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Who was Charley Grapewin?
Charley Grapewin was an American actor who appeared in over 100 films during the silent and sound eras. He is best known for his roles as Uncle Henry in The Wizard of Oz, Grandpa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, and Jeeter Lester in Tobacco Road
Grapewin started his career as a circus acrobat and vaudeville performer, traveling all over the world with the famous P. T. Barnum circus. He also wrote stage plays and appeared in the original 1903 Broadway production of The Wizard of Oz, 36 years before he would star in the film version
How did Charley Grapewin die?
Charley Grapewin died of natural causes in Corona, California at the age of 86. He passed away on February 2, 1956, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances and a rich filmography
His ashes are interred with his wife’s, Anna Chance, in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California, at the Great Mausoleum’s Columbarium of Inspiration
What was Charley Grapewin’s last film?
Charley Grapewin’s last film was The Night of the Hunter, a 1955 thriller directed by Charles Laughton and starring Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters. Grapewin played Birdie Steptoe, an old man who helps the children escape from the murderous preacher
The film was a critical and commercial failure at the time of its release, but has since been recognized as a masterpiece of American cinema. It was Grapewin’s final screen appearance, as he retired from acting shortly after
Conclusion
Charley Grapewin was a versatile and prolific actor who entertained audiences for over five decades. He is remembered for his roles in some of the most iconic films of Hollywood history, such as The Wizard of Oz, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Night of the Hunter. He died of natural causes in 1956, leaving behind a legacy of cinematic excellence.
