# RIP Brian Dennehy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [April 16, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938 "2020-04-16T18:25:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/1 "2020-04-16T18:25:46Z")
[His family as reported that Brian Denney has died of natural causes not related to COVID-19 at 81](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/brian-dennehy-dead-actor-first-blood-cocoon-death-a-salesman-was-81-1223665) He was in so many things I liked but one movie that I loved that doesn’t top any lists was F/X with Bryan Brown. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/2 "2020-04-16T18:49:16Z")
WOW…just yesterday I confused him with Charles Napier (dont ask) and was surprised to see he was alive ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/3 "2020-04-16T18:50:31Z")
RIP. [Obligatory music link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrtoFWglMY). ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/4 "2020-04-16T18:53:41Z")
Oh, man…I was wondering why the obit filmographies didn’t mention **Tootsie** and **The Music of Chance,** and then I realized I always mix him up with Charles Durning. > **[Charles Durning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Durning)** > > Charles Edward Durning (February 28, 1923 – December 24, 2012) was an American actor who appeared in over 200 movies, television shows and plays. Durning's best-known films include The Sting (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), The Muppet Movie (1979), True Confessions (1981), Tootsie (1982), Dick Tracy (1990), and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for both The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and To Be or Not to Be (1983). P... ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/5 "2020-04-16T19:10:24Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > He was in so many things I liked but one movie that I loved that doesn’t top any lists was F/X with Bryan Brown. _F/X: The Deadly Art Of Illusion_ was actually a well-made paranoia-thriller with an atmosphere that harkened back to political thrillers like _Seven Days in May_ or _Three Days of the Condor_ but without the political underpinnings; both Dennehy and Brown were excellent in it. My call for his most underrated role, however, was in _Presumed Innocent_ as District Attorney Ray Horgan. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/6 "2020-04-16T19:20:50Z")
I remember him talking about his family and how he was satisfied with a middle tier career as an actor, how he didn’t need to go all out in Hollywood. But he was also addressing past alcohol problems, the Hollywood drug problem we don’t hear much about. That’s about it though, solid actor, kind of similar in acting style to Gene Hackman but he did very well in lighter roles as well. He played the father of David Spade’s character on Just Shoot Me, great comedic role for him as a big surly looking teddy bear. Ah well Brian, it’s as good a time as any to go now, you wouldn’t have missed anything good for a while. Sleep tight. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/7 "2020-04-16T19:27:22Z")
For a guy who could so easily have been typecast, I always admired his understated versatility as an actor. He was genuinely warm and sweet as the bartender in _10_, yet scared the bejeezus out of me as John Wayne Gacy. As an actor, I liked him a lot. RIP, sir. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/8 "2020-04-16T19:38:59Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I always admired his understated versatility as an actor. Seconded. From the considerate alien in “Cocoon” to the not-so-accommodating sheriff in “First Blood”. And even the “maybe good guy” in “Silverado” He will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/9 "2020-04-16T19:39:06Z")
He was able to put forth a perfect blend of charming and menacing in Silverado. ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/10 "2020-04-16T19:45:38Z")
I really liked Silverado. > [@](#): > > Don’t worry about me. If you’re taking on Emmett, the LAST place I want to be is between you. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/11 "2020-04-16T19:52:10Z")
I feel like I’ve known him forever, but I can’t remember what, exactly, I remember him from. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/12 "2020-04-16T20:12:06Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > I really liked Silverado. G’bye, Cobb. One of my favorite character actors. I knew he was getting up there, and I hadn’t seen him in years, so I figured I’d be seeing this sooner rather than later. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/13 "2020-04-16T20:26:15Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > [His family as reported that Brian Denney has died of natural causes not related to COVID-19 at 81](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/brian-dennehy-dead-actor-first-blood-cocoon-death-a-salesman-was-81-1223665) > > He was in so many things I liked but one movie that I loved that doesn’t top any lists was F/X with Bryan Brown. RIP Mr. Dennehy; you done good. I agree that F/X doesn’t get the appreciation it deserves. One of the things I loved about Mr. Dennehy’s performances was that he always seemed to just be the person he was portraying. His performances looked effortless, not like acting at all; he was simply _being_ the part. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/14 "2020-04-16T20:27:15Z")
I loved F/X and I loved Silverado. In fact, I think I always enjoyed him, wherever he showed up. I’m sorry to hear that he’s passed. ---
**Author:** ![txjim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@txjim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txjim)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/15 "2020-04-16T21:37:02Z")
never mind, already mentioned ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/16 "2020-04-16T21:40:15Z")
A number of years ago, we saw him with Nathan Lane in **The Iceman Cometh** in Chicago. The entire show was magnificent. Didn’t feel anywhere near 4 hours. The man had range. _sigh_ another legend gone. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/17 "2020-04-16T22:25:59Z")
Brian had 183 acting credits, 10 producing credits, 7 directing credits, 5 writing credits–but only one soundtrack credit: > **[Brian Dennehy - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001133/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1)** > > Brian Dennehy. Actor: First Blood. Imposing, barrel-chested and often silver-haired Brian Dennehy was a prolific US actor, well respected on both screen and stage over many decades. He was born in July 1938 in Bridgeport, CT, and attended Columbia... ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/18 "2020-04-16T23:17:38Z")
He was great in Silverado, but I think he was at his best in [Best Seller](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092641/) with James Woods. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/19 "2020-04-16T23:50:28Z")
Very good actor indeed. [Never Cry Wolf - Adventure.mpg - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAbU7Ha3jTA&fbclid=IwAR35herO9XfB6qr8ioJ2fYQrc9_OPBDo8FyhP-EfSDT8IcyHALbl2a9mOQ8) ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938/20 "2020-04-17T01:29:25Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Very good actor indeed. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAbU7Ha3jTA&fbclid=IwAR35herO9XfB6qr8ioJ2fYQrc9\_OPBDo8FyhP-EfSDT8IcyHALbl2a9mOQ8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAbU7Ha3jTA&fbclid=IwAR35herO9XfB6qr8ioJ2fYQrc9_OPBDo8FyhP-EfSDT8IcyHALbl2a9mOQ8) (sigh) 🙂 Something else for the backlog. Thanks. Gonna have to watch Silverado again, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-brian-dennehy/851938.md?page=2)