Walter Brennan Biography

Fast Facts

• Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1970
• Interested in performing at a young age, he began performing in vaudeville at 15
• Quote: "Acting is as easy at falling off a horse․ All you have to do is let it happen․"
• After years of portraying bits parts in films only to support himself, he rose to fame in the late '30s and eventually garnered three Oscar statues within a four-year span
• Following an accident in 1932 that knocked out several of his teeth, he was often called upon to play older, well-sauced characters despite not yet being 40 years of age
• Looking to lead a simpler life following WWI, he briefly moved to Guatemala and grew pineapples for a short time before returning to Los Angeles to launch his film career
• Served in the U․S․ Army during WWI, where he fought in France before returning home safely