Brian Dennehy Movies
After majoring in history at Columbia University, brawny Brian Dennehy (born July 9, 1938) took a string of odd jobs to pay his way through Yale Drama School, and to afford private acting lessons. His first professional break came with the Broadway production Streamers. In films and TV from 1977, Dennehy is a most versatile actor, at home playing Western baddies (Silverado), ulcerated big-city cops (F/X), serial killers (John Wayne Gacy in the made-for-TV To Catch a Killer), by-the-book military types (General Groves in Day One, another TV movie), and vacillating politicos (Presumed Innocent). One of his most rewarding film assignments was as dying architectural genius Stourley Kracklite in Peter Greenaway's The Belly of an Architect (1987).In addition to his many TV-movie roles (one of which, good-old-boy Chuck Munson in 1993's Foreign Affairs, won him a Cable Ace Award), Dennehy has starred in the weekly series Big Shamus, Little Shamus (1977), Star of the Family (1981), and Birdland (1994), as well as the sporadically produced Jack Reed feature-length mysteries. It was in one of the last-mentioned projects, Jack Reed: A Search for Justice (1994), that Dennehy made his directorial debut. Aside from his work in film and television, Dennehy has also had considerable success on the stage, particularly with his Tony-winning portrayal of Willy Loman in the 1998 Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman.
The actor continued to show his range in the 1995 comedy Tommy Boy (starring David Spade and the late comedian Chris Farley), in which he became well known for his role as Big Tom Callahan, and for a voice role in Ratatouille (2007) as Django, the father of rat and aspiring chef Remy.
Dennehy joined Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino in Righteous Kill, a 2008 police drama, and worked alongisde Russell Crowe in the 2010 suspense film The Next Three Days. In 2011, Dennehy played the pivotal role of Clarence Darrow in Alleged, a romantic drama set during the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
The top-rank performances of Lauren Bacall, Richard Chamberlain and Lindsay Frost elevate the two-part TV biopic Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke from the usual malaise of lurid, voyeuristic trash. As she lies near death in her luxurious mansion, 80-year-old tobacco heiress Doris Duke (Bacall) hardly seems to take notice of the sinister behavior of her boozing, control-freak butler Bernard Lafferty (Chamberlain). Ultimately, of course, Doris will die (in 1993), and the mysterious circumstances will cast suspicion on the redoubtable Mr. Lafferty (who himself died three years later). Before this happens, however, Doris flashes back to the sordid events of her life, whereupon the title role is taken over by a series of younger actresses, with Frost playing Doris from ages 20 through 50. We see how Doris' future is shaped by her loving, overindulgent father (Joe Don Baker) and her aloof, icy mother (Kathleen Quinlan). Though warned early on that Doris would always have to be wary of fortune hunters, she progresses through a string of highly publicized and largely unhappy romances, and also endures two disastrous marriages. All the familiar players in this real-life drama are in attendance, including writer Louis Bromfield (Brian Dennehy), international playboy Pofirio Rubirosa (Michael Nouri), and Doris' adopted daughter Chanzy (Mare Winningham) who is destined to break Doris' heart time and time again until the grieving millionairess finally worked up the courage to renounce the girl. Also touched upon are Doris' lifelong obsessions, which ranged from mysticism to belly-dancing. Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke was originally telecast by CBS on February 21 and 22, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lauren Bacall, Richard Chamberlain, (more)
- 1999
This film follows the escapades of the Dalton brothers and their friends, who terrorized the Indian territories in the 1890s with a series of train robberies that sometimes led to deadly shootouts. The video examines the factors that led the Dalton brothers from lives as federal marshals to outlaws. Hailing from Coffeyville, KS, the Dalton brothers made outlaw history by returning to their hometown where they attempted to rob two banks at once. In the ensuing gun battle, four gang members and four townspeople died. Reenactments and period imagery tell the story. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
- 1999
This film traces the story of Tom Horn, who went from being a respected lawman to a hired killer, ultimately dying in the gallows for his crimes. Born in Missouri in 1860, Horn set out west, where he became a scout in the Indian Wars. He was accorded fame by negotiating a settlement with Geronimo. His stature grew to legendary proportions when he captured "Peg Leg" Wilson. As an agent for Pinkerton, Horn killed 17 men, then quit, saying he did not have the stomach for it anymore. But then in a strange twist of fate, he became a hired gunman, feared and hated for the way he ambushed and killed cattle rustlers. While his gun was for hire, he mistook a 14-year old son for his father. His execution of the boy resulted in his own hanging. Period imagery and reenactments tell the story. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
- 1999
This film traces the history of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a couple of bank robbers whose exploits with their Wild Bunch made them famous throughout the world. Cassidy and Henry Longbaugh, also known as the Sundance Kid, committed a string of robberies in Colorado, Utah, and Montana. Debate continues to this day as to whether they were killed in a shootout during a holdup, or went on to new lives in Bolivia. Period photography, reenactments, and expert commentary tell the story of these colorful gunmen of the Old West. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
- 1999
This film is part of a series that features the lives of famous gunfighters of the Old West. While many of the featured gunfighters are well known, such as Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, this episode focuses on the life of Elfago Baca, an inexperienced lawman with a lot of courage. He arrested a drunk cowboy spoiling for a fight, and in doing so, brought the ire of the most powerful ranch in the West down on himself. In the ensuing gun battle, it was Elfago Baca against 80 cowboys. Actor DeForest Kelley played Baca in Duel at Shiloh. With film clips and on-location photography, the story of Elfago Baca comes to life. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
- 1999
In this racially charged drama, Sally (Dana Delaney) is a white woman who is making out with Edward (Vondie Curtis-Hall), her black husband in a parked car when a group of policemen surround the car and murder Edward. The officers then plant phony evidence at the scene of the crime that would point the blame away from them; Sally knows this is a sham and is determined to find out the truth and bring the cops to justice. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dana Delany, Vondie Curtis-Hall, (more)
- 1998
A virulent virus erupts aboard a cruise ship. The government wants to blow it up, but a scientist is determined to find a cure or at least a way to contain the deadly disease. He must hurry, for time is short and the government is getting impatient. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lindsay Wagner, Brian Dennehy, (more)
- 1998
This film chronicles the life of James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok. Born in Illinois on May 27, 1837, Hickok became an Indian fighter and frontier marshal, as well as a Civil War Union scout. Renowned for his amazing marksmanship, Hickok felled many a foe. He became a part of "Buffalo" Bill Cody's Wild West Show, in which he thrilled audiences in the East with his prowess with a gun. In 1876, while playing poker in a saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, he was shot from behind and killed. His poker hand, consisting of a pair of aces and a pair of eights, has been known as "the dead man's hand" ever since. Hickok's story is told with period images and reenactments. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
- 1998
This video is one of a series on the colorful characters who have become part of the romantic myth of the American West. This episode is on Wyatt Earp, who was sometimes a gambler, a saloonkeeper, and a lawman. Born in Illinois on March 19, 1848, Earp came west in the 1880s, settling with his brothers Virgil and Morgan and friend "Doc" Holliday in Tombstone, AZ. Earp reached the peak of his notoriety in the famous 30-second shootout at the O.K. Corral. When the smoke cleared, three men were dead, and only Wyatt Earp was still standing. Host Harry Carey Jr. narrates the story, with film clips, reenactments, archival photographs, and commentary. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
- 1998
In Gunfighters of the West: The Jesse James Gang, narrator Brian Dennehy explores the life and times of one of America's most romanticized bad guys, Jesse James. Like many Civil War veterans, James and his brother Frank were disgruntled following the conflict, a circumstance which led to their lives as feared outlaws. The enigmatic bank robber and his thieving associates terrorized stages, trains and towns throughout the lawless frontier. The historical video follows the James Gang through their criminal exploits in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Kentucky and Minnesota, to their eventual demise at Minnesota's Northfield Bank. The gunfighter's legend lives on through this contemporary look at this notorious Old West figure.
~ Sally Barber, Rovi
- 1998
Gunfighters of the West: John Wesley Hardin, part of the acclaimed Gunfighters of the West series, recalls the murderous reign of the hard-hearted Texan gunslinger who made his reputation by shooting to death Texas Ranger Charlie Webb. At age 14, Hardin stabbed a kid at school. As a cowboy on the Chisolm Trail in 1871, he murdered seven people and continued killing throughout his life. In between his vicious murder sprees, Hardin found time to marry, start a family, and become a lawyer. Just when he finally seemed to have his life straightened out, Hardin began an affair with one of his married female clients. When her husband discovered the fling, Hardin hired several law officials to assassinate the jealous man. One of the hired men, however, Constable John Selman, turned the tables and shot shoot-'em-up Hardin instead. ~ Betsy Boyd, Rovi
- 1998
This video traces the story of perhaps the most famous gunfighter of the West: Billy the Kid. Born in 1859 in the East, much of the gunman's short life is shrouded in mystery. Even his true identity is the subject of debate. But it is certain that the man who became Billy the Kid was a sharpshooter with many deaths notched on his gun belt. He became involved in the cattle baron wars in Lincoln County, NM, where the killings began. At the same time, he was known for his courtesy and loyalty to friends. He outsmarted the law for a long time until his nemesis, Pat Garrett, tracked him down. The film shows why this legendary figure is forever linked with the romantic image of the Wild West. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
- 1998
This film tells the story of Bat Masterson: gunfighter, army scout, buffalo hunter, and lawman. The film chronicles the adventures of the debonair Bat Masterson, who became a deputy marshal in Dodge City. Later, after some drunken episodes, he left town rather than surrender his firearm. President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Masterson to the position of U.S. Marshal in the state of New York. He then went on to do lawman's work in the Oklahoma Territory. His reputation as a gunman obscured the fact that he spent his later years as a sports writer for the Daily Telegraph. Archival photographs, reenactments, and historic commentary tell the tale of one of the most famous gun men in the West. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
- 1998
Reuniting several China Beach talents, this three-hour, fact-based TV miniseries dramatizes the apparent government cover-up of the after-effects of the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Exposure to toxic agents by some 100,000 men and women led to skin rashes, respiratory infections, and cancer, but the Department of Defense claimed the Gulf War Syndrome was psychosomatic. When Vietnam veteran and retired U.S. Secret Service agent Jim Tuite (Ted Danson) begins work with Sen. Donald Riegle (Brian Dennehy), he sees vets denied proper medical benefits and concludes billions in payouts would result if the government admitted that toxic chemicals were sprayed about during the war. Healthy Chris Small (Matt Keeslar) comes back from the Gulf War in only a few months with digestive and respiratory problems, while his wife Teri (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and baby daughter both experience rashes from contact with Chris. In the post-war operations, Waco farmer Jared Gallimore (Steven Weber) stumbles across uranium dust and has brain tumors by the time he goes home to his sister Jerrillyn Folz (Marg Helgenberger). Interview footage with real soldiers and officers is intercut into the drama, filmed in Toronto and the California Mojave Desert. Premiered May 31, 1998 on Showtime. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ted Danson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, (more)
- 1997
Brian Dennehy not only stars in this made-for-TV drama, but also serves as director and executive producer. Accused of raping his associate Rebecca Daly (Alice Krige), powerful attorney Eddie Brannigan (Brian Dennehy) elects to defend himself in court. Dismissing Rebecca's charges, Eddie insists that he merely "seduced" the willing woman, and that she is trying to make a name for herself at his expense. As the litigation proceeds, Eddie and Rebecca each build up a strong and vocal army of public supporters--while Brannigan's son Eddie Jr. (Reed Diamond) finds himself uncomfortably caught in the middle. Its title tinged with irony considering the outcome of the story, Indefensible: The Truth About Edward Brannigan was originally telecast November 25, 1997, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Reed Diamond, (more)
In this fifth TV movie based on the character of incorruptible Chicago detective Jack Reed, Brian Dennehy once again wears two hats as both star and director. A multiple murder has occurred in a suburban cemetery in broad daylight. Most of the victims are Russian immigrants, whose friends and relatives refuse to cooperate in the investigation conducted by Jack Reed (Dennehy). As he pursues the case, Reed learns that the central figure in the mystery is a militant Russian who is organizing several of his fellow émigrés into his own army. Meanwhile, Reed must also contend with influential mayoral candidate Gordon Thomas (Joe Morton), whose minions are strong-arming the department to drop vehicular homicide charges against his son. Despite his tawdry surroundings, Reed retains his patented wicked sense of humor, especially when reciting the required Miranda rights while cuffing perpetrators ("You've got the right to cable TV, and the right to free counseling by Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins.") Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance made its NBC debut on November 17, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Charles S. Dutton, (more)
In this episode of the Jack Reed saga, the Chicago cop takes over where his recently slain partner left off and protects a women from those who would kill her. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Charles S. Dutton, (more)
Author Larry McMurtry revisits Gus and Woodrow, the aging lawmen from his bestselling Western novel Lonesome Dove, in their early days as young men determined to make a name for themselves as Texas Rangers in this made-for-TV prequel. Gus (David Arquette) and Woodrow (Jonny Lee Miller) join up with a ragtag band of Rangers determined to take Santa Fe away from Mexico, but they soon find they've walked into a dangerous but forbidding territory of populated by hostile Indians and dangerous opportunists. Dead Man's Walk also features Brian Dennehy, F. Murray Abraham, Keith Carradine, and Edward James Olmos. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 1996
Brian Dennehy pulls triple duty as writer, director, and star of this TV movie based on Dennehy's familiar "Jack Reed" character. The city of Chicago is up in arms over a deadly drive-by shooting apparently committed by someone who despises all women. City hall sends out the dogged, thoroughly incorruptible Cook County deputy sheriff Jack Reed (Brian Dennehy) to hunt down the killer, whose sphere of hatred also encompasses children and cops. The trail of clues leads to a murder-for-hire scheme and a nasty case of corruption in the highest judicial circles -- and the fallout promises to spell trouble for Reed and everyone he cares about, especially when a cleverly constructed frame-up evolves. Dennehy's deft directorial touches include an almost ritualistic avoidance of overt violence, utilizing suspense and suggestion instead. Reportedly inspired by a true story, Jack Reed: A Killer Among Us initially aired January 7, 1996, on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1995
An alcoholic lawyer has to prove more than just his case in this made-for-television crime drama. Brian Dennehy stars as Charlie Sloan, a defense attorney with a drinking problem. When his old flame Robin Harwell (Bonnie Bedelia) asks him to defend her teen daughter (Fairuza Balk) who is accused of murdering her rich father, Sloan agrees. The prosecution then takes on not only the murder case, but Sloan's life as well, and the lawyer must prove himself both in court and to Robin. The movie is based on the book of the same name by William J. Coughlin and the score is by jazz artist Jane Ira Bloom. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
- 1994
- Add Jack Reed: A Search for Justice to Queue Add Jack Reed: A Search for Justice to top of Queue
Chicago's most dedicated police officer Jack Reed (Brian Dennehy) returns in this police drama to solve a murder and to clean up his own corrupt department. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Charles S. Dutton, (more)
- 1994
This British parody is the last film of famed television writer Dennis Potter. The story centers upon a terribly tacky British horror film "Smoke Rings," which featured the screaming talents of the ambitious, sexy model and starlet Mandy Mason, who mysteriously died soon after the film was produced. U.S. producer James Boyce and his wife Amber, a Cockney fluffhead, are staying in a rented home in England. Amber's mother is Mandy Mason. Harris is the lawyer who found the rental for the Boyce's. His favorite film is "Smoke Rings," and he still has a crush on the late Miss Mason. When he attends a dinner with the Boyce's he is delighted to find that his favorite film is the midnight feature on the television. A few days later, Amber begins to exhibit disturbing behavior--behavior which parallels that of her mother, and of her mother's character in "Smoke Rings." ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jim Carter, Louise Germaine, (more)
- 1993
Based on actual events, this drama centers on an abused wife who stands accused of murdering her husband. With no one else to help her, she desperately begs her alcoholic brother, a lawyer who has fallen on hard times, to represent her in court. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, JoBeth Williams, (more)
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.