FILE - In this June 6, 1999 file photo, actor Brian Dennehy, left, applauds playwright, Arthur Miller, before awarding him the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tony Awards in New York. Dennehy, the burly actor who started in films and later in his career won plaudits for his stage work in plays, died of natural causes on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 in New Haven, Conn. He was 81.
Known for his broad frame, booming voice and ability to play good guys and bad guys with equal aplomb, Dennehy won two Tony Awards, a Golden Globe and was nominated for six Emmys. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2010. Eventually Dennehy wearied of the studio life. “Movies used to be fun,” he observed in an interview. “They took care of you, first-class. Those days are gone.”
“What this actor goes for is close to an everyman quality, with a grand emotional expansiveness that matches his monumental physique,” wrote Ben Brantley in his review of the play for The New York Times. “Yet these emotions ring so unerringly true that Mr. Dennehy seems to kidnap you by force, trapping you inside Willy’s psyche.”
Back in New York City in 1965, he pursued acting while working at side jobs. “I learned first-hand how a truck driver lives, what a bartender does, how a salesman thinks,” he told The New York Times in 1989. “I had to make a life inside those jobs, not just pretend.” Among his films: “Looking for Mr. Goodbar,” “Foul Play,” “Little Miss Marker,” “Split Image,” “Gorky Park,” “Legal Eagles,” “Miles from Home,” “Return to Snowy River,” “Presumed Innocent,” “Romeo and Juliet” and “Assault on Precinct 13.” He played the father of Chris Farley’s titular character in the 1995 comedy “Tommy Boy.”
Source: Entertainment Trends (entertainmenttrends.net)
Bummer
The scenes with top-notch character actors Dennehy and Richard Crenna are my favorite parts of “First Blood.” Stallone himself is at times indecipherable, particularly in the anticlimactic conclusion. RIPBrianDennehy
JrzyJoePiscopo RIP Brian Dennehy.. Product of Chaminade HS , not even 5 minutes from my house on Jericho Turnpike.. One of the Greats 4Sure!!!🙏✝️
R.I.P
A great actor. Prayers to his family & friends.
Legendary guy Brian Dennehy. My favorite role of him was Gladiator (1992) with another lost legend Robert Loggia. “Top of the head, hardest part of the body.”
Always brilliant on and off all his true crime movies as well as too short role in The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone.
May his family be comforted by the Lord and may family be able to celebrate his life in this difficult time. 🙏🏽
One of my favorite actors.
Sad.
R.I.P. !
so sad just watched him tonite in early role Dallas a true genius
Dennehy’s Willy Loman was the greatest I’ve ever seen!!
Cobb A role he was born for. RIP Sheriff. BrianDennehy
I liked his portrayal of John Wayne Gacey.
This makes me sad.
So sad to hear....he was such a great actor RIP Brian Dennehy Silverado is probably my all time favorite western
Great Actor
I just thought he was the best! What a great actor and nice person it seemed
I loved Brian Dennehy. So sorry to hear of his passing. RIP Loved his movies
fredwimpy Let’s count him as corona victim like everyone else who passes these days
Brian Dennehy died? Damn, this means we are all mortal. RIP great actor!
Thank you for pointing his acclaimed body of work aside from 'Tommy Boy'
newstouse Silverado so underrated
I hope you are dancing with your Tommy Boy. RIP 🙏
I loved Dennehy in First Blood; great actor.
I thought he died during Tommy Boy.
RIP Brian!
Leah_Holiove Bartender in the movie 10. Great performance of a sympathetic guy.
R.I.P.
RIP. Loved his movies he played a part in. He was a true American. First Blood.
wbaltv11
Dammit.
Patton Oswald's character actor hero is gone.
RIP Sheriff Will Teasle
He was good
RIP ❤️ Great actor ❤️
'...and you think *we're* tough?' RIP Brian
I'd just discovered his narration of 'Mystery Files.' So many great movie and TV roles.
I thought he died dancing on stage with his son at his wedding?
Great actor. RIP Brian.
So sad! Great actor! May his soul rest in peace🙏🏾
Ahh, man!! I loved Brian's work ☹️He'll be missed!
Damn. If he was in it you already knew it was worth watching. RIP
At least your headline writer made the right choices!
Now Tommy has to run the company.😥 Godspeed Brian.
One of my favorites. 😿
He had such presence in all of his films. For some reason I remember him best in Presumed Innocent. He will be missed.
great man & actor ,, will be missed
RIP🌷🕊
TubbsShow Oh no! Great actor wow!! Condolences to his family ! Great actor!! 🙏🙏😥
RIPbriandennehy
Leah_Holiove 2020 you definitely suck. He was a great actor.
What a great actor !
RIP. Silverado remains one of my favorite movies.
Man, we’re losing some of the great ones.
Great 'regular guy' actor... RIP
RIP Brian Dennehy
Sad news, RIP.
😔 An amazing actor! He will be so missed. Always so much intensity in his acting.
RIP
alanclendenning Saw him in a London production of Shepherd's 'Buried Child.' He was so fierce (along with an equally ferocious Lauren Ambrose) that I had trouble breathing during the performance. Will never forget it.
RIP, big-hearted and talented man. 💔
Now this one hurts. Dennehy was one of those awesome character actors. But everyone knew his name. What a loss, but what a life !! RIPbriandennehy
Great actor. Loved him in FX. RIP, Mr. Dennehy.
😢. Will always remember him for F/X.
But...but...you guys aren't biased.
What a shock!
Magnificent actor - will be missed. Rest in Peace.
Also in Tommy Boy 🙏🏻
One of my favorites. Condolences to his family. RIP💔
Great man and wonderful actor, he was a pleasure to be around...
Just LOVE him. Comfort to all.
Very sad. RIP Mr. Dennehy.
One of my favs. Rest in Peace Dear Sir.
Great actor
Sad.
pattonoswalt ... can you do that bit about Brian Dennehy?
RIP we loved your acting
Brian Dennehy was a very underrated actor. RIPBrianDennehy
2020 sucks so far. RIP.
Thanks for the memories, Big Guy! RIP! This is really sad!
RIP🕯️
prayers...I remember him in 'family affair'
Damn it. He was an incredible actor. My personal favorite Willy Loman interpretation.
F/X
RIP
He was amazing in Death of a Salesman. Rest In Peace.
Soo sad! I enjoyed his movies
Sad
Great actor. I always thought he should have played Perry Mason after Raymond Burr.
RIP.
allbomdoubt
But who will get the sandwiches from that secret deli on '30 Rock' now? Thanks for the memories, Mr. Dennehy. One of the great character actors of all time.
RIP Brian Dennehy
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