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Brian Dennehy

Acting Born Jul 9, 1938 Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA 24 credits

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.

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Known for

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

as Judson Tierney

The Blacklist

as Dominic Wilkinson

The Good Wife

as Bucky Stabler

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self

The West Wing

as Rafe Framingham

Saturday Night Live

as Self (uncredited)

Rizzoli & Isles

as Ret. Det. Kenny Leahy

American Experience

as Aaron Burr (voice)

Full filmography

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Judson Tierney
  • The Blacklist (2013) as Dominic Wilkinson
  • Dallas (1978) as Luther Frick
  • The Good Wife (2009) as Bucky Stabler
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
  • The West Wing (1999) as Rafe Framingham
  • Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self (uncredited)
  • Miami Vice (1984) as Reverend Billy Bob Proverb
  • Rizzoli & Isles (2010) as Ret. Det. Kenny Leahy
  • Dynasty (1981) as Jake Dunham
  • American Experience (1988) as Aaron Burr (voice)
  • Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
  • Knots Landing (1979) as James Cargill
  • 30 Rock (2006) as Mickey J
  • Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter / Performer / Winner
  • Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Winner
  • Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
  • M*A*S*H (1972) as M.P. Ernie Connors
  • Lou Grant (1977) as Wilson
  • Great Performances (1971) as Grimmet
  • Hunter (1984) as Dr. Bolin
  • Just Shoot Me! (1997) as Red Finch
  • Cagney & Lacey (1982) as Michael Magruder
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest