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Richard Farnsworth Biography

Birth Name:Richard W. Farnsworth

Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, United States

Profession Actor, Stunts, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City in 1997
Worked as a stable hand at a polo field in Los Angeles before being offered a better-paying job as a stuntman
Started out working as a general rider and stuntman in films as a teenager and did so for decades, filling in for many heroes and villains on horseback and occasionally offering a line or two of dialogue
Transitioned into character acting late in his life, focusing mostly on Westerns with several notable exceptions, such as "The Straight Story," a drama about a man's journey on a lawnmower
Disliked cuss words, and shortly before his death, stated that he was proud that he never said one on film
In 1961, he co-founded the Stuntmen's Association

1978LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1978NBR Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1978NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1978NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1979Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1982Golden Mask-: winner
1983Genie-Best Performance by a Foreign Actor: winner
1984Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1986Gemini-Best Performance by a Supporting Actor: winner
1986Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1986ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: winner
1999Jury Award-Best Actor: winner
1999LAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1999NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2000Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2000CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2000Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: nominated
2000Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: winner
2000Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2000Sierra Award-Best Actor: nominated
2000Grace Award-Most Inspiring Performance in Movies: winner
2000OFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2000Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
2000SEFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011Felix-Best Supporting Actor: nominated