Charley Grapewin
Known for Acting · 104 credits
- Born
- 1869-12-20
- Died
- 1956-02-02
- Place of birth
- Xenia, Ohio, USA
- Also known as
- Charles Ellsworth Grapewin · Charles Grapewin
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Ellsworth Grapewin (December 20, 1869 – February 2, 1956) was an American vaudeville performer, writer and a stage and silent and sound actor, and comedian who was best known for portraying Aunt Em's husband, Uncle Henry in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's The Wizard of Oz (1939) as well as Grandpa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and Jeeter Lester in Tobacco Road (1941). He usually portrayed elderly folksy-type characters in a rustic setting, in all appearing in over 100 films. He was the oldest cast member of The Wizard of Oz.
Born in Xenia, Ohio, Charles Ellsworth Grapewin ran away from home to be a circus acrobat which led him to work as an aerialist and trapeze artist in a traveling circus before turning to acting. He traveled all over the world with the famous P. T. Barnum circus. Grapewin also appeared in the original 1903 Broadway production of The Wizard of Oz, 36 years before he would appear in the famous Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film version.
After this he continued in theatre, on and offstage, for the next thirty years, starting 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 married actress Anna Chance (1875–1943) in 1896, and they remained a devoted couple until her death some 47 years later. Two years after his first wife's death, Grapewin married Loretta McGowan Becker on Jan 10, 1945.
Known For
TV Shows (1)
Movies (103)
The Wizard of Oz
1939
as Uncle Henry
The Grapes of Wrath
1940
as Grandpa Joad
Tobacco Road
1941
as Jeeter Lester
Small Town Girl
1936
as Dr. Ned Fabre
American Madness
1932
as Mr. Jones (uncredited)
Crash Dive
1943
as Pop
Captains Courageous
1937
as Uncle Salters
Johnny Apollo
1940
as Judge Emmett T. Brennan
Sudden Money
1939
as Grandpa Casey Patterson
Three Loves Has Nancy
1938
as Grandpa Briggs
Big City
1937
as Robert, the Mayor
Caravan
1934
as Notary
Pilgrimage
1933
as Dad Saunders
Earthbound
1940
as Mr. Whimser
Rendezvous
1935
as Prof. Martin
Libeled Lady
1936
as Hollis Bane
Judge Priest
1934
as Sergeant Jimmy Bagby
Midnight Mary
1933
as Clerk
They Died with Their Boots On
1941
as California Joe
Dust Be My Destiny
1939
as Pop
Rhythm on the River
1940
as Uncle Caleb
Alice Adams
1935
as J. A. Lamb
The Kiss Before the Mirror
1933
as Schultz
That's Entertainment, Part II
1976
as (archive footage)
Follow the Boys
1944
as Nick West
Gunfighters
1947
as Rancher Inskip
When I Grow Up
1951
as Grandpa Reed
The Millionaire
1931
as Ed Powers
The Good Earth
1937
as Old Father
Eight Bells
1935
as Grayson
Ah, Wilderness!
1935
as Dave McComber
Turn Back the Clock
1933
as Dr. Henderson (uncredited)
The Petrified Forest
1936
as Gramp Maple
Only Saps Work
1930
as Simeon Tanner
The Big Parade of Comedy
1964
as Mr. Bane in 'Libeled Lady' (archive footage) (uncredited)
Are You Listening?
1932
as Pierce
No Man of Her Own
1932
as Clerk
Shanghai
1935
as Truesdale
Broadway Melody of 1938
1937
as James K. Blakeley
Above the Limit
1900
as Chimmie Hicks
Heroes for Sale
1933
as Pa Dennis
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
1941
as Insp. Queen
The Texas Rangers Ride Again
1940
as Ben Caldwalder
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
1940
as Insp. Queen
Huddle
1932
as Doctor (uncredited)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
1984
as (archive footage)
Torch Singer
1933
as Andrew 'Juddy' Judson
Anne of Green Gables
1934
as Dr. Tatum
Wild Boys of the Road
1933
as Mr. Cadman (uncredited)
Sabotage
1939
as Major Matt Grayson
Between Two Women
1937
as Dr. Webster
Listen, Darling
1938
as Joe Higgins
The Washington Masquerade
1932
as Senator Simmons (uncredited)
Three Comrades
1938
as Local Doctor
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
1942
as Inspector Richard Queen
Of Human Hearts
1938
as Jim Meeker
The Woman in Room 13
1932
as Andy
A Close Call for Ellery Queen
1942
as Insp. Queen
Female
1933
as Drunk at Hamburger Stand (Uncredited)
Hello, Everybody!
1933
as Jed
A Family Affair
1937
as Frank Redmond
Breakdowns of 1936
1936
as Self
Heaven on Earth
1931
as Doc Boax
The Girl of the Golden West
1938
as Uncle Davy
The Dark Side of the Rainbow
2000
as Uncle Henry (archive footage)
Artists and Models Abroad
1938
as James Harper
The Night of June 13
1932
as "Grandpop" Strawn (as Charles Grapewin)
The Quitter
1934
as Ed Tilford
Hell's House
1932
as Henry Clark
Stand Up and Fight
1939
as 'Old Puff'
Gold Dust Gertie
1931
as Nicholas Hautrey
Atlantic City
1944
as Jake Taylor
Return of the Terror
1934
as Jessup
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
1941
as Insp. Queen
In Spite of Danger
1935
as Pop Sullivan
Hell and High Water
1933
as Peck Wealin
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
1941
as Insp. Queen
Beauty for Sale
1933
as Freddy Gordon
The Man Who Dared
1939
as Ulysses Porterfield
Wild Horse Mesa
1932
as Sam Bass
Two Alone
1934
as Sandy Roberts
Hero for a Day
1939
as Uncle Frank "Lucky" Higgins
Sand
1949
as Doug
The Bad Man of Brimstone
1937
as Barney Lane
Without Orders
1936
as J.P. Kendrick
Bad Guy
1937
as Dan Gray
The Enchanted Valley
1948
as Grandpa
One Frightened Night
1935
as Jasper Whyte
The Voice of Bugle Ann
1936
as Cal Royster
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
1942
as Insp. Queen
The President Vanishes
1934
as Richard Norton
The Shannons of Broadway
1929
as Swanzey
Burn 'Em Up O'Connor
1939
as Doc Heath
Sinner Take All
1936
as Aaron Lampier
Don't Bet on Love
1933
as Patrick McCaffrey
King Solomon of Broadway
1935
as Uncle Winchester
The Impatient Years
1944
as Benjamin L. Pidgeon, Bellboy
Party Wire
1935
as Will Oliver
The Loudspeaker
1934
as Pop Calloway
She Made Her Bed
1934
as Joe Olesen
The Big Timer
1932
as Pop Baldwin
Super Speed
1935
as Terry Devlin
For the Love of Fanny
1931
as Professor
About Charley Grapewin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Charles Ellsworth Grapewin (December 20, 1869 – February 2, 1956) was an American vaudeville performer, writer and a stage and silent and sound actor, and comedian who was best known for portraying Aunt Em's husband, Uncle Henry in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's The Wizard of Oz (1939) as well as Grandpa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and Jeeter Lester in Tobacco Road (1941). He usually portrayed elderly folksy-type characters in a rustic setting, in all appearing in over 100 films. He was the oldest cast membe… With 104 credits spanning from 1900 to 2000, Charley Grapewin has appeared in 103 films and 1 TV show.
Fans searching for Charley Grapewin movies, Charley Grapewin filmography, or the latest projects starring Charley Grapewin can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Charley Grapewin Movies
- The Wizard of Oz (1939) — as Uncle Henry
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940) — as Grandpa Joad
- Tobacco Road (1941) — as Jeeter Lester
- Small Town Girl (1936) — as Dr. Ned Fabre
- American Madness (1932) — as Mr. Jones (uncredited)
Where to Watch Charley Grapewin Films
Most Charley Grapewin movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Charley Grapewin, check our movies catalogue and browse page.