869 (some reports say 1875), got into the entertainment field at an early age, first as a circus performer (aerialist and trapeze artist). When acting sparked his interest, he worked in a series of stock companies while writing stage plays that he himself could star in. He married actress Anna Chance around the turn of the century, and they remained a devoted couple until her death 47 years later. They had no children. Charley came into his own in films at the ripe old age of 60 as the ultimate humorous, toothless character in a range of films with rustic settings. Notable movies include The Petrified Forest (1936) with Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart, The Good Earth (1937) with Paul Muni and Luise Rainer, and They Died with Their Boots On (1941) with Errol Flynn. However, his best-remembered parts were as huggable Uncle Henry in the classic The Wizard of Oz (1939), ornery Grandpa Joad, who refused to leave the homestead in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Inspector Queen in the Ellery Queen whodunits that ran from 1940 through 1942, and the amiable ne'er-do-well Jeeter Lester in Tobacco Road (1941). A soft, humorous presence who seemed frail around the edges, he was a thorough delight, his folksy presence gracing over 100 films. He died in 1956.
Known For
Charley Grapewin Movies
actor
Previous (76)
- 2024 |
A Family Affair
asFrank Redmond
A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother, and her movie-star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.
- 2014 |
- 1949 | Sandas Doug
- 1948 | The Enchanted Valleyas Grandpa
- 1947 | Gunfightersas Inskip
- 1944 | Atlantic Cityas Jake Taylor
- 1944 | Follow the Boysas Nick West
- 1944 | The Impatient Yearsas Benjamin L. Pidgeon - Bellboy
- 1942 | A Close Call for Ellery Queenas Inspector Queen
- 1942 | A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queenas Insp. Queen
- 1942 | Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queenas Inspector Richard Queen
- 1941 | Ellery Queen and the Murder Ringas Insp. Queen
- 1941 | Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crimeas Insp. Queen
- 1941 | Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mysteryas Inspector Richard Queen
- 1941 | Tobacco Roadas Jeeter
- 1941 | They Died with Their Boots Onas California Joe
- 1940 | Earthboundas Mr. Whimser
- 1940 | Ellery Queen, Master Detectiveas Insp. Queen
- 1940 | Johnny Apolloas Judge Emmett T. Brennan
- 1940 | Rhythm on the Riveras Uncle Caleb
- 1940 | Texas Rangers Ride Againas Ranger Ben Caldwalder
- 1940 | The Grapes of Wrathas Grandpa
- 1939 | Burn 'Em Up O'Connoras 'Doc' Heath
- 1939 | Dust Be My Destinyas Pop
- 1939 | Hero for a Dayas Uncle Frank 'Lucky' Higgins
- 1939 | Stand Up and Fightas 'Old Puff'
- 1939 | Sudden Moneyas Grandpa Casey Patterson
- 1939 | The Man Who Daredas Ulysses Porterfield
- 1939 |
The Wizard of Oz
asUncle Henry
Young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto are swept away by a tornado from their Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz and embark on a quest with three new friends to see the Wizard, who can return her to her home and fulfill the others' wishes.
- 1938 | Artists and Models Abroadas James Harper
- 1938 | Listen, Darlingas Uncle Joe
- 1938 | Of Human Heartsas Jim Meeker
- 1938 | The Shopworn Angelas Wilson - Caretaker
- 1938 | Three Comradesas Local Doctor
- 1938 | Three Loves Has Nancyas Grandpa Briggs
- 1937 | Bad Guyas Dan Gray
- 1937 | Between Two Womenas Dr. Webster
- 1937 | Big Cityas The Mayor
- 1937 | Captains Courageousas Uncle Salters
- 1937 | The Good Earthas Old Father
- 1936 | Sinner Take Allas Aaron Lampier
- 1936 | Small Town Girlas Dr. Ned Fabre
- 1936 | The Petrified Forestas Gramp Maple
- 1936 | The Voice of Bugle Annas Cal Royster
- 1936 | Without Ordersas J.P. Kendrick
- 1936 | Libeled Ladyas Mr. Bane
- 1935 | Ah Wilderness!as Dave McComber
- 1935 | Eight Bellsas Grayson
- 1935 | In Spite of Dangeras Pop Sullivan
- 1935 | King Solomon of Broadwayas Uncle Winchester
- 1935 | One Frightened Nightas Jasper Whyte
- 1935 | Party Wireas Will Oliver
- 1935 | Rendezvousas Martin
- 1935 | Shanghaias Truesdale
- 1935 | Super-Speedas Terry Devlin
- 1935 | Alice Adamsas J. A. Lamb
- 1934 | Caravanas Notary
- 1934 | Judge Priestas Sergeant Jimmy Bagby
- 1934 | She Made Her Bedas Joe Olesen
- 1934 | The Loudspeakeras Pop Calloway
- 1934 | The Quitteras Ed Tilford
- 1934 | Two Aloneas Sandy Roberts
- 1934 | Anne of Green Gablesas Dr. Tatum
- 1933 | Don't Bet on Loveas Pop McCaffery
- 1933 | Hell and High Wateras Peck Wealin
- 1933 | Hello, Everybody!as Jed
- 1933 | Heroes for Saleas Pa Dennis
- 1933 | The Kiss Before the Mirroras Schultz
- 1933 | Torch Singeras Judson
- 1932 | Hell's Houseas Henry Clark
- 1932 | The Big Timeras Pop Baldwin
- 1932 | The Night of June 13as 'Grandpop' Jeptha Strawn
- 1932 | The Woman in Room 13as Andy
- 1932 | Wild Horse Mesaas Sam Bass
- 1931 | Gold Dust Gertieas Nicholas Hautrey
- 1930 | Only Saps Workas Simeon Tanner
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