1999 | Enjoyed one of his best screen roles as Alvin Straight, a man who rode a tractor over 250 miles from Iowa to Wisconsin in order to reconcile with his estranged brother, in David Lynch's based-on-fact "The Straight Story"; premiered at the Cannes Film Festival; received Best Actor Oscar nomination |
1998 | Essayed the new love interest in Linda Lavin's life in "Best Friends for Life" (CBS) |
1994 | Had featured role as the grandfather in "Lassie" |
1994 | Appeared out of nowhere at the end of Roger Donaldson's remake of "The Getaway", but his words of wisdom were not enough to save the abysmal mess |
1993 | Portrayed Craig T Nelson's ailing father in CBS' apocalyptic miniseries "The Fire Next Time" |
1992 | Honored with the 1,961st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame |
1990 | Had roles in "Havana", "The Two Jakes" and "Misery" |
1987 | Starred as ex-cop in sci-fi Western "Space Rage" |
1986 | Acted in acclaimed Canadian miniseries "Anne of Green Gables", which aired as part of PBS' "Wonderworks" |
1984 | Was part of the top-flight supporting cast of "The Natural" |
1982 | Starred in Phillip Borsos' "The Grey Fox", winning the Gold Mask of Taormina, in addition to a Genie Award for his efforts |
1978 | Received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for "Comes a Horseman" |
1977 | Retired from stunt work to concentrate on acting |
1976 | Enjoyed first significant speaking role as the stagecoach driver in "The Dutchess and the Dirtwater Fox" |
1975 | Appeared uncredited as John Wayne's deputy in "Rooster Cogburn" |
1966 | Credited as 'Dick Farnsworth' for his Medicine Man role in "Texas Across the River" |
1961 | Co-founded the Stuntman's Association, which lobbied for and got better working conditions for its constituents |
| Worked as a stuntman and stunt coordinator for four decades on over 300 films and many TV Westerns of the 1950s and 1960s |
| Began working exclusively performing stunts, beginning with Howard Hawks' classic John Wayne Western "Red River" (1948) |
1938 | Feature debut as a stunt rider in "The Adventures of Marco Polo", starring Gary Cooper |
| Was working in a Hollywood stable that provided horse rentals for filmmakers when he answered a casting call for 500 Mongolian horseman |
1937 | By the age of 17, was making a living competing in rodeos; continued on rodeo circuit until 1946 |
1930 | Learned to ride a horse at the age of 10 (date approximate) |
