Farnsworth Becomes Oldest Actor Nominee
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Richard Farnsworth, a 79-year-old former stuntman, became the oldest actor to get an Academy Award nomination Tuesday, for his role in The Straight Story.
Richard Farnsworth, a 79-year-old former stuntman, became the oldest actor to get an Academy Award nomination today, for his role in The Straight Story.
"It feels a lot better because I'm getting up there in age and might not have a chance again," the actor said in an interview from his longhorn cattle ranch in Lincoln, N.M.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}His best actor nomination gives the field a generation gap. Another nominee, 11-year-old Haley Joel Osment, is the third-youngest nominated for supporting actor. Brandon De Wilde was one day younger when he was nominated for a supporting performance in Shane in 1953. Justin Henry, who appeared in Kramer vs. Kramer, was youngest at 8. (Titanic star Gloria Stewart was the oldest actress to get a nomination at 87.)
It was the second nomination for Farnsworth, who was nominated for the 1977 film Comes a Horseman. Henry Fonda had been the oldest leading actor when he was nominated at 76 for his role in On Golden Pond.
The Los Angeles native was a stuntman for more than 30 years who moved into acting, appearing in The Grey Fox, The Natural, Tom Horn, Resurrection, Rhinestone Cowboy and Anne of Green Gables.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}If he wins the Oscar, he said, "I've got a good spot for it here."
The actor lives in a small town he calls "Billy the Kidd country." He got up at 4 a.m. and brewed some coffee to watch the Oscar nominations announcement on TV a half-hour later.
"I had to see it," Farnsworth said, and when they called his name, "I let out a war hoop, naturally. I was sweating it out."