
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

Captains Courageous
1937
as Uncle Salters

Small Town Girl
1936
as Dr. Ned Fabre

Sudden Money
1939
as Grandpa Casey Patterson

American Madness
1932
as Mr. Jones (uncredited)

Crash Dive
1943
as Pop

Pilgrimage
1933
as Dad Saunders

Johnny Apollo
1940
as Judge Emmett T. Brennan

Judge Priest
1934
as Sergeant Jimmy Bagby

Dust Be My Destiny
1939
as Pop

Three Loves Has Nancy
1938
as Grandpa Briggs

They Died with Their Boots On
1941
as California Joe

Midnight Mary
1933
as Clerk

Earthbound
1940
as Mr. Whimser

Alice Adams
1935
as J. A. Lamb

Libeled Lady
1936
as Hollis Bane

Are You Listening?
1932
as Pierce

That's Entertainment, Part II
1976
as (archive footage)

Rendezvous
1935
as Prof. Martin

Rhythm on the River
1940
as Uncle Caleb

The Good Earth
1937
as Old Father

Ah, Wilderness!
1935
as Dave McComber

Follow the Boys
1944
as Nick West

The Kiss Before the Mirror
1933
as Schultz

Gunfighters
1947
as Rancher Inskip

When I Grow Up
1951
as Grandpa Reed

The Millionaire
1931
as Ed Powers

Big City
1937
as Robert, the Mayor

Heroes for Sale
1933
as Pa Dennis

Only Saps Work
1930
as Simeon Tanner

The Texas Rangers Ride Again
1940
as Ben Caldwalder

A Close Call for Ellery Queen
1942
as Insp. Queen

Caravan
1934
as Notary

The Petrified Forest
1936
as Gramp Maple

The Big Parade of Comedy
1964
as Mr. Bane in 'Libeled Lady' (archive footage) (uncredited)

Broadway Melody of 1938
1937
as James K. Blakeley

No Man of Her Own
1932
as Clerk

Between Two Women
1937
as Dr. Webster

Ellery Queen, Master Detective
1940
as Insp. Queen

Going Hollywood: The '30s
1984
as (archive footage)

Three Comrades
1938
as Local Doctor

Torch Singer
1933
as Andrew 'Juddy' Judson

Of Human Hearts
1938
as Jim Meeker

Listen, Darling
1938
as Joe Higgins

Anne of Green Gables
1934
as Dr. Tatum

Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
1941
as Insp. Queen

Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
1942
as Inspector Richard Queen

The Woman in Room 13
1932
as Andy

Wild Boys of the Road
1933
as Mr. Cadman (uncredited)

Eight Bells
1935
as Grayson

Shanghai
1935
as Truesdale

Turn Back the Clock
1933
as Dr. Henderson (uncredited)

Hello, Everybody!
1933
as Jed

Female
1933
as Drunk at Hamburger Stand (Uncredited)

The Quitter
1934
as Ed Tilford

The Washington Masquerade
1932
as Senator Simmons (uncredited)

Breakdowns of 1936
1936
as Self

Stand Up and Fight
1939
as 'Old Puff'

Wild Horse Mesa
1932
as Sam Bass

Sabotage
1939
as Major Matt Grayson

Heaven on Earth
1931
as Doc Boax

Huddle
1932
as Doctor (uncredited)

The Dark Side of the Rainbow
2000
as Uncle Henry (archive footage)

Sand
1949
as Doug

Beauty for Sale
1933
as Freddy Gordon

The Bad Man of Brimstone
1937
as Barney Lane

The Night of June 13
1932
as "Grandpop" Strawn (as Charles Grapewin)

Two Alone
1934
as Sandy Roberts

Return of the Terror
1934
as Jessup
Above the Limit
1900
as Chimmie Hicks

Gold Dust Gertie
1931
as Nicholas Hautrey

A Family Affair
1937
as Frank Redmond

Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
1941
as Insp. Queen

Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
1941
as Insp. Queen

In Spite of Danger
1935
as Pop Sullivan

Don't Bet on Love
1933
as Patrick McCaffrey

Artists and Models Abroad
1938
as James Harper

The Voice of Bugle Ann
1936
as Cal Royster

The Girl of the Golden West
1938
as Uncle Davy

Hell's House
1932
as Henry Clark

Atlantic City
1944
as Jake Taylor

The Shannons of Broadway
1929
as Swanzey

The President Vanishes
1934
as Richard Norton

Burn 'Em Up O'Connor
1939
as Doc Heath

Without Orders
1936
as J.P. Kendrick

Hero for a Day
1939
as Uncle Frank "Lucky" Higgins

One Frightened Night
1935
as Jasper Whyte

A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
1942
as Insp. Queen

The Enchanted Valley
1948
as Grandpa

Party Wire
1935
as Will Oliver

The Impatient Years
1944
as Benjamin L. Pidgeon, Bellboy

Sinner Take All
1936
as Aaron Lampier
Hell and High Water
1933
as Peck Wealin

King Solomon of Broadway
1935
as Uncle Winchester

The Big Timer
1932
as Pop Baldwin

Bad Guy
1937
as Dan Gray

The Man Who Dared
1939
as Ulysses Porterfield

She Made Her Bed
1934
as Joe Olesen

The Loudspeaker
1934
as Pop Calloway

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 CineFlixo, 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
- Captains Courageous (1937) — as Uncle Salters
- Small Town Girl (1936) — as Dr. Ned Fabre
Where to Watch Charley Grapewin Films
Most Charley Grapewin movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo 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.
