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Obit: So long, Richard Farnsworth

12 Oct 00 - 12:06 PM (#317298)
Subject: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: katlaughing

One of my favourite actors, Richard Farnsworth, took his life on the 7th, to escape the pain of bone cancer. I never knew he was a stuntman, often for Roy Rogers, driving a chariot in The Ten Commandments, or doubling for Kirk Douglas in Spartacus.

He actor received Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for his part in "The Straight Story." The Oscar nomination came when he was 79. He was the oldest actor to ever be nominated for that award. He was 80 when he took his life with a gun.

I loved his movie, "The Grey Fox." It always comes to mind when I hear the Chieftains, as that is one of the first times I ever heard their music. I was mesmerised by the sound and the elegant interweaving of it and the movie scenes.

I am saddened at this loss, but understand his desire to be free of the pain and agony of a slower death. Somehow, the way he chose to go seems to fit the rugged, soft-spoken, gentlemanly character we all came to equate him with; the old cowboy who knew how to put a lame horse out of its misery, doing the same for hmself.

Someday we'll quit ridin' the Big Boss providin'
And then we'll be leaving the trail that we know
The sun will be settin' and we'll be forgettin'
Down the trail where the sun hangs low.

Rest Well Mr. Farnsworth,

kat


12 Oct 00 - 12:12 PM (#317304)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Mbo

I'll miss him too...he was certainly one of our favorite actors, especially as the grandpa in Good Ol' Boys and as Matthew Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. He was so softspoken and likeable...truly someone I would have liked to have met.


12 Oct 00 - 02:13 PM (#317378)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: p.j.

Anyone remember Farnsworth's great little character on a series of commercials? He played a groundskeeper who was a friend of the "artesians" who supposedly provided the "artesian water" for some product or other (Bartles & Jaymes?) I've long since forgotten the product, but fondly remember Farnsworth's wonderful comic delivery. And what a great face! He'll surely be missed.

pj


12 Oct 00 - 02:17 PM (#317380)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Kim C

I love Richard Farnsworth! Why didn't I hear about this on the news?!!?!!!?!


12 Oct 00 - 02:27 PM (#317386)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Wesley S

I enjoyed "The Straight Story". I just saw it 2 weeks ago - it's so different from any other David Lynch movie. I've plugged it to anyone who would listen. My favorite scene of Farnsworths is in "The Natural" with Robert Redford when he plays "guess that tune" in the dugout with Wilford Brimley. He had such a "real" quality about him that never looked like he was acting. I'll miss him too.


12 Oct 00 - 02:51 PM (#317403)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Metchosin

Ahh! Mathew Cuthbert, yes, so sad. Loved Farnsworth in The Grey Fox too. I've always had a special place in my heart for that movie, family legend has it that my Grandfather rode with Bill Miner.


12 Oct 00 - 02:58 PM (#317410)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: catspaw49

Always love him. Like Wes, I loved that role and that scene...........helluva career as a fine character actor.......a face with true character etched into every line.

I also saw that I had missed the death of one of my all time favorites, Richard Mulligan. If he had done nothing besides create the role of Bert in "Soap" he would have been a remarkable talent. Funny man.....Kind man too.

Spaw


12 Oct 00 - 03:28 PM (#317418)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Wesley S

BERT RULES - Sorry - I'm channeling MBO again.

At one point I got obsessive about "Soap" and taped every episode. I laughed myself sick when they all got drunk and left the puppet in the bar to pay the bill. I guess you had to be there.


12 Oct 00 - 03:34 PM (#317425)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: mousethief

I can't believe your song is gone so soon
I barely learned the tune
So soon, so soon.
--Paul Simon

Alex
O..O
=o=


12 Oct 00 - 03:39 PM (#317431)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: catspaw49

Gawd Wes...You and I need to get together...That's the best episode to me too out of MANY great episodes. And Bert did RULE........Sheriff Bert(Bat), Invisible Bert, Alien Bert..........great stuff.

Spaw


12 Oct 00 - 03:42 PM (#317435)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: katlaughing

Spaw, when did Mulligan die??? I missed it, too. He was brilliant!

Mets-kewl family lore!


12 Oct 00 - 03:46 PM (#317442)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Wesley S

Anytime Spaw - The tape is in the library. But leave your "lawsuit guitar" at home. I've got a D-18 you're welcome to pick. I'll be stuck at home with the twins for a few years. They're due at the first of the year. Come on down.


12 Oct 00 - 03:46 PM (#317443)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Amergin

Thank you, Kat, for starting this thread....Farnsworth was one of my favorite actors....he was also a cousin of mine, though I never had the pleasure of meeting him.... I had no idea he had died, as I don't watch the tube much nor do I read the news very often...Bless you, Kat....

Amergin


12 Oct 00 - 03:55 PM (#317451)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: katlaughing

Amergin, whaddya mean he was your cousin? For real? Doubly sorry for your loss. Too bad you never got to meet him. He always seemed so endearing. You are welcome for the thread, darlin'. I am not surprised most people missed it. We barely heard a short report on NPR Saturday, then nothing in the papers and I don't watch tv news.

I already feel blessed up to full, darlin', from all of my good friends here at the Mudcat.*smile*

kat


12 Oct 00 - 04:01 PM (#317455)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: catspaw49

I don't know the exact date kat, but the latest issue of "People" magazine had a small story on him. He had cancer and in the the last few months had kept even close friends like Dinah Manoff away from the house. He said he really preferred to be remembered as he was.

Spaw


12 Oct 00 - 04:04 PM (#317458)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Wesley S

They had a nice article with a picture here in the local paper { Ft Worth Texas } on the obit page. He sure seemed like one of the nicest guys, the kind you'ld like to sit on a front porch with. Sorry for your loss Amergin.


12 Oct 00 - 04:32 PM (#317473)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Kim C

Richard Mulligan too? Sam Hill, where in the world have I been? My favorite Richard Mulligan role was George Custer in Little Big Man. "Muleskinner! You want me to think that you don't want me to go down there... "


12 Oct 00 - 05:53 PM (#317534)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: DougR

I can't add much to what has already been said. Richard Farnsworth was one of a kind. I loved "The Straight Story," and "The Grey Fox."

I didn't realize Richard Mulligan died either. A super comic actor. Soap was one of my alltime favorite programs. What a cast of actors, and what super writing!

DougR


12 Oct 00 - 06:09 PM (#317548)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Wesley S

" I can tell a mans profesion just by looking at him"


12 Oct 00 - 07:48 PM (#317637)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: richardw

And don't forget his role as the cattleman who hired Tom Horn (Steve McQueen) in the movie Tom Horn. As always he was understated, laid back.

Richard Wright

duplicate posting deleted
- elf/joeclone -


12 Oct 00 - 09:42 PM (#317730)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Dave Swan

Farnsworth. A class act.

Thanks, kat. I remember our PM's about him.

The first time I saw Grey Fox there was an audible sexual murmur out of the audience during the scene in which he was shown in bed with his ladyfriend the photographer. Sexy bastard well into his sixties.

Every one of his interviews made him sound kind, humble and grateful for what he had. We will not see his like again.

....though thy worldly task has done, home art gone and ta'en thy wages....


13 Oct 00 - 12:07 AM (#317852)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: GUEST,celticblues5

Two great guys, too soon gone. 'Soap' was brilliant!

Just a bit of thread creep - there is NO reason someone should be in such misery he feels he has to take his life. Someone should have gotten a better pain management team for him.

If you know anyone who does not seem to be getting adequate pain management, consider contacting the American Society of Pain Management Nurses in Denver 303-394-4215 for reference materials & suggestions on pain management centers near you.


13 Oct 00 - 12:40 AM (#317862)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: katlaughing

Thanks, Dave, I remember our discussion about him, too.


13 Oct 00 - 01:09 AM (#317880)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Dale Rose

Add my thanks for the memories here. I have nothing to add in the way of words, my thoughts have pretty well been covered as well or better by others. He was just about my favorite actor of all time, mostly because he didn't appear to be acting, just being the person he was playing, a good bit of which was always Richard Farnsworth.

I am a picture collector, and would like to share with you all my two favorite pictures of Richard Farnsworth. I will leave them up at least a month.


13 Oct 00 - 11:55 AM (#318083)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Lyrical Lady

My island neighbour, Phillip Borsos, directed 'Grey Fox', and often spoke of Richard Farnsworth. He apparently warmed the hearts of all that had the pleasure of his company. It saddens me that after all his years of providing tender moments, that his end was so painful.

LL


13 Oct 00 - 12:05 PM (#318093)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: MK

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Farnsworth also star in the TV duster (my term for "western") back in the 60s called "Palladin"? "Have Gun Will Travel" sort of thing?

I've been a life long fan as well and will miss him.


13 Oct 00 - 01:00 PM (#318137)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Dave Swan

Thanks, Dale. Great photos. It's uncanny how much he looked like the historical Bill Miner in the Grey Fox.

Michael K., that was Richard Boone as Paladin in Have Gun Will Travel.


13 Oct 00 - 05:46 PM (#318332)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Jim Dixon

Here is a link to IMDB's page on Richard Farnsworth. The earliest movie they list for him is "A Day at the Races" in 1938!


13 Oct 00 - 06:03 PM (#318344)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: katlaughing

Thanks for the great pix, Dale. You, too, Jim, for the other link.

I think that is what was so attractive about him: what you saw in the movies, was by all accounts, what you got in real life. Thanks, Lyric Lady for varifying this belief about him.

I know the other reason I was always so taken with him is he reminds me so much of my dad, and by extension, my granddad; those kinda quiet old West men, with their own brand of chivarly; salt of the earth kind of people.

kat


13 Oct 00 - 07:35 PM (#318382)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: catspaw49

Thanks to Dale and Jim for the links.

I'm a huge Marx fan, and I'll have to search through "A Day at the Races" real closely to see if I can spot him. Wonder how he looked 60 years ago at 18 or 20???

Spaw


13 Oct 00 - 11:07 PM (#318480)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Jim Dixon

Here's another link for Richard Farnsworth, in the All Movie Guide. I just discovered this site. I'll have to explore it more to see how it compares with IMDb (The Internet Movie Database).


14 Oct 00 - 12:12 AM (#318562)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: MK

Dave, thanks for setting that one straight. I stand corrected.


15 Oct 00 - 01:39 AM (#319098)
Subject: RE: So long, Richard Farnsworth
From: Dale Rose

I just put up two more pictures, one from The Natural, and one from Straight Story, so the page is finished now. Both came directly from internet stories, except that I added the border on the last one.