Brian Dennehy, Iconic Character Actor, Dead at 81

Throughout Brian Dennehy’s long career — which spanned movies, television and theater — the iconic actor played heroes and villains, embodying everyone from beloved family members to diabolically-minded murderers along the way. Dennehy died on Wednesday night at his home in New Haven, Connecticut. According to a statement from his family, his death came from natural causes.

For someone whose reputation was as an actor’s actor, Dennehy’s career began in an unexpected place. He attended Columbia University on a football scholarship, worked as a stockbroker in the 1970s and played rugby for a time. His acting work began in earnest in the late 1970s, and his first major role found him playing Sheriff Will Teasle in First Blood, opposite Sylvester Stallone’s John Rambo.

The full breadth of Dennehy’s career is astonishing. He was nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of serial killer John Wayne Gacy in the 1992 television film To Catch a Killer, but he’s also fondly remembered for his work in comedies like Tommy Boy, Cocoon and Ratatouille.

#RIPBrianDennehy “Character actors! Who gives a fuck if we’re fat?” You were the best rat-dad a little chef could ask for. Miss you, man. pic.twitter.com/wTJpc3IHGB

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 16, 2020

Some of Dennehy’s most acclaimed work came on the stage. He received Tony Awards for his work in productions of Death of a Salesman and Long Day’s Journey into Night. Many of his theatrical appearances came via productions originating at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. This included, in 2012 and 2015, performances in The Iceman Cometh in Chicago and New York.

Rest in peace Brian Dennehy, the star of the only Broadway play that I paid to see three times: Death of a Salesman. I got to tell him that in person at an event a couple of years ago. He paused, then jammed a hand in his coat pocket and said “How much do I owe you?”

— MZS (@mattzollerseitz) April 16, 2020

Both on screen and on stage, Dennehy did his best work portraying complex characters who are at times overwhelmed by the burdens of daily life. Ask any 10 people for their favorite Dennehy performances and you’re likely to get 10 different answers; such was the strength of his long career.

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