Brian Dennehy

Infobox actor


imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Brian Mannion Dennehy
birthdate = birth date and age|1938|7|9
birthplace = Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
yearsactive = 1977 – present
spouse = Judith Scheff (1959–1974) Jennifer Arnott (1988–)
occupation = Actor
website =
academyawards =
emmyawards =
goldenglobeawards = Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV
2001 "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman"
olivierawards = Best Actor
2006 "Death of a Salesman"
sagawards = Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
2001 "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman"
tonyawards = Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
1999 "Death of a Salesman"
2003 "Long Day's Journey Into Night"

Brian Mannion Dennehy (born July 9, 1938) is an American two-time Tony Award-winning actor who has appeared in movies, on television, and performed in live theater.

Biography

Early life

Dennehy was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Hannah and Edward Dennehy, who was a wire service doctor for the Associated Press; he has two brothers, Michael and Edward. [cite web | author= | title=Brian Dennehy Biography | url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/48/Brian-Dennehy.html | work=filmreference | date=2008 | accessdate=2008-04-10] [cite web | author= | title=Brian Dennehy Biography | url=http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800026870/bio | work=Yahoo! Movies | date=2008 | accessdate=2008-04-10] The family relocated to Long Island, New York, where Dennehy attended Chaminade High School in the town of Mineola.

Rather than immediately chase his dreams of stage and screen, Dennehy enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1959, actively serving until 1963. He went on to attend Columbia on a football scholarship to major in history, where he also became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, before moving on to Yale to study dramatic arts. He played rugby for Old Blue RFC.

Film

Dennehy is primarily known as a dramatic actor. His breakthrough role was as the overzealous Sheriff Will Teasle in "First Blood" (1982) opposite Sylvester Stallone as Rambo. His other roles include a corrupt sheriff in the western "Silverado", and an alien in "Cocoon", both released in 1985. He later played memorable supporting parts in such films as "Legal Eagles" (1986), "F/X" - Murder By Illusion (1986), "Presumed Innocent" (1990) and "F/X2" - The Deadly Art Of Illusion (1991).

During the 1980s, Dennehy gradually became a valuable character actor in films and subsequently gained leading man status in the thriller "Best Seller" (1987) co-starring James Woods. He gained his arthouse spurs when he starred in the Peter Greenaway film "The Belly of an Architect", for which he won the Best Actor Award at the 1987 Chicago International Film Festival. Commenting upon this unusual venture, Dennehy said, "I've been in a lot of movies but this is the first film I've made."

Perhaps one of his most well known roles was in the 1995 Chris Farley-David Spade comedy "Tommy Boy" as Big Tom Callahan.

Two of his earliest roles were in "10" with Bo Derek and Dudley Moore and "Foul Play" with Chevy Chase. Later, he would again star with Bo Derek in "Tommy Boy."

He also has had a role in the recent movie "Ratatouille" as Django, Remy's Father.

His film credits, in chronological order:
Semi-Tough (1977) - "T. J. Lambert" (film debut)
Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) - "Surgeon"
Bumpers (1977) - "Ernie Stapp"
Foul Play (1978) - "Fergie"
F.I.S.T. (1978) - "Frank Vasco"
10 (1979) - " Don the bartender
(1979) - "O. C. Hanks"
Little Miss Marker (1980) - "Herbie"
Split Image (1982) - "Kevin Stetson"
(1982) - "Sheriff Will Teasle"
Gorky Park (1983) - "William Kirwill"
Never Cry Wolf (1983) - "Rosie Little"
Finders Keepers (1984) - "Mayor Frizzoli"
The River Rat (1984) - "Doc Cole"
Silverado (1985) - "Sheriff Cobb"
Cocoon (1985) - "Walter"
Twice in a Lifetime (1985) - "Nick"
The Check Is in the Mail (1985) - "Richard Jackson"
F/X (1986) - "Lt. Leo McCarthy"
Legal Eagles (1986) - "C. J. Cavanaugh"
The Belly of an Architect (1987) - "Stourley Kracklite"
Best Seller (1987) - "Lt. Dennis Meechum"
Miles from Home (1988) - "Frank Roberts Sr."
The Man from Snowy River II (1988) - "Harrison"
(1988) - "Walter"
Seven Minutes (1989) - "Wagner"
Indio (1990) - "Whytaker"
The Last of the Finest (1990) - "Frank Daly"
Presumed Innocent (1990) - "Raymond Horgan"
F/X2 (1991) - "Leo McCarthy"
Gladiator (1992) - "Jimmy Horn"
Tommy Boy (1995) - "Big Tom Callahan II"
The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995) - "Big Dave McDermot"
William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996) - "Ted Montague"
Dish Dogs (1998) - "Frost"
The Virtuoso (1999) -
(1999) - "The Skipper"
Out of the Cold (1999) - "David Bards"
Silicon Towers (1999) -
Summer Catch (2001) - "John Schiffner"
Stolen Summer (2002) - "Father Kelly"
(2002) - " Narrator"
Drawing First Blood (2002 documentary short) - Himself
She Hate Me (2004) - "Chairman Billy Church"
Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) - "Jasper O'Shea"
(2005 documentary short) - Himself
10th and Wolf (2005) - "Horvath"
The Ultimate Gift (2006) - "Gus"
Yankee Irving (2006) - Voice of Babe Ruth
Ratatouille (2007) - "Father"
Righteous Kill (2008) - "Lieutenant Hingus"

Television

Dennehy began his professional acting career in small guest roles in such 1970s and 1980s series as "Kojak", "Lou Grant", "Dallas" and "Dynasty". He also appeared in an episode of "Miami Vice" during the 1987-88 season.

Dennehy portrayed Sergeant Ned T. "Frozen Chosen" Coleman in the television movie "A Rumor of War" (1980) opposite Brad Davis. He continued to appear in such high-profile television movies as "Skokie" (1981), "Day One" (1989), "A Killing in a Small Town" (1990) opposite Barbara Hershey, "In Broad Daylight" (1991), "Scott Turow's The Burden of Proof", and the miniseries "A Season in Purgatory". He also played a convincing Jackie Presser in HBO's "".

Dennehy also had a lead role as fire chief/celebrity dad Leslie "Buddy" Krebs in the short-lived 1982 series "Star Of The Family". Despite his star power, that show was cancelled after two seasons.

Dennehy was nominated for Emmy Awards six times for his television movies including one for his performance as John Wayne Gacy, for which he was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie. He was also nominated that same year in a different category, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie, for "The Burden of Proof" (1992). He was also nominated for an Emmy for his work in "A Killing in a Small Town", "Murder in the Heartland" (1993) and, most recently, for the Showtime cable TV movie "Our Fathers" (2005), which was about the Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal.

In 2000, Dennehy was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie for a television presentation of his performance as Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" which he had performed on Broadway. Although he did not win the Emmy (he has yet to win an Emmy), he did receive a Golden Globe award for the presentation.

He has starred in the popular crime drama "Jack Reed" TV movies. He also appeared as a recurring character in the NBC sitcom "Just Shoot Me!"

Dennehy was parodied in "" (1999) and an episode of "The Simpsons".

In January 2007, he starred as a retired criminal who wants to reconnect with his daughter and admit his crimes thus eventually clearing a wrongfully imprisoned inmate on "". In April 2008, Dennehy guest-starred as a Teamster boss named "Mickey" in an episode of "30 Rock".

Dennehy is currently shooting footage for his upcoming mini-series on the History Channel called "Brian Dennehy's America." The show follows Dennehy as he explores the states, from his boyhood home in New England, all the way to the Pacific Northwest, interviewing the locals about why they love their state.

Dennehy will guest-star in an episode of "Rules of Engagement" in the Fall 2008 season as the father of the main character, Jeff. [cite web | title= Exclusive: Brian Dennehy Lands "Meaty" Sitcom Role | url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-News-Blog/Todays-News/Exclusive-Brian-Dennehy/800046124 | work= TV Guide | date=2008 | accessdate=2008-09-04]

Television appearances in chronological order:
It Happened at Lakewood Manor (1977 TV movie) - "Fire Chief"
Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye (1977 TV movie) - "Longshoreman"
Pearl (1978 mini-series) - "Sgt. Otto Chain"
A Real American Hero (1978 TV movie) - "Buford Pusser"
A Death in Canaan (1978 TV movie) - "Barney Parsons"
Ruby and Oswald (1978 TV movie) - "George Paulsen"
Dummy (1979 TV movie) - "Ragoti"
Big Shamus, Little Shamus (1979) - "Arnie Sutter"
The Jericho Mile (1979 TV movie) - "Dr. D"
Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story (1979 TV movie) - "Mr. O'Neil"
A Rumor of War (1980 TV movie) - "Sgt. Ned Coleman"
The Seduction of Miss Leona (1980 TV movie) - "Bliss Dawson"
Dynasty (1981) - "DA Jake Dunham"
Skokie (1981 TV movie) - "Chief Arthur Buchanan"
Fly Away Home (1981 TV movie) - "Tim Arnold"
I Take These Men (1983 TV movie) - "Phil Zakarian"
Blood Feud (1983 mini-series) - "Edward Grady Partin"
Off Sides (1984 TV movie) - "Sgt. Cheever"
Evergreen (1985) - "Matthew Malone"
The Last Place on Earth (1985) - "Frederick Cook"
Acceptable Risks (1986 TV movie) - "Don Sheppard"
The Lion of Africa (1987 TV movie) - "Samuel Marsh"
A Father's Revenge (1988 TV movie) - "Paul Hobart"
Perfect Witness (1989 TV movie) - "James Falcon"
A Killing in a Small Town (1990 TV movie) - "Ed Reivers"
Rising Son (1990 TV movie) - "Gus Robinson"
Pride and Extreme Prejudice (1990 TV movie) - "Bruno Morenz"
In Broad Daylight (1991 TV movie) - "Len Rowan"
The Diamond Fleece (1992 TV movie) - "Lt. Merritt Outlaw"
Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story (1992 TV movie) - "Jackie Presser"
To Catch a Killer (1992) - "John Wayne Gacy"
The Burden of Proof (1992 TV movie) - "Dixon Hartnell"
Deadly Matrimony (1992 TV movie) - "Sgt. Jack Reed"
Foreign Affairs (1993 TV movie) - "Chuck Mumpson"
Prophet of Evil: The Ervin LaBaron Story (1993 TV movie) - "Ervil LaBaron"
Final Appeal (1993 TV movie) - "Perry Sundquist"
Jack Reed: Badge of Honor (1993 TV movie) - "Jack Reed"
Murder in the Heartland (1993) - "John McArthur"
Birdland (1994) - "Dr. Brian McKenzie"
Leave of Absence (1994 TV movie) - "Sam"
Midnight Movie (1994 TV movie) - "James Boyce"
Jack Reed: A Search for Justice (1994 TV movie) - "Jack Reed"
Jack Reed: One of Our Own (1995 TV movie) - "Jack Reed"
Shadow of A Doubt (1995 TV movie) - "Charlie Sloan"
Jack Reed: A Killer Among Us (1996 TV movie) - "Jack Reed"
Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance (1996 TV movie) - "Jack Reed"
A Season in Purgatory (1996) - "Gerald Bradley"
Dead Man's Walk (1996 mini-series) - "Maj. Chavallie"
Undue Influence (1996 mini-series) - "Paul Madriani"
Nostromo (mini-series) (1997) - "Joshua C. Holyrod"
Indefensible: The Truth about Edward Brannigan (1997 TV movie) - "Eddie Brannigan"
Voyage of Terror (1998 TV movie) - "U.S. President"
Thanks of a Grateful Nation (1998 TV movie) - "Senator Riegle"
Netforce (1999 TV movie) - "Lowell Davidson"
Sirens (1999 TV movie) - "Lt. Denby"
Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke (1999 mini-series) - "Louis Bromfield"
Fail Safe (2000 TV movie) - "Gen. Bogan"
Arrest & Trial (2000) - "Host"
Warden of Red Rock (2001 TV movie) - "Sheriff Church"
Three Blind Mice (2001 TV movie) - "Mathew Hope"
Death of a Salesman (2001) - "Fitzgerald"
A Season on the Brink (2002 TV movie) - "Bobby Knight"
The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron (2003 TV movie) - "Mr. Blue"
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (2003 TV movie) - "Tom Stone"
Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of "Three's Company" (2003 TV movie) - "Fred Silverman"
Category 6: Day of Destruction (2004 TV movie) - "Andy Goodman"
The Exonerated (2005 TV movie) - "Gary Gauger"
Our Fathers (2005 TV movie) - "Father Dominic Spagnolia"

Dennehy has also worked in many television specials and pilots. He has appeared in many episodes of other television series. [www.filmreference.com/film/48/Brian-Dennehy.html Brian Dennehy biography at Film Reference website] Brian once played an extra in the video for 'The king of rock 'n' roll' by musical legends Prefab Sprout.

Theater

Dennehy has won two Tony Awards, both times for Best Lead Actor in a Play. The first win was for "Death of a Salesman" (for which he also won a Laurence Olivier Award for the production's London run), in 1999, and the second was for Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night" in 2003. Both productions were directed by Robert Falls and were originally produced at the Goodman Theatre company in Chicago.

On stage, Dennehy has made frequent performances in the Chicago theatre world, and made his Broadway debut in 1995 in Brian Friel's "Translations". In 1999, he was the first male performer to be voted the Sarah Siddons Award for his work in Chicago theatre. He made a return to Broadway in 2007 as Matthew Harrison Brady in "Inherit the Wind" opposite Christopher Plummer. In 2008, Dennehy will appear at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada, appearing in "All's Well That Ends Well" and a double bill of plays by Samuel Beckett's "Krapp's Last Tape" and Eugene O'Neill's "Hughie".

Fabrication of military service in Vietnam

In 1989, Dennehy told the "New York Times" that he received shrapnel wounds in the Vietnam War. In 1993, he told "Playboy" that he served five years in Vietnam. It was revealed, however, that he never served in Vietnam at all. In actuality, he served during peacetime in the Marine Corps from 1959-1963; with Okinawa being his only overseas service. In 1999, Dennehy apologized for the fabricated stories.Fact|date=January 2008

Personal life

At one point, Dennehy resided at West Gilgo Beach, Long Island NY and is currently a resident of Woodstock, Connecticut. He is the father of actresses Elizabeth Dennehy and Kathleen Dennehy.

Dennehy has undergone the Lap Band weight loss procedure, being an early entry on the growing list of celebrity lap band recipients.

References

External links

*imdb|0001133
* [http://www.manhunter.net/the_jericho_mile_lobby_card_03.html Photograph of Dennehy as "Doctor D." in Michael Mann's "The Jericho Mile" (1979)]
* [http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Star_File.aspx?ci=27109 Star File: Brian Dennehy] at [http://www.broadway.com Broadway.com]

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
title=Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play
years=1998-1999 for "Death of a Salesman"
before=Anthony LaPaglia for "A View from the Bridge"
after=Stephen Dillane for "The Real Thing" succession box
title=
years=2001 for "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman"
before=Jack Lemmon for "Inherit The Wind"
after=James Franco for "James Dean"

Persondata
NAME= Dennehy, Brian
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actor
DATE OF BIRTH= July 9, 1938
PLACE OF BIRTH= Bridgeport, Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=