Matthew Cuthbert (portrayed by Richard Farnsworth) is Marilla’s brother and Anne’s adoptive father. Good-natured and shy, Mathew is the one who convinces Marilla to let Anne stay with them in Avonlea. His soft-spoken nature hides his intense love for the girl. He quietly shares the extremes of Anne’s over-active imagination. In one of the most memorable scenes in the films Matthew buys Anne the ball gown she dreams of, the one with the puffiest of puff-sleeves.”

Richard Farnsworth (who portrayed Matthew Cuthbert) worked for more than 30 years as a stuntman in iconic films like Gone with the Wind, The Ten Commandments and Spartacus before embarking on a career in acting. At the age of 58, he received his first Academy Award nomination for Comes a Horseman. His other film credits include The Grey Fox, The Natural,Misery and The Straight Story for which he garnered his second Academy Award nomination. Farnsworth passed away on October 6, 2000. He was 80 years old.