Actor
Charley Grapewin
Born 20 December 1869 · Xenia, Ohio, USA — died 2 February 1956
Charley Grapewin (1869–1956) was an American actor who began in circus and vaudeville before moving into theatre and film. He appeared in over 100 films, usually as folksy, elderly rural characters. He is best remembered as Uncle Henry in The Wizard of Oz and Grandpa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath.
Key films
The Wizard of Oz (1939)On Cinespective
His best-known role: Uncle Henry, Dorothy's farmer guardian, in the MGM classic.
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Played Grandpa Joad in John Ford's acclaimed Dust Bowl drama.
Tobacco Road (1941)
Took the lead as the impoverished sharecropper Jeeter Lester, a role tied to his rustic screen persona.
The Petrified Forest (1936)
Supporting role in a celebrated 1930s crime drama, showing his early success in character parts.
Captains Courageous (1937)
Appeared in this acclaimed seafaring adaptation, an example of his many MGM supporting roles.
Key awards
No major awards are documented here.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 103
- 1900Above the Limit · as Chimmie HicksActor
- 1929The Shannons of Broadway · as SwanzeyActor
- 1930Only Saps Work · as Simeon TannerActor
- 1931The Millionaire · as Ed PowersActor
- 1931Heaven on Earth · as Doc BoaxActor
- 1931Gold Dust Gertie · as Nicholas HautreyActor
- 1931For the Love of Fanny · as ProfessorActor
- 1932American Madness · as Mr. Jones (uncredited)Actor
- 1932Hell's House · as Henry ClarkActor
- 1932No Man of Her Own · as ClerkActor
- 1932The Big Timer · as Pop BaldwinActor
- 1932Huddle · as Doctor (uncredited)Actor
- 1932The Washington Masquerade · as Senator Simmons (uncredited)Actor
- 1932Are You Listening? · as PierceActor
- 1932The Night of June 13 · as "Grandpop" Strawn (as Charles Grapewin)Actor
- 1932Wild Horse Mesa · as Sam BassActor
- 1932The Woman in Room 13 · as AndyActor
- 1933Wild Boys of the Road · as Mr. Cadman (uncredited)Actor
- 1933Female · as Drunk at Hamburger Stand (Uncredited)Actor
- 1933Midnight Mary · as ClerkActor
- 1933Heroes for Sale · as Pa DennisActor
- 1933Pilgrimage · as Dad SaundersActor
- 1933The Kiss Before the Mirror · as SchultzActor
- 1933Torch Singer · as Andrew 'Juddy' JudsonActor
- 1933Turn Back the Clock · as Dr. Henderson (uncredited)Actor
- 1933Beauty for Sale · as Freddy GordonActor
- 1933Hello, Everybody! · as JedActor
- 1933Hell and High Water · as Peck WealinActor
- 1933Don't Bet on Love · as Patrick McCaffreyActor
- 1934Judge Priest · as Sergeant Jimmy BagbyActor
- 1934Anne of Green Gables · as Dr. TatumActor
- 1934The President Vanishes · as Richard NortonActor
- 1934She Made Her Bed · as Joe OlesenActor
- 1934Two Alone · as Sandy RobertsActor
- 1934Caravan · as NotaryActor
- 1934Return of the Terror · as JessupActor
- 1934The Loudspeaker · as Pop CallowayActor
- 1934The Quitter · as Ed TilfordActor
- 1935Alice Adams · as J. A. LambActor
- 1935One Frightened Night · as Jasper WhyteActor
- 1935Rendezvous · as Prof. MartinActor
- 1935Ah, Wilderness! · as Dave McComberActor
- 1935Shanghai · as TruesdaleActor
- 1935Party Wire · as Will OliverActor
- 1935In Spite of Danger · as Pop SullivanActor
- 1935Eight Bells · as GraysonActor
- 1935King Solomon of Broadway · as Uncle WinchesterActor
- 1935Super Speed · as Terry DevlinActor
- 1936The Petrified Forest · as Gramp MapleActor
- 1936Libeled Lady · as Mr. BaneActor
- 1936Small Town Girl · as Dr. Ned FabreActor
- 1936Sinner Take All · as Aaron LampierActor
- 1936The Voice of Bugle Ann · as Cal RoysterActor
- 1936Without Orders · as J.P. KendrickActor
- 1936Breakdowns of 1936 · as SelfActor
- 1937Captains Courageous · as Uncle SaltersActor
- 1937The Good Earth · as Old FatherActor
- 1937A Family Affair · as Frank RedmondActor
- 1937Broadway Melody of 1938 · as James K. BlakeleyActor
- 1937Big City · as Robert, the MayorActor
- 1937Between Two Women · as Dr. WebsterActor
- 1937The Bad Man of Brimstone · as Barney LaneActor
- 1937Bad Guy · as Dan GrayActor
- 1938Three Comrades · as Local DoctorActor
- 1938Of Human Hearts · as Jim MeekerActor
- 1938Listen, Darling · as Joe HigginsActor
- 1938Three Loves Has Nancy · as Grandpa BriggsActor
- 1938Artists and Models Abroad · as James HarperActor
- 1938The Girl of the Golden West · as Uncle DavyActor
- 1939The Wizard of Oz · as Uncle HenryActor
- 1939Dust Be My Destiny · as PopActor
- 1939Stand Up and Fight · as 'Old Puff'Actor
- 1939Sabotage · as Major Matt GraysonActor
- 1939Sudden Money · as Grandpa Casey PattersonActor
- 1939Burn 'Em Up O'Connor · as Doc HeathActor
- 1939Hero for a Day · as Uncle Frank "Lucky" HigginsActor
- 1939The Man Who Dared · as Ulysses PorterfieldActor
- 1940The Grapes of Wrath · as Grandpa JoadActor
- 1940Johnny Apollo · as Judge Emmett T. BrennanActor
- 1940Rhythm on the River · as Uncle CalebActor
- 1940The Texas Rangers Ride Again · as Ben CaldwalderActor
- 1940Earthbound · as Mr. WhimserActor
- 1940Ellery Queen, Master Detective · as Insp. QueenActor
- 1941They Died with Their Boots On · as California JoeActor
- 1941Tobacco Road · as Jeeter LesterActor
- 1941Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime · as Insp. QueenActor
- 1941Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring · as Insp. QueenActor
- 1941Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery · as Insp. QueenActor
- 1942Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen · as Inspector Richard QueenActor
- 1942A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen · as Insp. QueenActor
- 1942A Close Call for Ellery Queen · as Insp. QueenActor
- 1943Crash Dive · as PopActor
- 1944The Impatient Years · as Benjamin L. Pidgeon, BellboyActor
- 1944Follow the Boys · as Nick WestActor
- 1944Atlantic City · as Jake TaylorActor
- 1947Gunfighters · as Rancher InskipActor
- 1948The Enchanted Valley · as GrandpaActor
- 1949Sand · as DougActor
- 1951When I Grow Up · as Grandpa ReedActor
- 1964The Big Parade of Comedy · as Mr. Bane in 'Libeled Lady' (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1976That's Entertainment, Part II · as (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1984Going Hollywood: The '30s · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2000The Dark Side of the Rainbow · as Uncle Henry (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.