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

The Blacklist

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Good Wife

Saturday Night Live

The West Wing

Dallas

Rizzoli & Isles

All Movies (137)

• Son of the South2021 · as Grandfather
• Driveways2020 · as Del
• Alan Pakula: Going for Truth2019 · as Self
• 3 Days with Dad2019 · as Bob
• The Song of Sway Lake2019 · as Hal Sway
• Tag2018 · as Mr. Cilliano
• The Seagull2018 · as Pjotr Sorin
• A Very Merry Toy Store2017 · as Joe Haggarty
• The Ultimate Legacy2015 · as Gus
• Knight of Cups2015 · as Joseph
• The Challenger Disaster2013 · as Rogers
• Twelfth Night2012 · as Sir Toby Belch
• The Big Year2011 · as Raymond Harris
• The Next Three Days2010 · as George Brennan
• Alleged2010 · as Clarence Darrow
• Caesar and Otto meet Dracula’s Lawyer2010 · as Steve Dracula’s More Famous Brother
• Meet Monica Velour2010 · as Pop Pop
• Every Day2010 · as Ernie
• Bunker Hill2009 · as Martin 'Mutt' Kelsey
• Lost Road of the Popes: Via Papale2009 · as Narrator
• Love and Valor2009 · as Narrator (voice)
• Righteous Kill2008 · as Hingis
• Cat City2008 · as Harold
• War Eagle, Arkansas2007 · as Pop, Enochs Father
• Welcome to Paradise2007 · as Bobby Brown
• Trumbo2007 · as Self
• Ratatouille2007 · as Django (voice)
• Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & The Presidency2007 · as Andrew Jackson (voice)
• Marco Polo2007 · as Kublai Khan
• The Ultimate Gift2007 · as Gus
• Everyone's Hero2006 · as Babe Ruth (voice)
• The Exonerated2006 · as Gary Gauger
• 10th & Wolf2006 · as Agent Horvath
• Our Fathers2005 · as Father Dominic Spagnolia
• Assault on Precinct 132005 · as Sargeant Jasper O'Shea
• Category 6: Day of Destruction2004 · as Andy Goodman
• She Hate Me2004 · as Billy Church
• American Valor2003 · as Narrator
• Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company'2003 · as Fred Silverman
• The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone2003 · as Tom Stone
• The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron2003 · as Mr. Blue
• Making 'The Misfits'2002 · as Narrator
• Stolen Summer2002 · as Father Kelly
• A Season on the Brink2002 · as Bobby Knight
• Code Yellow: Hospital at Ground Zero2002 · as Narrator
• Three Blind Mice2001 · as Matthew Hope
• Summer Catch2001 · as John Schiffner
• Warden of Red Rock2001 · as Sheriff Selwyn Church
• Dish Dogs2000 · as Frost
• Fail Safe2000 · as Gen. Bogan
• Death of a Salesman2000 · as Willy Loman
• Silicon Towers1999 · as Tom Warner
• Sirens1999 · as Lt. Denby
• Out of the Cold1999 · as David Bards
• NetForce1999 · as Lowell Davidson
• Thanks of a Grateful Nation1998 · as Sen. Donald Riegle
• Voyage of Terror1998 · as The President
• Indefensible: The Truth About Edward Brannigan1997 · as Eddie Brannigan
• Shadow of a Doubt1996 · as Charley Sloan
• Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance1996 · as Jack Reed
• Romeo + Juliet1996 · as Ted Montague
• A Season in Purgatory1996 · as Gerald Bradley
• Jack Reed: A Killer Among Us1996 · as Jack Reed
• The Stars Fell on Henrietta1995 · as Big Dave McDermot
• Jack Reed: One of Our Own1995 · as Jack Reed
• Tommy Boy1995 · as Thomas 'Big Tom' Callahan
• Midnight Movie1994 · as James Boyce
• Jack Reed: A Search for Justice1994 · as Jack Reed
• Leave of Absence1994 · as Sam
• Final Appeal1993 · as Perry Sundquist
• Jack Reed: Badge of Honor1993 · as Jack Reed
• Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story1993 · as Ervil LeBaron
• Foreign Affairs1993 · as Chuck Mumpson
• Deadly Matrimony1992 · as Jack Reed
• The Diamond Fleece1992 · as Inspector Outlaw
• Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story1992 · as Jackie Presser
• To Catch a Killer1992 · as John Wayne Gacy
• Gladiator1992 · as Jimmy Horn
• F/X21991 · as Leo McCarthy
• Zebras: Patterns in the Grass1991 · as Narrator (voice)
• In Broad Daylight1991 · as Len Rowan
• Presumed Innocent1990 · as Raymond Horgan
• Rising Son1990 · as Gus Robinson
• A Killing in a Small Town1990 · as Ed Reivers
• The Last of the Finest1990 · as Frank Daly
• Pride and Extreme Prejudice1990 · as Bruno Morenz
• Perfect Witness1989 · as James Falcon
• Seven Minutes1989 · as Wagner
• Indio1989 · as Whitaker
• Day One1989 · as Gen. Leslie Groves
• Miles from Home1988 · as Frank Roberts Sr.
• Cocoon: The Return1988 · as Walter (uncredited)
• The Man From Snowy River II1988 · as Harrison
• A Father's Revenge1988 · as Paul Hobart
• Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam1987 · as (voice)
• Best Seller1987 · as Dennis Meechum
• The Belly of an Architect1987 · as Stourley Kracklite
• The Lion of Africa1987 · as Sam Marsh
• The Little Mermaid1987 · as King Neptune (Narrator) (voice)
• Legal Eagles1986 · as Cavanaugh
• The Check is in the Mail...1986 · as Richard Jackson
• Acceptable Risks1986 · as Don Sheppard
• F/X1986 · as Lt. Leo McCarthy
• Annie Oakley1985 · as Buffalo Bill
• Twice in a Lifetime1985 · as Nick
• Silverado1985 · as Cobb
• Cocoon1985 · as Walter
• The River Rat1984 · as Doc Cole
• The Pigs vs. The Freaks1984 · as Sergeant Cheever
• Finders Keepers1984 · as Frizzoli
• Gorky Park1983 · as William Kirwill
• Never Cry Wolf1983 · as Rosie
• Blood Feud1983 · as Edward Grady Partin
• I Take These Men1983 · as Phil Zakarian
• First Blood1982 · as Hope Sheriff Will Teasle
• Split Image1982 · as Kevin Stetson
• The Man Who Married a French Wife and Other Stories1982 · as Grimmet
• Skokie1981 · as Police Chief Arthur Buchanan
• Fly Away Home1981 · as Tim Arnold
• The Girls in Their Summer Dresses and Other Stories1981 · as Grimmet
• The Jericho Mile1980 · as Dr. D
• The Seduction of Miss Leona1980 · as Bliss Dawson
• Little Miss Marker1980 · as Herbie
• 101979 · as Donald
• Butch and Sundance: The Early Days1979 · as O.C. Hanks
• Dummy1979 · as Ragoti
• Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story1979 · as John O'Neil
• A Real American Hero1978 · as Buford Pusser
• Foul Play1978 · as Fergie
• F.I.S.T.1978 · as Frank Vasko
• A Death in Canaan1978 · as Barney Parsons
• Ruby and Oswald1978 · as George Paulsen
• It Happened at Lakewood Manor1977 · as Fire Chief
• Semi-Tough1977 · as T.J. Lambert
• Looking for Mr. Goodbar1977 · as Surgeon
• Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye1977 · as Longshoreman
• The Making of 'First Blood'—

All TV Shows (72)

• Penny Dreadful: City of Angels2020 · as Jerome Townsend
• Hap and Leonard2016 · as Sheriff Valentine Otis
• Public Morals2015 · as Joe Patton
• Cocked2015 · as Wade
• The Blacklist2013 · as Dominic Wilkinson
• The Big C2010 · as Dad
• Rizzoli & Isles2010 · as Ret. Det. Kenny Leahy
• The Good Wife2009 · as Bucky Stabler
• Masters of Science Fiction2007 · as Bedzyk
• Marco Polo2007 · as Kublai Khan
• Rules of Engagement2007 · as Roy
• 30 Rock2006 · as Mickey J
• Category 6: Day of Destruction2004 · as Andy Goodman
• The 44002004 · as Mitch Baldwin
• Founding Brothers2002
• The Agency2001 · as James Graydon
• Night Visions2001 · as Camper Ben (segment "Quiet, Please")
• The Fighting Fitzgeralds2001 · as Mr. Fitzgerald
• Animated Tales of the World2001 · as Captain (voice)
• Founding Fathers2000 · as George Washington (voice)
• Arrest & Trial2000 · as Self - Host
• The West Wing1999 · as Rafe Framingham
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Judson Tierney
• Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke1999 · as Louis Bromfield
• Netforce1999 · as Lowell Davidson
• Just Shoot Me!1997 · as Red Finch
• Nostromo1997 · as Joshua C. Holroyd
• Undue Influence1996 · as Paul Madriani
• E! True Hollywood Story1996
• Dead Man's Walk1996 · as Major Chevallier
• A Season in Purgatory1996 · as Gerald Bradley
• Birdland1994 · as Dr. Brian McKenzie
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Guest
• Murder in the Heartland1993 · as John McArthur
• The Burden of Proof1992 · as Dixon Hartnell
• To Catch a Killer1992 · as John Wayne Gacy
• American Experience1988 · as Aaron Burr (voice)
• Tall Tales & Legends1985 · as Buffalo Bill
• Evergreen1985 · as Matthew Malone
• The Last Place on Earth1985 · as Frederick Cook
• Screen Two1985 · as James Boyce
• Hunter1984 · as Dr. Bolin
• Miami Vice1984 · as Reverend Billy Bob Proverb
• Reading Rainbow1983 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
• Blood Feud1983 · as Edward Grady Partin
• Star of the Family1982 · as Leslie 'Buddy' Krebs
• Faerie Tale Theatre1982 · as King Neptune / Narrator (voice)
• Cagney & Lacey1982 · as Michael Magruder
• Darkroom1981 · as Roland
• Dynasty1981 · as Jake Dunham
• A Rumor of War1980 · as Sgt. Ned Coleman
• Knots Landing1979 · as James Cargill
• Big Shamus, Little Shamus1979 · as Arnie Sutter
• Pearl1978 · as Sgt. Otto Chain
• Dallas1978 · as Luther Frick
• Lou Grant1977 · as Wilson
• Lucan1977 · as Fisher
• The Fitzpatricks1977 · as Coach Hatfield
• Lanigan's Rabbi1977 · as Burton Tree
• The Tony Randall Show1976 · as Brian Sr.
• Serpico1976 · as Jody
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self (uncredited)
• Police Woman1974 · as Burrows
• Playhouse1974 · as Grimmet
• Kojak1973 · as Peter Connor
• M*A*S*H1972 · as M.P. Ernie Connors
• Great Performances1971 · as Grimmet
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Presenter / Performer / Winner
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Winner
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Presenter
• Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Nominee