Usually, you are surprised to learn how old a certain actor is when he dies - but I thought Brimley was 85 about 30 years ago.
He was 51 when he made Cocoon, four years younger than Brad Pitt is now. And Carroll OConnor was in his 40s when he started on All in the Family.
He certainly looked it in The China Syndrome.
I knowwww. He was only about 49 or 50 when he played a senior citizen in Cocoon.