Wilford Brimley was an American film and television actor.

After serving in the United States Marine Corps in Korea, Brimley took on a number of odd jobs before landing gigs as a background extra in Western films including True Grit (1969) and Lawman (1971).

His first big break came in television with a recurring role on the television series The Waltons and would soon establish himself as a no-nonsense character actor in films such as The China Syndrome (1979), The Thing (1982), Tender Mercies (1983), and The Natural (1984).

Brimley also appeared in Ron Howard's Cocoon (1985), three Sydney Pollack films: The Electric Horseman (1979), Absence of Malice (1981), and The Firm (1993); he had a recurring role in the series Our House; played the Postmaster General in an episode of Seinfeld; promoted diabetes education; and was the long-time face of television ads for the Quaker Oats Company.

Brimley died August 1, 2020, in St. George, Utah. He was 85.