Charley Grapewin(1869-1956)

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 La forêt pétrifiée (1936) with Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart, La terre chinoise (1937) with Paul Muni and Luise Rainer, and La Charge fantastique (1941) with Errol Flynn. However, his best-remembered parts were as huggable Uncle Henry in the classic Le Magicien d'Oz (1939), ornery Grandpa Joad, who refused to leave the homestead in Les Raisins de la colère (1940), Inspector Queen in the Ellery Queen whodunits that ran from 1940 through 1942, and the amiable ne'er-do-well Jeeter Lester in La route au tabac (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.