Brian Dennehy
Born: 1938-07-09 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
Died: 2020-04-15
Known For: Acting
Biography
Brian Manion Dennehy (July 9, 1938 – April 15, 2020) was an American actor of film, stage, and television. His breakthrough film role was as the overzealous sheriff Will Teasle in First Blood (1982). Typically a character actor, Dennehy displayed versatility in varying and often complex roles ranging from villainous (such as a corrupt sheriff in the 1985 western Silverado) to virtuous (such as a benevolent alien leader in Cocoon, also released in 1985). Other notable films featuring Dennehy include Gorky Park (1983), Never Cry Wolf (1983), Legal Eagles (1986), F/X (1986), Tommy Boy (1995), Romeo + Juliet (1996), and Ratatouille (2007). A prominent figure in the theater world (especially in Chicago), Dennehy won two Tony Awards for Best Lead Actor, for Death of a Salesman (1999) and Long Day's Journey into Night (2003). He starred in numerous television films and miniseries, garnering six Emmy Award nominations, and had memorable supporting and guest roles in many series including Just Shoot Me, The Good Wife, and The Blacklist.
Filmography
2021
- Son of the South as Grandfather
2020
- Driveways as Del
- Penny Dreadful: City of Angels as Jerome Townsend
2019
- The Song of Sway Lake as Hal Sway
- 3 Days with Dad as Bob
- Alan Pakula: Going for Truth as Self
2018
- The Seagull as Pjotr Sorin
- Tag as Mr. Cilliano
2017
- A Very Merry Toy Store as Joe Haggarty
2016
- Hap and Leonard as Sheriff Valentine Otis
2015
- Knight of Cups as Joseph
- The Ultimate Legacy as Gus
- Public Morals as Joe Patton
- Cocked as Wade
2013
- The Blacklist as Dominic Wilkinson
- The Challenger Disaster as Rogers
2012
- Twelfth Night as Sir Toby Belch
2011
- The Big Year as Raymond Harris
2010
- Rizzoli & Isles as Ret. Det. Kenny Leahy
- The Big C as Dad
- The Next Three Days as George Brennan
- Every Day as Ernie
- Alleged as Clarence Darrow
- Meet Monica Velour as Pop Pop
- Caesar and Otto meet Dracula’s Lawyer as Steve Dracula’s More Famous Brother
2009
- The Good Wife as Bucky Stabler
- Bunker Hill as Martin 'Mutt' Kelsey
- Lost Road of the Popes: Via Papale as Narrator
- Love and Valor as Narrator (voice)
2008
- Righteous Kill as Hingis
- Cat City as Harold
2007
- Ratatouille as Django (voice)
- Rules of Engagement as Roy
- The Ultimate Gift as Gus
- Marco Polo as Kublai Khan
- Masters of Science Fiction as Bedzyk
- War Eagle, Arkansas as Pop, Enochs Father
- Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & The Presidency as Andrew Jackson (voice)
- Welcome to Paradise as Bobby Brown
- Marco Polo (2007) as Kublai Khan
- Trumbo as Self
2006
- 30 Rock as Mickey J
- 10th & Wolf as Agent Horvath
- Everyone's Hero as Babe Ruth (voice)
- The Exonerated as Gary Gauger
2005
- Our Fathers as Father Dominic Spagnolia
- Assault on Precinct 13 as Sargeant Jasper O'Shea
2004
- The 4400 as Mitch Baldwin
- She Hate Me as Billy Church
- Category 6: Day of Destruction as Andy Goodman
- Category 6: Day of Destruction as Andy Goodman
2003
- The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron as Mr. Blue
- The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone as Tom Stone
- Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company' as Fred Silverman
- American Valor as Narrator
2002
- Stolen Summer as Father Kelly
- A Season on the Brink as Bobby Knight
- Making 'The Misfits' as Narrator
- Code Yellow: Hospital at Ground Zero as Narrator
- Founding Brothers
2001
- Summer Catch as John Schiffner
- The Agency as James Graydon
- Night Visions as Camper Ben (segment "Quiet, Please")
- Three Blind Mice as Matthew Hope
- Warden of Red Rock as Sheriff Selwyn Church
- The Fighting Fitzgeralds as Mr. Fitzgerald
- Animated Tales of the World as Captain (voice)
2000
- Fail Safe as Gen. Bogan
- Dish Dogs as Frost
- Death of a Salesman as Willy Loman
- Arrest & Trial as Self - Host
- Founding Fathers as George Washington (voice)
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Judson Tierney
- The West Wing as Rafe Framingham
- Silicon Towers as Tom Warner
- NetForce as Lowell Davidson
- Sirens as Lt. Denby
- Out of the Cold as David Bards
- Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke as Louis Bromfield
- Netforce as Lowell Davidson
1998
- Thanks of a Grateful Nation as Sen. Donald Riegle
- Voyage of Terror as The President
1997
- Just Shoot Me! as Red Finch
- Indefensible: The Truth About Edward Brannigan as Eddie Brannigan
- Nostromo as Joshua C. Holroyd
1996
- Romeo + Juliet as Ted Montague
- Undue Influence as Paul Madriani
- A Season in Purgatory as Gerald Bradley
- Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance as Jack Reed
- Shadow of a Doubt as Charley Sloan
- Dead Man's Walk as Major Chevallier
- E! True Hollywood Story
- A Season in Purgatory as Gerald Bradley
- Jack Reed: A Killer Among Us as Jack Reed
- Steve Martini's Undue Influence
1995
- The Stars Fell on Henrietta as Big Dave McDermot
- Tommy Boy as Thomas 'Big Tom' Callahan
- Jack Reed: One of Our Own as Jack Reed
1994
- Leave of Absence as Sam
- Birdland as Dr. Brian McKenzie
- Jack Reed: A Search for Justice as Jack Reed
- Midnight Movie as James Boyce
1993
- Foreign Affairs as Chuck Mumpson
- Jack Reed: Badge of Honor as Sgt. Jack Reed
- Final Appeal as Perry Sundquist
- Murder in the Heartland as John McArthur
- Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story as Ervil LeBaron
1992
- Gladiator as Jimmy Horn
- To Catch a Killer as John Wayne Gacy
- Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story as Jackie Presser
- Deadly Matrimony as Jack Reed
- To Catch a Killer as John Wayne Gacy
- The Burden of Proof as Dixon Hartnell
- The Diamond Fleece as Inspector Outlaw
1991
- F/X2 as Leo McCarthy
- Zebras: Patterns in the Grass as Narrator (voice)
- In Broad Daylight as Len Rowan
1990
- Presumed Innocent as Raymond Horgan
- A Killing in a Small Town as Ed Reivers
- Pride and Extreme Prejudice as Bruno Morenz
- The Last of the Finest as Frank Daly
- Rising Son as Gus Robinson
1989
- Indio as Whitaker
- Day One as Gen. Leslie Groves
- Perfect Witness as James Falcon
- Seven Minutes as Wagner
1988
- American Experience as Aaron Burr (voice)
- A Father's Revenge as Paul Hobart
- Cocoon: The Return as Walter (uncredited)
- Miles from Home as Frank Roberts Sr.
- The Man From Snowy River II as Harrison
1987
- The Belly of an Architect as Stourley Kracklite
- Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam as (voice)
- The Little Mermaid as King Neptune (Narrator) (voice)
- The Lion of Africa as Sam Marsh
- Best Seller as Dennis Meechum
1986
- Legal Eagles as Cavanaugh
- F/X as Lt. Leo McCarthy
- Acceptable Risks as Don Sheppard
- The Check is in the Mail... as Richard Jackson
1985
- Cocoon as Walter
- Silverado as Cobb
- Screen Two as James Boyce
- Twice in a Lifetime as Nick
- Annie Oakley as Buffalo Bill
- Tall Tales & Legends as Buffalo Bill
- The Last Place on Earth as Frederick Cook
- Evergreen as Matthew Malone
1984
- Miami Vice as Reverend Billy Bob Proverb
- Hunter as Dr. Bolin
- Finders Keepers as Frizzoli
- The Pigs vs. The Freaks as Sergeant Cheever
- The River Rat as Doc Cole
1983
- Reading Rainbow as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Gorky Park as William Kirwill
- Never Cry Wolf as Rosie
- I Take These Men as Phil Zakarian
- Blood Feud as Edward Grady Partin
- Blood Feud as Edward Grady Partin
1982
- First Blood as Hope Sheriff Will Teasle
- Cagney & Lacey as Michael Magruder
- Faerie Tale Theatre as King Neptune / Narrator (voice)
- Split Image as Kevin Stetson
- The Man Who Married a French Wife and Other Stories as Grimmet
- Star of the Family as Leslie 'Buddy' Krebs
1981
- Dynasty as Jake Dunham
- Fly Away Home as Tim Arnold
- Skokie as Police Chief Arthur Buchanan
- Darkroom as Roland
- The Girls in Their Summer Dresses and Other Stories as Grimmet
1980
- The Jericho Mile as Dr. D
- Little Miss Marker as Herbie
- The Seduction of Miss Leona as Bliss Dawson
- A Rumor of War as Sgt. Ned Coleman
1979
- Knots Landing as James Cargill
- 10 as Donald
- Dummy as Ragoti
- Butch and Sundance: The Early Days as O.C. Hanks
- Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story as John O'Neil
- Big Shamus, Little Shamus as Arnie Sutter
1978
- Dallas as Luther Frick
- Foul Play as Fergie
- F.I.S.T. as Frank Vasko
- Ruby and Oswald as George Paulsen
- A Real American Hero as Buford Pusser
- Pearl as Sgt. Otto Chain
- A Death in Canaan as Barney Parsons
1977
- Lou Grant as Wilson
- Semi-Tough as T.J. Lambert
- Looking for Mr. Goodbar as Surgeon
- It Happened at Lakewood Manor as Fire Chief
- The Fitzpatricks as Coach Hatfield
- Lucan as Fisher
- Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye as Longshoreman
- Lanigan's Rabbi as Burton Tree
1976
- The Tony Randall Show as Brian Sr.
- Serpico as Jody
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1974
- Playhouse as Grimmet
- Police Woman as Burrows
1973
- Kojak as Peter Connor
1972
- M*A*S*H as M.P. Ernie Connors
1971
- Great Performances as Grimmet
1962
1956
- Tony Awards as Self - Winner
1944
- Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee