Charles Grapewin
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Charles E. Grapewin (December 20, 1869 – February 2, 1956) was an American vaudeville performer and a stage and film character actor, perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of Uncle Henry in the 1939 film classic The Wizard of Oz.
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[edit] Biography
Born in Xenia, Ohio, Grapewin first worked as an aerialist and trapeze artist in a traveling circus before turning to acting. He performed on stage with various stock companies and wrote stage plays as a vehicle for himself. His sole Broadway theatre credit was the short-lived play It's Up To You John Henry in 1905.
Grapewin began in silent films around the turn of the century. During his long career, Grapewin appeared in more than one hundred films, including The Grapes of Wrath and Tobacco Road. In the early 1940s, he had a recurring role as Inspector Queen in the Ellery Queen film series.
Grapewin married actress Anna Chance (1875-1943) in 1896 and they remained a devoted couple until her death some 47 years later.[1]
Grapewin died in Corona, California at age 86 and was buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.[2]
[edit] Partial filmography
- The Millionaire (1931)
- Hell's House (1932)
- The Big Timer (1932)
- Are You Listening? (1932)
- Lady and Gent (1932)
- No Man of Her Own (1932)
- The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933)
- Heroes for Sale (1933)
- Midnight Mary (1933)
- Pilgrimage (1933)
- Beauty for Sale (1933)
- Torch Singer (1933)
- Judge Priest (1934)
- Caravan (1934)
- The President Vanishes (1934)
- Anne of Green Gables (1934)
- Party Wire (1935)
- Shanghai (1935)
- Alice Adams (1935)
- Rendezvous (1935)
- Ah, Wilderness! (1935)
- The Petrified Forest (1936)
- Small Town Girl (1936)
- Libeled Lady (1936)
- The Good Earth (1937)
- A Family Affair (1937)
- Captains Courageous (1937)
- Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937)
- The Bad Man of Brimstone (1937)
- Of Human Hearts (1938)
- The Girl of the Golden West (1938)
- Three Comrades (1938)
- Three Loves Has Nancy (1938)
- Listen, Darling (1938)
- Stand Up and Fight (1939)
- The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- Dust Be My Destiny (1939)
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
- Johnny Apollo (1940)
- Rhythm on the River (1940)
- Tobacco Road (1941)
- They Died with Their Boots On (1941)
- Follow the Boys (1944)
[edit] References
- ^ "Mrs. Charles Grapewin", New York Times, September 12, 1943. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
- ^ "Charles Grapewin Is Dead at 86; Stage Comedian Scored in Movies; Portrayed Jeeter Lester in Film 'Tobacco Road,' Grampa in 'Grapes of Wrath' Was "Pop" in Three Pictures", New York Times, February 3, 1956, Friday. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. "Charles Grapewin, who acted the roles of Jeeter Lester in "Tobacco Road" and of Grampa in "Grapes of Wrath" in the movies, died today at his home in Corona. His age was 86."
[edit] External links
