Actor Richard Farnsworth, nominated this year for an Academy Award for best actor for his role in "The Straight Story," shot himself to death at his New Mexico home, police said October 6, 2000.
The 80-year-old actor,
who won the nomination for his portrayal of Alvin Straight, an elderly man who drove his lawnmower from Iowa to Wisconsin to see his dying brother,
had terminal cancer, said Lincoln Sheriff Tom Sullivan.
He is shown in this March 25, 2000 file photo.
/Fred Prouser (Reuters)

He's a man how will be missed. Started doing stunts for $7.00 a day during the depression (his normal job paied him that amount per week!) His first stunt work was (uncredited) in the Marx Brothers "A Day at the Races" and he's done so many great films since then. He didn't start "acting" until he was 57 years old. Then he gave us The Grey Fox, The Natural, and The Straigh Line, among others!
(Check them out here)
He'll be Missed.

[This message has been edited by Cohalen (edited 10-09-2000).]

I watched the Independent Spirit Awards when he won for Straight Story....he was so happy and proud...this is such a sad thing to hear. My husband will be really sad, he loves Richard. The Natural is one of his all time faves and when he watched the Straight Story he walked around for days afterward still "living in the movie".

Too sad.

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~~The purpose of life is a life of purpose~~

[This message has been edited by hungree (edited 10-10-2000).]

He was an excellent down to earth actor that I always enjoyed watching. It's sad we wont see anymore movies with him.

[This message has been edited by PARTSDUDE (edited 10-10-2000).]