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