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Farnsworth becomes oldest leading actor nominee The Associated Press LOS ANGELES -- Richard Farnsworth can't say he's always wanted an Oscar: Hollywood's highest honor hadn't even been invented when he was born. But the 79-year-old former stuntman has a place for the statuette if his name is called during the 72nd Annual Academy Awards on March 26. Farnsworth was nominated Tuesday for ``The Straight Story,'' making him the oldest leading actor to receive an Oscar bid. Henry Fonda was the oldest leading actor when he was nominated at 76 for his role in ``On Golden Pond.'' ``Titanic'' star Gloria Stuart was the oldest performer ever nominated when she was nominated for supporting actress at 87. Farnsworth was nominated just once before, for 1978's ``Comes a Horseman.'' ``It feels a lot better because I'm getting up there in age and might not have a chance again,'' Farnsworth said in an interview from his longhorn cattle ranch in Lincoln, N.M. The Los Angeles native was a stuntman for more than 30 years. He then moved into acting, appearing in such movies as ``The Grey Fox,'' ``The Natural,'' ``Tom Horn,'' ``Resurrection,'' ``Rhinestone Cowboy'' and ``Anne of Green Gables.'' The actor lives in a small town he calls ``Billy the Kid country.'' He got up at 4 a.m. and brewed coffee to watch the Oscar nominations announcement on television. ``I had to see it,'' Farnsworth said, and when they called his name, ``I let out a war whoop, naturally. I was sweating it out.'' He planned a simple celebration. ``I'll go out for a taco and a martini with an onion,'' he said.
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