Skip to content
MovieCove
Wilford Brimley

Wilford Brimley

Actor · Died August 1, 2020, aged 85 · Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Anthony Wilford Brimley (September 27, 1934 – August 1, 2020) was an American actor and singer. After serving in the Marines and taking on a variety of odd jobs, 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). Brimley was the longtime face of television advertisements for the Quaker Oats Company. He also promoted diabetes education and appeared in related commercials for Liberty Medical.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 27, 1934
Died
August 1, 2020 (aged 85)
From
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
49 on MovieCove · 73 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 1% in 30 days

What are Wilford Brimley's films like?

Across their 36 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
27%
Bonds
23%
Self
15%
Survival
13%
Society
10%
Power
8%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 36 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 9 · Dark 10

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 24 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 11 · Charged 16 · Intense 9

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 28 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 21 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 15 · Affecting 14 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 32 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

25 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 12 of 25 analyzed roles.

Mentor
12 of 25
Ally
4 of 25
Shadow
4 of 25
Threshold guardian
3 of 25
Hero
1 of 25
Herald
1 of 25
Show the 25 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Warm
14
Melancholic
14
Hopeful
10
Contemplative
9
Other
31

How their films linger

Hopeful17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Wilford Brimley's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Wilford Brimley's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

73 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • I Believe(2017)

    as Pastor

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Timber the Treasure Dog(2016)

    as Hawk Jones

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Did You Hear About the Morgans?(2009)

    as Earl Granger

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Pitcher and the Pin-Up(2003)

    as Coach Weaver

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Resurrection Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Morty

  • The Round and Round(2002)

    as Governor

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Brigham City(2001)

    as Stu

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Crossfire Trail(2001)

    as Joe Gill

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Ballad of Lucy Whipple(2001)

    as Deputy Sheriff Ambrose Scraggs

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Comanche (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Lunker Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Storyteller

  • Summer of the Monkeys(1998)

    as Grandpa Sam Ferrans

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • CHAPTER PERFECT (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Hawkins

  • Progeny(1998)

    as Dr. David Wetherly

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • A Place to Grow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Jake

  • All My Friends Are Cowboys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Charlie

  • In & Out(1997)

    as Frank Brackett

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • My Fellow Americans(1996)

    as Joe Hollis

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Last of the Dogmen(1995)

    as Narrator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Good Old Boys(1995)

    as C.C. Tarpley

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • OP Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Adm. Troy Davis

  • OP Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Adm. Troy Davis

  • Mutant Species (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Devro

  • Heaven Sent(1994)

    as Security Guard

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Firm(1993)

    as William Devasher

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Hard Target(1993)

    as Uncle Douvee

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Burt Mueller

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry 'The Admiral' Prentice

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Boys of Twilight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Huntoon

  • Where the Red Fern Grows: Part Two(1992)

    as Grandpa Will

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Blood River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as U.S. Marshal Winston Patrick Culler

  • Eternity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as King / Eric

  • Seinfeld(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Postmaster General Henry Atkins

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Billy the Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Gov. Lew Wallace

  • Cocoon: The Return(1988)

    as Ben Luckett

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • End of the Line(1987)

    as Will Haney

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Jackals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Sheriff Mitchell

  • Our House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 46 episodes · as Gus Witherspoon

  • Act of Vengeance(1986)

    as Tony Boyle

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Thompson's Last Run(1986)

    as Red Haines

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Shadows on the Wall(1986)

    as Floyd Buckman

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ewoks: The Battle for Endor(1985)

    as Noa Briqualon

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins(1985)

    as Harold Smith

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Murder in Space(1985)

    as Dr. Andrew McCallister

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Cocoon(1985)

    as Benjamin Luckett

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Otis

  • The Natural(1984)

    as Pop Fisher

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Stone Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as George Jansen

  • The Hotel New Hampshire(1984)

    as Iowa Bob

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Harry & Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Tom Keach

  • Tough Enough(1983)

    as Bill Long

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • High Road to China(1983)

    as Bradley Tozer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • 10 to Midnight(1983)

    as Clem Malone

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Tender Mercies(1983)

    as Harry

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Thing(1982)

    as Blair

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Death Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as The Sheriff

  • Absence of Malice(1981)

    as James J. Wells

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Big Black Pill(1981)

    as Wally Haskell

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Borderline(1980)

    as Scooter Jackson

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Rodeo Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Bingo Gibbs

  • Roughnecks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Willie Clayton

  • Brubaker(1980)

    as Rogers

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Amber Waves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Pete Alberts

  • The Electric Horseman(1979)

    as Farmer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Wild Wild West Revisited(1979)

    as President Grover Cleveland

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The China Syndrome(1979)

    as Ted Spindler

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Awakening Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · as Jude McWhirter

  • The Oregon Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • How the West Was Won(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Daniels

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Blacksmith

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 5 episodes · as Horace Brimley

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Lawman(1971)

    as Marc Corman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • True Grit(1969)

    as Minor Role (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 73 titles from 1969 to 2019; peak year 1984.

Biggest box office

The Firm (1993)

$270M worldwide

Highest rated

The Thing (1982)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19692019

Peak 1984 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting73 of 73: 73 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score57th

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s9 · acting1980s31 · acting1990s22 · acting2000s8 · acting2010s2 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 3% of 29 roles
698489

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Wilford Brimley's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 43; across their 36 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Approval · how many liked their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Midcredits score across 49 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 49 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned1
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

I Believe (2017)

91st percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Thing (1982)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 33 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 39. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Wilford Brimley's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles17–94 · median 54 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles4–57 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles23–73 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles25–56 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles26–90 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Wilford Brimley work with?

People who share at least 2 of Wilford Brimley's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sydney Pollack shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles