Charley Grapewin
Known for Acting · 105 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 (104)
The Wizard of Oz
1939
as Uncle Henry
The Grapes of Wrath
1940
as Grandpa Joad
Hello, Everybody!
1933
as Jed
The Loudspeaker
1934
as Pop Calloway
Libeled Lady
1936
as Mr. Bane
Gunfighters
1947
as Rancher Inskip
They Died with Their Boots On
1941
as California Joe
Heroes for Sale
1933
as Pa Dennis
Super Speed
1935
as Terry Devlin
Wild Boys of the Road
1933
as Mr. Cadman (uncredited)
The Millionaire
1931
as Ed Powers
The Wizard of Oz at Sphere
2025
as Uncle Henry (archive footage)
The Good Earth
1937
as Old Father
That's Entertainment, Part II
1976
as (archive footage)
Of Human Hearts
1938
as Jim Meeker
Alice Adams
1935
as J. A. Lamb
She Made Her Bed
1934
as Joe Olesen
Small Town Girl
1936
as Dr. Ned Fabre
Captains Courageous
1937
as Uncle Salters
Follow the Boys
1944
as Nick West
Johnny Apollo
1940
as Judge Emmett T. Brennan
Three Loves Has Nancy
1938
as Grandpa Briggs
Huddle
1932
as Doctor (uncredited)
Broadway Melody of 1938
1937
as James K. Blakeley
Hell and High Water
1933
as Peck Wealin
Are You Listening?
1932
as Pierce
Midnight Mary
1933
as Clerk
The Petrified Forest
1936
as Gramp Maple
American Madness
1932
as Mr. Jones (uncredited)
Three Comrades
1938
as Local Doctor
The Girl of the Golden West
1938
as Uncle Davy
Crash Dive
1943
as Pop
Tobacco Road
1941
as Jeeter Lester
Torch Singer
1933
as Andrew 'Juddy' Judson
Listen, Darling
1938
as Joe Higgins
Beauty for Sale
1933
as Freddy Gordon
Stand Up and Fight
1939
as 'Old Puff'
The Dark Side of the Rainbow
2000
as Uncle Henry (archive footage)
Ah, Wilderness!
1935
as Dave McComber
Party Wire
1935
as Will Oliver
The Kiss Before the Mirror
1933
as Schultz
For the Love of Fanny
1931
as Professor
The Big Parade of Comedy
1964
as Mr. Bane in 'Libeled Lady' (archive footage) (uncredited)
No Man of Her Own
1932
as Clerk
The Woman in Room 13
1932
as Andy
Pilgrimage
1933
as Dad Saunders
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
1941
as Insp. Queen
Big City
1937
as Robert, the Mayor
The Impatient Years
1944
as Benjamin L. Pidgeon, Bellboy
Dust Be My Destiny
1939
as Pop
Judge Priest
1934
as Sergeant Jimmy Bagby
Turn Back the Clock
1933
as Dr. Henderson (uncredited)
Rhythm on the River
1940
as Uncle Caleb
The Washington Masquerade
1932
as Senator Simmons (uncredited)
Without Orders
1936
as J.P. Kendrick
Shanghai
1935
as Truesdale
Anne of Green Gables
1934
as Dr. Tatum
The Shannons of Broadway
1929
as Swanzey
The Texas Rangers Ride Again
1940
as Ben Caldwalder
Rendezvous
1935
as Prof. Martin
Female
1933
as Drunk at Hamburger Stand (Uncredited)
The Voice of Bugle Ann
1936
as Cal Royster
Going Hollywood: The '30s
1984
as (archive footage)
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
1941
as Insp. Queen
Return of the Terror
1934
as Jessup
The President Vanishes
1934
as Richard Norton
Sabotage
1939
as Major Matt Grayson
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
1941
as Insp. Queen
Heaven on Earth
1931
as Doc Boax
When I Grow Up
1951
as Grandpa Reed
The Big Timer
1932
as Pop Baldwin
In Spite of Danger
1935
as Pop Sullivan
Sand
1949
as Doug
Eight Bells
1935
as Grayson
Breakdowns of 1936
1936
as Self
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
1940
as Insp. Queen
A Close Call for Ellery Queen
1942
as Insp. Queen
Two Alone
1934
as Sandy Roberts
Between Two Women
1937
as Dr. Webster
One Frightened Night
1935
as Jasper Whyte
Caravan
1934
as Notary
Sinner Take All
1936
as Aaron Lampier
The Bad Man of Brimstone
1937
as Barney Lane
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
1942
as Inspector Richard Queen
Burn 'Em Up O'Connor
1939
as Doc Heath
Bad Guy
1937
as Dan Gray
Only Saps Work
1930
as Simeon Tanner
Artists and Models Abroad
1938
as James Harper
Wild Horse Mesa
1932
as Sam Bass
Atlantic City
1944
as Jake Taylor
The Enchanted Valley
1948
as Grandpa
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
1942
as Insp. Queen
Don't Bet on Love
1933
as Patrick McCaffrey
A Family Affair
1937
as Frank Redmond
Earthbound
1940
as Mr. Whimser
Sudden Money
1939
as Grandpa Casey Patterson
King Solomon of Broadway
1935
as Uncle Winchester
The Night of June 13
1932
as "Grandpop" Strawn (as Charles Grapewin)
The Man Who Dared
1939
as Ulysses Porterfield
Hell's House
1932
as Henry Clark
Hero for a Day
1939
as Uncle Frank "Lucky" Higgins
The Quitter
1934
as Ed Tilford
Gold Dust Gertie
1931
as Nicholas Hautrey
Above the Limit
1900
as Chimmie Hicks
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 105 credits spanning from 1900 to 2025, Charley Grapewin has appeared in 104 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
- Hello, Everybody! (1933) — as Jed
- The Loudspeaker (1934) — as Pop Calloway
- Libeled Lady (1936) — as Mr. Bane
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.