Wilford Brimley, who worked his way up from stunt performer to star of film such as "Cocoon" and "The Natural," has died. He was 85.

Brimley's manager Lynda Bensky said the actor died Saturday morning in a Utah hospital. He was on dialysis and had several medical ailments, she said.

The mustached Brimley was a familiar face for a number of roles, often playing gruff characters like his grizzled baseball manager in "The Natural."

Brimley's best-known work was in "Cocoon," in which he was part of a group of seniors who discover an alien pod that rejuvenates them. The 1985 Ron Howard film won two Oscars, including a supporting actor honor for Don Ameche.

Brimley also starred in "Cocoon: The Return," a 1988 sequel.

For years he was pitchman for Quaker Oats and in recent years appeared in a series of diabetes spots that turned him at one point into a social media sensation.

My friend Gene Wolfe looked a great deal like him, at a certain point and when wearing a particular hat. I told Gene that was so, and that accordingly he looked wise and trustworthy and people would buy oatmeal from him.

How come none of the articles on this mention his role in John Carpenter's masterpiece "The Thing"? Or his role on the 80's family drama "Our House"? Forget 'Cocoon', THESE are the roles for which he is best known! He was also a Mormon and was well known for his conservative Republican politics. During the 2008 campaign, John McCain joked that he would select Wilford Brimley, who was a public supporter of his campaign, as his veep because it would answer the age question since 'he is older than I am'

I loved him in “The Thing!”. That movie scared the crap outa me. And Wilford being so out of character is what did it!

You can't really say that he is out of character in that, since his stereotypical role as the cantankerous grandfather with the heart of gold didn't arise until years later.

I liked him best in "Absence of Malice".

The movie, not so much.