Brian Dennehy

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

208

Gender

Male

Birthday

1938-07-09

Day of death

2020-04-15 (81 years old)

Place of Birth

Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA

Brian Dennehy

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

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • The Blacklist

    The Blacklist

  • Great Performances

    Great Performances

  • The Good Wife

    The Good Wife

  • Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live

  • The West Wing

    The West Wing

  • M*A*S*H

    M*A*S*H

  • Dallas

    Dallas

  • Knots Landing

    Knots Landing

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • Golden Globe Awards

    Golden Globe Awards

  • Police Woman

    Police Woman

  • Miami Vice

    Miami Vice

  • 30 Rock

    30 Rock

  • Rizzoli & Isles

    Rizzoli & Isles

  • American Experience

    American Experience

  • Dynasty

    Dynasty

  • Reading Rainbow

    Reading Rainbow

  • Ratatouille

    Ratatouille

  • Rules of Engagement

    Rules of Engagement

  • Just Shoot Me!

    Just Shoot Me!

  • Lou Grant

    Lou Grant

  • Hunter

    Hunter

  • Cagney & Lacey

    Cagney & Lacey

  • The 4400

    The 4400

  • Kojak

    Kojak

  • Playhouse

    Playhouse

  • Arrest & Trial

    Arrest & Trial

  • Faerie Tale Theatre

    Faerie Tale Theatre

  • Screen Two

    Screen Two

  • First Blood

    First Blood

  • The Ultimate Gift

    The Ultimate Gift

  • Assault on Precinct 13

    Assault on Precinct 13

  • The Big C

    The Big C

  • Tag

    Tag

  • The Agency

    The Agency

  • Tommy Boy

    Tommy Boy

  • Romeo + Juliet

    Romeo + Juliet

  • Cocoon: The Return

    Cocoon: The Return

  • Silverado

    Silverado

  • Night Visions

    Night Visions

  • The Ultimate Legacy

    The Ultimate Legacy

  • Tall Tales & Legends

    Tall Tales & Legends

  • Everyone's Hero

    Everyone's Hero

  • Penny Dreadful: City of Angels

    Penny Dreadful: City of Angels

  • The Next Three Days

    The Next Three Days

  • The Tony Randall Show

    The Tony Randall Show

  • The Lion of Africa

    The Lion of Africa

  • A Killing in a Small Town

    A Killing in a Small Town

  • Righteous Kill

    Righteous Kill

  • Thanks of a Grateful Nation

    Thanks of a Grateful Nation

  • Cocoon

    Cocoon

  • I Take These Men

    I Take These Men

  • Presumed Innocent

    Presumed Innocent

  • A Season in Purgatory

    A Season in Purgatory

  • Final Appeal

    Final Appeal

  • To Catch a Killer

    To Catch a Killer

  • Driveways

    Driveways

  • Dead Man's Walk

    Dead Man's Walk

  • Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam

    Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam

  • The Pigs vs. The Freaks

    The Pigs vs. The Freaks

  • 10

    10

  • Gladiator

    Gladiator

  • Hap and Leonard

    Hap and Leonard

  • Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story

    Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story

  • Three Blind Mice

    Three Blind Mice

  • Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & The Presidency

    Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & The Presidency

  • 10th & Wolf

    10th & Wolf

  • The Stars Fell on Henrietta

    The Stars Fell on Henrietta

  • Legal Eagles

    Legal Eagles

  • The Check is in the Mail...

    The Check is in the Mail...

  • Summer Catch

    Summer Catch

  • The Challenger Disaster

    The Challenger Disaster

  • Foul Play

    Foul Play

  • The Exonerated

    The Exonerated

  • Leave of Absence

    Leave of Absence

  • Fly Away Home

    Fly Away Home

  • The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone

    The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone

  • Lucan

    Lucan

  • Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story

    Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story

  • Pride and Extreme Prejudice

    Pride and Extreme Prejudice

  • Masters of Science Fiction

    Masters of Science Fiction

  • Indio

    Indio

  • Dish Dogs

    Dish Dogs

  • The Seagull

    The Seagull

  • F/X2

    F/X2

  • It Happened at Lakewood Manor

    It Happened at Lakewood Manor

  • Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke

    Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke

  • Butch and Sundance: The Early Days

    Butch and Sundance: The Early Days

  • Meet Monica Velour

    Meet Monica Velour

  • Twice in a Lifetime

    Twice in a Lifetime

  • Jack Reed: Badge of Honor

    Jack Reed: Badge of Honor

  • Day One

    Day One

  • Miles from Home

    Miles from Home

  • Stolen Summer

    Stolen Summer

  • Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance

    Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance

  • Perfect Witness

    Perfect Witness

  • The Fitzpatricks

    The Fitzpatricks

  • The Last Place on Earth

    The Last Place on Earth

  • The Song of Sway Lake

    The Song of Sway Lake

  • Indefensible: The Truth About Edward Brannigan

    Indefensible: The Truth About Edward Brannigan

  • Knight of Cups

    Knight of Cups

  • Semi-Tough

    Semi-Tough

  • The Big Year

    The Big Year

  • Looking for Mr. Goodbar

    Looking for Mr. Goodbar

  • Blood Feud

    Blood Feud

  • Son of the South

    Son of the South

  • Our Fathers

    Our Fathers

  • F.I.S.T.

    F.I.S.T.

  • Gorky Park

    Gorky Park

  • Making 'The Misfits'

    Making 'The Misfits'

  • Twelfth Night

    Twelfth Night

  • A Rumor of War

    A Rumor of War

  • F/X

    F/X

  • The Jericho Mile

    The Jericho Mile

  • Darkroom

    Darkroom

  • A Father's Revenge

    A Father's Revenge

  • Alleged

    Alleged

  • Caesar and Otto meet Dracula’s Lawyer

    Caesar and Otto meet Dracula’s Lawyer

  • Voyage of Terror

    Voyage of Terror

  • War Eagle, Arkansas

    War Eagle, Arkansas

  • Evergreen

    Evergreen

  • Big Shamus, Little Shamus

    Big Shamus, Little Shamus

  • Every Day

    Every Day

  • Never Cry Wolf

    Never Cry Wolf

  • Split Image

    Split Image

  • The Man From Snowy River II

    The Man From Snowy River II

  • Dummy

    Dummy

  • Shadow of a Doubt

    Shadow of a Doubt

  • Acceptable Risks

    Acceptable Risks

  • The Last of the Finest

    The Last of the Finest

  • Undue Influence

    Undue Influence

  • The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron

    The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron

  • Annie Oakley

    Annie Oakley

  • Finders Keepers

    Finders Keepers

  • Pearl

    Pearl

  • The Little Mermaid

    The Little Mermaid

  • Public Morals

    Public Morals

  • Bunker Hill

    Bunker Hill

  • Death of a Salesman

    Death of a Salesman

  • Murder in the Heartland

    Murder in the Heartland

  • 3 Days with Dad

    3 Days with Dad

  • Marco Polo

    Marco Polo

  • Cocked

    Cocked

  • The Belly of an Architect

    The Belly of an Architect

  • A Season on the Brink

    A Season on the Brink

  • She Hate Me

    She Hate Me

  • Founding Fathers

    Founding Fathers

  • Marco Polo

    Marco Polo

  • Cat City

    Cat City

  • Birdland

    Birdland

  • Out of the Cold

    Out of the Cold

  • Silicon Towers

    Silicon Towers

  • E! True Hollywood Story

    E! True Hollywood Story

  • Jack Reed: One of Our Own

    Jack Reed: One of Our Own

  • NetForce

    NetForce

  • The Fighting Fitzgeralds

    The Fighting Fitzgeralds

  • American Valor

    American Valor

  • Star of the Family

    Star of the Family

  • The River Rat

    The River Rat

  • Netforce

    Netforce

  • Zebras: Patterns in the Grass

    Zebras: Patterns in the Grass

  • In Broad Daylight

    In Broad Daylight

  • Category 6: Day of Destruction

    Category 6: Day of Destruction

  • Lanigan's Rabbi

    Lanigan's Rabbi

  • Nostromo

    Nostromo

  • Warden of Red Rock

    Warden of Red Rock

  • The Burden of Proof

    The Burden of Proof

  • A Season in Purgatory

    A Season in Purgatory

  • Serpico

    Serpico

  • Foreign Affairs

    Foreign Affairs

  • To Catch a Killer

    To Catch a Killer

  • Best Seller

    Best Seller

  • Skokie

    Skokie

  • A Very Merry Toy Store

    A Very Merry Toy Store

  • A Real American Hero

    A Real American Hero

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

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

  • Rising Son

    Rising Son

  • Ruby and Oswald

    Ruby and Oswald

  • Blood Feud

    Blood Feud

  • Welcome to Paradise

    Welcome to Paradise

  • Sirens

    Sirens

  • Category 6: Day of Destruction

    Category 6: Day of Destruction

  • The Seduction of Miss Leona

    The Seduction of Miss Leona

  • Fail Safe

    Fail Safe

  • The Man Who Married a French Wife and Other Stories

    The Man Who Married a French Wife and Other Stories

  • Founding Brothers

    Founding Brothers

  • Little Miss Marker

    Little Miss Marker

  • Alan Pakula: Going for Truth

    Alan Pakula: Going for Truth

  • Steve Martini's Undue Influence

    Steve Martini's Undue Influence

  • Animated Tales of the World

    Animated Tales of the World

  • Deadly Matrimony

    Deadly Matrimony

  • Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye

    Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye

  • The Diamond Fleece

    The Diamond Fleece

  • Trumbo

    Trumbo

  • The Girls in Their Summer Dresses and Other Stories

    The Girls in Their Summer Dresses and Other Stories

  • Midnight Movie

    Midnight Movie

  • Seven Minutes

    Seven Minutes

  • Jack Reed: A Search for Justice

    Jack Reed: A Search for Justice

  • Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story

    Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story

  • A Death in Canaan

    A Death in Canaan

  • Jack Reed: A Killer Among Us

    Jack Reed: A Killer Among Us

  • Lost Road of the Popes: Via Papale

    Lost Road of the Popes: Via Papale

  • Code Yellow: Hospital at Ground Zero

    Code Yellow: Hospital at Ground Zero

  • Love and Valor

    Love and Valor