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Brian Dennehy

Actor

Brian Dennehy

Born July 9, 1938 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USADied April 15, 2020127 films

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).

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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.

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The best way into Brian Dennehy's work
Ratatouille posterFirst watchRatatouille20077.8as Django (voice)In one of Paris's finest restaurants, Remy, a determined young rat, dreams of becoming a renowned French chef. Torn between his family's wishes and his true calling, Remy and his pal…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
First Blood poster7.5First Blood1982Romeo + Juliet poster6.8Romeo + Juliet1996The Next Three Days poster7.1The Next Three Days2010Tag poster6.7Tag2018The Ultimate Gift poster7.7The Ultimate Gift2007Cocoon poster6.6Cocoon1985Tommy Boy poster6.8Tommy Boy1995Silverado poster6.9Silverado1985

Filmography

127 films as actor
  1. 2021Son of the SouthGrandfather
  2. 2020DrivewaysDel
  3. 20193 Days with DadBob
  4. 2019The Song of Sway LakeHal Sway
  5. 2018TagMr. Cilliano
  6. 2018The SeagullPjotr Sorin
  7. 2017A Very Merry Toy StoreJoe Haggarty
  8. 2015The Ultimate LegacyGus
  9. 2015Knight of CupsJoseph
  10. 2013The Challenger DisasterRogers
  11. 2012Twelfth NightSir Toby Belch
  12. 2011The Big YearRaymond Harris
  13. 2010The Next Three DaysGeorge Brennan
  14. 2010AllegedClarence Darrow
  15. 2010Caesar and Otto meet Dracula’s LawyerSteve Dracula’s More Famous Brother
  16. 2010Meet Monica VelourPop Pop
  17. 2010Every DayErnie
  18. 2009Bunker HillMartin 'Mutt' Kelsey
  19. 2009Lost Road of the Popes: Via PapaleNarrator
  20. 2008Righteous KillHingis
  21. 2008Cat CityHarold
  22. 2007War Eagle, ArkansasPop, Enochs Father
  23. 2007Welcome to ParadiseBobby Brown
  24. 2007RatatouilleDjango (voice)
  25. 2007Marco PoloKublai Khan
  26. 2007The Ultimate GiftGus
  27. 2006Everyone's HeroBabe Ruth (voice)
  28. 2006The ExoneratedGary Gauger
  29. 200610th & WolfAgent Horvath
  30. 2005Our FathersFather Dominic Spagnolia
  31. 2005Assault on Precinct 13Sargeant Jasper O'Shea
  32. 2004Category 6: Day of DestructionAndy Goodman
  33. 2004She Hate MeBilly Church
  34. 2003Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company'Fred Silverman
  35. 2003The Roman Spring of Mrs. StoneTom Stone
  36. 2003The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About EnronMr. Blue
  37. 2002Stolen SummerFather Kelly
  38. 2002A Season on the BrinkBobby Knight
  39. 2001Three Blind MiceMatthew Hope
  40. 2001Summer CatchJohn Schiffner
  41. 2001Warden of Red RockSheriff Selwyn Church
  42. 2000Dish DogsFrost
  43. 2000Fail SafeGen. Bogan
  44. 2000Death of a SalesmanWilly Loman
  45. 1999Silicon TowersTom Warner
  46. 1999SirensLt. Denby
  47. 1999Out of the ColdDavid Bards
  48. 1999NetForceLowell Davidson
  49. 1998Thanks of a Grateful NationSen. Donald Riegle
  50. 1998Voyage of TerrorThe President
  51. 1997Indefensible: The Truth About Edward BranniganEddie Brannigan
  52. 1996Shadow of a DoubtCharley Sloan
  53. 1996Jack Reed: Death and VengeanceJack Reed
  54. 1996Romeo + JulietTed Montague
  55. 1996Jack Reed: A Killer Among UsJack Reed
  56. 1995The Stars Fell on HenriettaBig Dave McDermot
  57. 1995Jack Reed: One of Our OwnJack Reed
  58. 1995Tommy BoyThomas 'Big Tom' Callahan
  59. 1994Midnight MovieJames Boyce
  60. 1994Jack Reed: A Search for JusticeJack Reed
  61. 1994Leave of AbsenceSam
  62. 1993Final AppealPerry Sundquist
  63. 1993Jack Reed: Badge of HonorJack Reed
  64. 1993Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron StoryErvil LeBaron
  65. 1993Foreign AffairsChuck Mumpson
  66. 1992Deadly MatrimonyJack Reed
  67. 1992The Diamond FleeceInspector Outlaw
  68. 1992Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser StoryJackie Presser
  69. 1992To Catch a KillerJohn Wayne Gacy
  70. 1992GladiatorJimmy Horn
  71. 1991F/X2Leo McCarthy
  72. 1991Zebras: Patterns in the GrassNarrator (voice)
  73. 1991In Broad DaylightLen Rowan
  74. 1990Presumed InnocentRaymond Horgan
  75. 1990Rising SonGus Robinson
  76. 1990A Killing in a Small TownEd Reivers
  77. 1990The Last of the FinestFrank Daly
  78. 1990Pride and Extreme PrejudiceBruno Morenz
  79. 1989Perfect WitnessJames Falcon
  80. 1989Seven MinutesWagner
  81. 1989IndioWhitaker
  82. 1989Day OneGen. Leslie Groves
  83. 1988Miles from HomeFrank Roberts Sr.
  84. 1988Cocoon: The ReturnWalter (uncredited)
  85. 1988The Man From Snowy River IIHarrison
  86. 1988A Father's RevengePaul Hobart
  87. 1987Best SellerDennis Meechum
  88. 1987The Belly of an ArchitectStourley Kracklite
  89. 1987The Lion of AfricaSam Marsh
  90. 1987The Little MermaidKing Neptune (Narrator) (voice)
  91. 1986Annie OakleyBuffalo Bill
  92. 1986Legal EaglesCavanaugh
  93. 1986The Check is in the Mail...Richard Jackson
  94. 1986Acceptable RisksDon Sheppard
  95. 1986F/XLt. Leo McCarthy
  96. 1985Twice in a LifetimeNick
  97. 1985SilveradoCobb
  98. 1985CocoonWalter
  99. 1984The River RatDoc Cole
  100. 1984The Pigs vs. The FreaksSergeant Cheever
  101. 1984Finders KeepersFrizzoli
  102. 1983Gorky ParkWilliam Kirwill
  103. 1983Never Cry WolfRosie
  104. 1983Blood FeudEdward Grady Partin
  105. 1983I Take These MenPhil Zakarian
  106. 1982First BloodHope Sheriff Will Teasle
  107. 1982Split ImageKevin Stetson
  108. 1982The Man Who Married a French Wife and Other StoriesGrimmet
  109. 1981SkokiePolice Chief Arthur Buchanan
  110. 1981Fly Away HomeTim Arnold
  111. 1981The Girls in Their Summer Dresses and Other StoriesGrimmet
  112. 1980The Jericho MileDr. D
  113. 1980The Seduction of Miss LeonaBliss Dawson
  114. 1980Little Miss MarkerHerbie
  115. 197910Donald
  116. 1979Butch and Sundance: The Early DaysO.C. Hanks
  117. 1979DummyRagoti
  118. 1979Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil StoryJohn O'Neil
  119. 1978A Real American HeroBuford Pusser
  120. 1978Foul PlayFergie