Brian Dennehy

Brian Dennehy

Known for
Acting
Born
July 9, 1938
Died
April 15, 2020 (aged 81)
Birthplace
Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA

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.

Known For

Photos

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Filmography

2021
Son of the South poster

Son of the South

Movie · as Grandfather

2020
Driveways poster

Driveways

Movie · as Del

2020
Penny Dreadful: City of Angels poster

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels

TV · as Jerome Townsend · 1 ep

2019
The Song of Sway Lake poster

The Song of Sway Lake

Movie · as Hal Sway

2019
3 Days with Dad poster

3 Days with Dad

Movie · as Bob

2019
Alan Pakula: Going for Truth poster

Alan Pakula: Going for Truth

Movie · as Self

2018
The Seagull poster

The Seagull

Movie · as Pjotr Sorin

2018
Tag poster

Tag

Movie · as Mr. Cilliano

2017
A Very Merry Toy Store poster

A Very Merry Toy Store

Movie · as Joe Haggarty

2016
Hap and Leonard poster

Hap and Leonard

TV · as Sheriff Valentine Otis · 2 eps

2015
Knight of Cups poster

Knight of Cups

Movie · as Joseph

2015
The Ultimate Legacy poster

The Ultimate Legacy

Movie · as Gus

2015
Cocked poster

Cocked

TV · as Wade · 1 ep

2015
Public Morals poster

Public Morals

TV · as Joe Patton · 7 eps

2013
The Challenger Disaster poster

The Challenger Disaster

Movie · as Rogers

2013
The Blacklist poster

The Blacklist

TV · as Dominic Wilkinson · 9 eps

2012
Twelfth Night poster

Twelfth Night

Movie · as Sir Toby Belch

2011
The Big Year poster

The Big Year

Movie · as Raymond Harris

2010
The Next Three Days poster

The Next Three Days

Movie · as George Brennan

2010
Every Day poster

Every Day

Movie · as Ernie

2010
Alleged poster

Alleged

Movie · as Clarence Darrow

2010
Meet Monica Velour poster

Meet Monica Velour

Movie · as Pop Pop

2010
Caesar and Otto meet Dracula’s Lawyer poster

Caesar and Otto meet Dracula’s Lawyer

Movie · as Steve Dracula’s More Famous Brother

2010
Rizzoli & Isles poster

Rizzoli & Isles

TV · as Ret. Det. Kenny Leahy · 1 ep

2010
The Big C poster

The Big C

TV · as Dad · 1 ep

2009
Lost Road of the Popes: Via Papale poster

Lost Road of the Popes: Via Papale

Movie · as Narrator

2009
Love and Valor poster

Love and Valor

Movie · as Narrator (voice)

2009
Bunker Hill

Bunker Hill

Movie · as Martin 'Mutt' Kelsey

2009
The Good Wife poster

The Good Wife

TV · as Bucky Stabler · 2 eps

2008
Righteous Kill poster

Righteous Kill

Movie · as Hingis

2008
Cat City poster

Cat City

Movie · as Harold

2007
Ratatouille poster

Ratatouille

Movie · as Django (voice)

2007
Trumbo poster

Trumbo

Movie · as Self

2007
War Eagle, Arkansas poster

War Eagle, Arkansas

Movie · as Pop, Enochs Father

2007
Welcome to Paradise poster

Welcome to Paradise

Movie · as Bobby Brown

2007
Marco Polo poster

Marco Polo

Movie · as Kublai Khan

2007
Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & The Presidency poster

Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & The Presidency

Movie · as Andrew Jackson (voice)

2007
The Ultimate Gift poster

The Ultimate Gift

Movie · as Gus

2007
Rules of Engagement poster

Rules of Engagement

TV · as Roy · 1 ep

2007
Masters of Science Fiction poster

Masters of Science Fiction

TV · as Bedzyk · 1 ep

2007
Marco Polo poster

Marco Polo

TV · as Kublai Khan · 2 eps

2006
10th & Wolf poster

10th & Wolf

Movie · as Agent Horvath

2006
Everyone's Hero poster

Everyone's Hero

Movie · as Babe Ruth (voice)

2006
The Exonerated poster

The Exonerated

Movie · as Gary Gauger

2006
30 Rock poster

30 Rock

TV · as Mickey J · 1 ep

2005
Assault on Precinct 13 poster

Assault on Precinct 13

Movie · as Sargeant Jasper O'Shea

2005
Our Fathers poster

Our Fathers

Movie · as Father Dominic Spagnolia

2004
Category 6: Day of Destruction poster

Category 6: Day of Destruction

Movie · as Andy Goodman

2004
She Hate Me poster

She Hate Me

Movie · as Billy Church

2004
The 4400 poster

The 4400

TV · as Mitch Baldwin · 1 ep

2004
Category 6: Day of Destruction poster

Category 6: Day of Destruction

TV · as Andy Goodman · 2 eps

2003
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone poster

The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone

Movie · as Tom Stone

2003
Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company'

Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company'

Movie · as Fred Silverman

2003
The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron poster

The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron

Movie · as Mr. Blue

2003
American Valor poster

American Valor

Movie · as Narrator

2002
Stolen Summer poster

Stolen Summer

Movie · as Father Kelly

2002
Making 'The Misfits' poster

Making 'The Misfits'

Movie · as Narrator

2002
Code Yellow: Hospital at Ground Zero poster

Code Yellow: Hospital at Ground Zero

Movie · as Narrator

2002
A Season on the Brink poster

A Season on the Brink

Movie · as Bobby Knight

2002
Founding Brothers poster

Founding Brothers

TV · 2 eps

2001
Summer Catch poster

Summer Catch

Movie · as John Schiffner

2001
Three Blind Mice poster

Three Blind Mice

Movie · as Matthew Hope

2001
Warden of Red Rock poster

Warden of Red Rock

Movie · as Sheriff Selwyn Church

2001
The Fighting Fitzgeralds poster

The Fighting Fitzgeralds

TV · as Mr. Fitzgerald · 10 eps

2001
The Agency poster

The Agency

TV · as James Graydon · 1 ep

2001
Night Visions poster

Night Visions

TV · as Camper Ben (segment "Quiet, Please") · 1 ep

2001
Animated Tales of the World poster

Animated Tales of the World

TV · as Captain (voice) · 1 ep

2000
Fail Safe poster

Fail Safe

Movie · as Gen. Bogan

2000
Dish Dogs poster

Dish Dogs

Movie · as Frost

2000
Death of a Salesman poster

Death of a Salesman

Movie · as Willy Loman

2000
Arrest & Trial

Arrest & Trial

TV · as Self - Host · 190 eps

2000
Founding Fathers poster

Founding Fathers

TV · as George Washington (voice) · 4 eps

1999
NetForce poster

NetForce

Movie · as Lowell Davidson

1999
Out of the Cold poster

Out of the Cold

Movie · as David Bards

1999
Sirens poster

Sirens

Movie · as Lt. Denby

1999
Silicon Towers poster

Silicon Towers

Movie · as Tom Warner

1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit poster

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

TV · as Judson Tierney · 1 ep

1999
The West Wing poster

The West Wing

TV · as Rafe Framingham · 1 ep

1999
Netforce poster

Netforce

TV · as Lowell Davidson · 2 eps

1999
Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke poster

Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke

TV · as Louis Bromfield · 4 eps

1998
Thanks of a Grateful Nation poster

Thanks of a Grateful Nation

Movie · as Sen. Donald Riegle

1998
Voyage of Terror poster

Voyage of Terror

Movie · as The President

1997
Indefensible: The Truth About Edward Brannigan poster

Indefensible: The Truth About Edward Brannigan

Movie · as Eddie Brannigan

1997
Just Shoot Me! poster

Just Shoot Me!

TV · as Red Finch · 4 eps

1997
Nostromo poster

Nostromo

TV · as Joshua C. Holroyd · 3 eps

1996
Romeo + Juliet poster

Romeo + Juliet

Movie · as Ted Montague

1996
Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance poster

Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance

Movie · as Jack Reed

1996
Shadow of a Doubt

Shadow of a Doubt

Movie · as Charley Sloan

1996
Jack Reed: A Killer Among Us poster

Jack Reed: A Killer Among Us

Movie · as Jack Reed

1996
E! True Hollywood Story poster

E! True Hollywood Story

TV · 2 eps

1996
Dead Man's Walk poster

Dead Man's Walk

TV · as Major Chevallier · 3 eps

1996
Undue Influence poster

Undue Influence

TV · as Paul Madriani · 2 eps

1996
A Season in Purgatory poster

A Season in Purgatory

TV · as Gerald Bradley · 2 eps

1995
Tommy Boy poster

Tommy Boy

Movie · as Thomas 'Big Tom' Callahan

1995
The Stars Fell on Henrietta poster

The Stars Fell on Henrietta

Movie · as Big Dave McDermot

1995
Jack Reed: One of Our Own poster

Jack Reed: One of Our Own

Movie · as Jack Reed

1994
Midnight Movie poster

Midnight Movie

Movie · as James Boyce

1994
Jack Reed: A Search for Justice poster

Jack Reed: A Search for Justice

Movie · as Jack Reed

1994
Leave of Absence poster

Leave of Absence

Movie · as Sam

1994
Birdland poster

Birdland

TV · as Dr. Brian McKenzie · 7 eps

1993
Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story poster

Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story

Movie · as Ervil LeBaron

1993
Foreign Affairs poster

Foreign Affairs

Movie · as Chuck Mumpson

1993
Jack Reed: Badge of Honor poster

Jack Reed: Badge of Honor

Movie · as Jack Reed

1993
Final Appeal poster

Final Appeal

Movie · as Perry Sundquist

1993
Murder in the Heartland poster

Murder in the Heartland

TV · as John McArthur · 2 eps

1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien poster

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep

1992
Gladiator poster

Gladiator

Movie · as Jimmy Horn

1992
To Catch a Killer poster

To Catch a Killer

Movie · as John Wayne Gacy

1992
Deadly Matrimony poster

Deadly Matrimony

Movie · as Jack Reed

1992
Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story poster

Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story

Movie · as Jackie Presser

1992
The Diamond Fleece poster

The Diamond Fleece

Movie · as Inspector Outlaw

1992
The Burden of Proof poster

The Burden of Proof

TV · as Dixon Hartnell · 2 eps

1992
To Catch a Killer poster

To Catch a Killer

TV · as John Wayne Gacy · 2 eps

1991
F/X2 poster

F/X2

Movie · as Leo McCarthy

1991
In Broad Daylight poster

In Broad Daylight

Movie · as Len Rowan

1991
Zebras: Patterns in the Grass poster

Zebras: Patterns in the Grass

Movie · as Narrator (voice)

1990
Presumed Innocent poster

Presumed Innocent

Movie · as Raymond Horgan

1990
A Killing in a Small Town poster

A Killing in a Small Town

Movie · as Ed Reivers

1990
The Last of the Finest poster

The Last of the Finest

Movie · as Frank Daly

1990
Rising Son poster

Rising Son

Movie · as Gus Robinson

1990
Pride and Extreme Prejudice poster

Pride and Extreme Prejudice

Movie · as Bruno Morenz

1989
Day One poster

Day One

Movie · as Gen. Leslie Groves

1989
Perfect Witness poster

Perfect Witness

Movie · as James Falcon

1989
Seven Minutes poster

Seven Minutes

Movie · as Wagner

1989
Indio poster

Indio

Movie · as Whitaker

1988
The Man From Snowy River II poster

The Man From Snowy River II

Movie · as Harrison

1988
Miles from Home poster

Miles from Home

Movie · as Frank Roberts Sr.

1988
A Father's Revenge poster

A Father's Revenge

Movie · as Paul Hobart

1988
Cocoon: The Return poster

Cocoon: The Return

Movie · as Walter (uncredited)

1988
American Experience poster

American Experience

TV · as Aaron Burr (voice) · 1 ep

1987
Best Seller poster

Best Seller

Movie · as Dennis Meechum

1987
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam poster

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam

Movie · as (voice)

1987
The Belly of an Architect poster

The Belly of an Architect

Movie · as Stourley Kracklite

1987
The Lion of Africa poster

The Lion of Africa

Movie · as Sam Marsh

1987
The Little Mermaid poster

The Little Mermaid

Movie · as King Neptune (Narrator) (voice)

1986
Legal Eagles poster

Legal Eagles

Movie · as Cavanaugh

1986
F/X poster

F/X

Movie · as Lt. Leo McCarthy

1986
The Check is in the Mail... poster

The Check is in the Mail...

Movie · as Richard Jackson

1986
Annie Oakley poster

Annie Oakley

Movie · as Buffalo Bill

1986
Acceptable Risks poster

Acceptable Risks

Movie · as Don Sheppard

1985
Cocoon poster

Cocoon

Movie · as Walter

1985
Silverado poster

Silverado

Movie · as Cobb

1985
Twice in a Lifetime poster

Twice in a Lifetime

Movie · as Nick

1985
Evergreen poster

Evergreen

TV · as Matthew Malone · 3 eps

1985
Tall Tales & Legends poster

Tall Tales & Legends

TV · as Buffalo Bill · 1 ep

1985
Screen Two poster

Screen Two

TV · as James Boyce · 1 ep

1985
The Last Place on Earth poster

The Last Place on Earth

TV · as Frederick Cook · 2 eps

1984
Finders Keepers poster

Finders Keepers

Movie · as Frizzoli

1984
The River Rat poster

The River Rat

Movie · as Doc Cole

1984
The Pigs vs. The Freaks poster

The Pigs vs. The Freaks

Movie · as Sergeant Cheever

1984
Miami Vice poster

Miami Vice

TV · as Reverend Billy Bob Proverb · 1 ep

1984
Hunter poster

Hunter

TV · as Dr. Bolin · 1 ep

1983
Gorky Park poster

Gorky Park

Movie · as William Kirwill

1983
Never Cry Wolf poster

Never Cry Wolf

Movie · as Rosie

1983
Blood Feud poster

Blood Feud

Movie · as Edward Grady Partin

1983
I Take These Men poster

I Take These Men

Movie · as Phil Zakarian

1983
Blood Feud poster

Blood Feud

TV · as Edward Grady Partin · 2 eps

1983
Reading Rainbow poster

Reading Rainbow

TV · as Self - Narrator (voice) · 1 ep

1982
First Blood poster

First Blood

Movie · as Hope Sheriff Will Teasle

1982
Split Image poster

Split Image

Movie · as Kevin Stetson

1982
The Man Who Married a French Wife and Other Stories poster

The Man Who Married a French Wife and Other Stories

Movie · as Grimmet

1982
The Making of 'First Blood' poster

The Making of 'First Blood'

Movie · as Self

1982
Cagney & Lacey poster

Cagney & Lacey

TV · as Michael Magruder · 1 ep

1982
Faerie Tale Theatre poster

Faerie Tale Theatre

TV · as King Neptune / Narrator (voice) · 1 ep

1982
Star of the Family poster

Star of the Family

TV · as Leslie 'Buddy' Krebs · 10 eps

1981
Fly Away Home poster

Fly Away Home

Movie · as Tim Arnold

1981
Skokie poster

Skokie

Movie · as Police Chief Arthur Buchanan

1981
The Girls in Their Summer Dresses and Other Stories poster

The Girls in Their Summer Dresses and Other Stories

Movie · as Grimmet

1981
Dynasty poster

Dynasty

TV · as Jake Dunham · 5 eps

1981
Darkroom poster

Darkroom

TV · as Roland · 1 ep

1980
Little Miss Marker poster

Little Miss Marker

Movie · as Herbie

1980
The Jericho Mile poster

The Jericho Mile

Movie · as Dr. D

1980
The Seduction of Miss Leona poster

The Seduction of Miss Leona

Movie · as Bliss Dawson

1980
A Rumor of War poster

A Rumor of War

TV · as Sgt. Ned Coleman · 2 eps

1979
10 poster

10

Movie · as Donald

1979
Butch and Sundance: The Early Days poster

Butch and Sundance: The Early Days

Movie · as O.C. Hanks

1979
Dummy poster

Dummy

Movie · as Ragoti

1979
Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story poster

Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story

Movie · as John O'Neil

1979
Knots Landing poster

Knots Landing

TV · as James Cargill · 1 ep

1979
Big Shamus, Little Shamus poster

Big Shamus, Little Shamus

TV · as Arnie Sutter · 10 eps

1978
Foul Play poster

Foul Play

Movie · as Fergie

1978
A Real American Hero poster

A Real American Hero

Movie · as Buford Pusser

1978
Ruby and Oswald poster

Ruby and Oswald

Movie · as George Paulsen

1978
A Death in Canaan poster

A Death in Canaan

Movie · as Barney Parsons

1978
F.I.S.T. poster

F.I.S.T.

Movie · as Frank Vasko

1978
Dallas poster

Dallas

TV · as Luther Frick · 1 ep

1978
Pearl poster

Pearl

TV · as Sgt. Otto Chain · 3 eps

1977
Semi-Tough poster

Semi-Tough

Movie · as T.J. Lambert

1977
Looking for Mr. Goodbar poster

Looking for Mr. Goodbar

Movie · as Surgeon

1977
It Happened at Lakewood Manor poster

It Happened at Lakewood Manor

Movie · as Fire Chief

1977
Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye poster

Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye

Movie · as Longshoreman

1977
Lou Grant poster

Lou Grant

TV · as Wilson · 1 ep

1977
Lanigan's Rabbi

Lanigan's Rabbi

TV · as Burton Tree · 1 ep

1977
Lucan poster

Lucan

TV · as Fisher · 1 ep

1977
The Fitzpatricks poster

The Fitzpatricks

TV · as Coach Hatfield · 1 ep

1976
Serpico poster

Serpico

TV · as Jody · 1 ep

1976
The Tony Randall Show poster

The Tony Randall Show

TV · as Brian Sr. · 1 ep

1975
Saturday Night Live poster

Saturday Night Live

TV · as Self (uncredited) · 1 ep

1974
Police Woman poster

Police Woman

TV · as Burrows · 1 ep

1974
Playhouse poster

Playhouse

TV · as Grimmet · 1 ep

1973
Kojak poster

Kojak

TV · as Peter Connor · 1 ep

1972
M*A*S*H poster

M*A*S*H

TV · as M.P. Ernie Connors · 1 ep

1971
Great Performances poster

Great Performances

TV · as Grimmet · 1 ep

1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson poster

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

TV · as Self · 4 eps

1956
Tony Awards poster

Tony Awards

TV · as Self - Presenter / Performer / Winner, Self - Winner · 1 ep

1944
Golden Globe Awards poster

Golden Globe Awards

TV · as Self - Nominee · 1 ep