Biography
Charley Grapewin (1869–1956) was an American actor who appeared in over 100 films across the silent and sound eras. Born Charles Ellsworth Grapewin in Xenia, Ohio, he began his career as a circus acrobat and trapeze artist before moving into vaudeville, stage work and writing plays.
He performed in the original 1903 Broadway production of The Wizard of Oz and later became a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player in the 1930s. Grapewin is known for roles including Uncle Henry in The Wizard of Oz (1939), Grandpa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Gramp Maple in The Petrified Forest (1936), Uncle Salters in Captains Courageous (1937) and Jeeter Lester in Tobacco Road (1941). He was married to actress Anna Chance from 1896 until her death in 1943.
