Walter Brennan was not your typical actor—he was a guy of many secrets and skills. His biography, which began in 1894, reads like an adventure story with several detours that even he was unable to fully identify.Brennan is a living example of the American dream, having come from modest Lynn, Massachusetts, beginnings to his fabled Hollywood career.

Before he became the well-liked character actor we know today, Brennan experimented with a number of careers. He supposedly worked as a lumberjack in the woods, excavated ditches, carried bank messages, and even performed on vaudeville theater stages. Though the veracity of that story is as illusive as a mirage in the desert, some claim he even attempted pineapple farming in Guatemala.

But Brennan’s time as a stuntman and extra in Hollywood was what launched him into fame. He injected a special charm and wit into every part that enthralled both directors and audiences. Playing an old patriarch or a young Cockney boy, Brennan never failed to pull off a prank. According to legend, before displaying his secret weapon—his dentures—he used to ask filmmakers, “With or without?” Who would have thought that fake teeth might be so iconic?

1936 saw him have his breakthrough performance in “Come and Get It,” which also brought him his first Academy Award. Brennan continued, though. The two more Oscars he won later on are still unmatched. Working along with Hollywood titans like John Ford and Howard Hawks, Brennan cemented his place in silver screen history.

Brennan, though, was not happy to merely rule the big screen. He made a big splash in television in 1957 when he played the obstinate Amos McCoy in “The Real McCoys.” His brilliance was obvious and his larger-than-life demeanor made him a household name.

Brennan has controversy throughout his life even with his accomplishments. Though his adamant conservative opinions frequently caused controversy, he never wavered in his convictions. Ultimately, what made a lasting impression on the entertainment industry was his unshakable commitment to his trade.

Walter Brennan passed away in 1974, but his legacy endures as evidence of the strength of desire, tenacity, and a nice set of fake teeth.