FILM AND TV legend Brian Dennehy has sadly passed away, aged 81.
The Irish American star died on Wednesday, April 15, back in his native Connecticut.
Writing in a statement published to social media his daughter, Elizabeth, said: “It is with heavy hearts we announce that our father, Brian passed away last night from natural causes, not Covid-related.
“Larger than life, generous to a fault, a proud and devoted father and grandfather, he will be missed by his wife Jennifer, family and many friends.”
It is with heavy hearts we announce that our father, Brian passed away last night from natural causes, not Covid-related. Larger than life, generous to a fault, a proud and devoted father and grandfather, he will be missed by his wife Jennifer, family and many friends. pic.twitter.com/ILyrGpLnc3
— Elizabeth Dennehy (@dennehyeliza) April 16, 2020
A Golden Globe and two-time Tony award winner, Dennehy will be familiar to millions thanks to a string of major film and television roles.
Action movie fans will remember him as John Rambo’s main antagonist Sheriff Will Teasle in First Blood, while other notable credits include F/X, Cocoon and Silverado.
He featured in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet and, more recently, Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups while Dennehy also lent his vocal talents to the Pixar animated favourite Ratatouille.
On the small screen, Dennehy won a Golden Globe for his performance as Willy Loman in a television film adaptation of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.
A renowned presence on the stage, Dennehy won plaudits throughout his career, most notably at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre but remained humble throughout, crediting his performances to the writing behind each and every play.
"When you walk with giants, you learn how to take bigger steps,” he once said.
First Blood co-star Sylvester Stallone was among those to pay tribute.
The great actor Brian Dennehy has passed away. He simply was a great actor ... He also was a Vietnam vet that helped me very much building the character of RAMBO The world has lost a great artist. #First Blood https://t.co/knL4rROymL
— Sylvester Stallone (@TheSlyStallone) April 16, 2020
"He simply was a great actor," he wrote.
"He also was a Vietnam vet that helped me very much building the character of RAMBO The world has lost a great artist."
William Shatner also paid tribute, describing Dennehy as “a wonderfully talented actor.”
Condolences to the family of Brian Dennehy. 😞 A wonderfully talented actor.
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) April 16, 2020
A Clockwork Orange star Malcolm McDowell also paid his respects.
"Very sad to hear about the passing of Brian Dennehy," he said.
"He was a fantastic actor on the big and small screens, as well as theatre."
Very sad to hear about the passing of Brian Dennehy. He was a fantastic actor on the big and small screens, as well as theatre. Another great loss!!! RIP MM pic.twitter.com/tv8ZwdRbO9
— Malcolm McDowell (@McDowellMalc) April 16, 2020
Mia Farrow also tweeted her condolences.
"Just devastated to learn that the magnificent Brian Dennehy has died," she said.
"They is no one i enjoyed working with more. And there are few friends as valued in my life.
"I took this photo backstage when we were in Love Letters. He loved my pup Bowie."
Just devastated to learn that the magnificent Brian Dennehy has died. They is no one i enjoyed working with more. And there are few friends as valued in my life. I took this photo backstage when we were in Love Letters. He loved my pup Bowie. pic.twitter.com/s55Cc37lFy
— Mia Farrow🇺🇦 (@MiaFarrow) April 16, 2020
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Carl Weathers and Michael McKean also paid tribute on social media.
Was lucky enough to see Brian Dennehy twice on stage, masterful in Love Letters, and monumentally heartbreaking in Death Of A Salesman. A colossus. What a loss.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 16, 2020
RIP Brian Dennehy. Brilliant and versatile, a powerhouse actor and a very nice man as well.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) April 16, 2020
Speaking to Irish America Magazine back in 2010, Dennehy laid out his Irish heritage [via IrishCentral]:
“Dennehy’s Irish roots extend to the West and Southwest of Ireland on both sides of his family – on his father’s side, his grandfather was born in Millstreet, County Cork, and his grandmother was born in Kilmacalogue in West Cork.
“Dennehy said his ancestors 'were born back in the 1850s or 1860s and were essentially farmworkers, and my grandfather emigrated I’m guessing sometime around 1900 – 1904, 1905, he was very young. All of his brothers and sisters eventually came to America and they were all factory workers – they worked for a major factory in Bridgeport, Connecticut called Jenkin’s Valve, which is no longer there.'”
RIP Brian Dennehy. You left a beautiful cinematic mark. #BePeace https://t.co/nhwqUIARke
— Carl Weathers (@TheCarlWeathers) April 16, 2020
“On Dennehy’s mother’s side were the Mannions. His grandmother emigrated from Waterford and became a domestic in the United States, a few generations earlier than his father’s people. Most of his relatives settled in Bridgeport and Danbury.
“Like O’Neill’s father James, who was born in Kilkenny during the worst year of the Great Famine, 1847, Dennehy’s paternal grandfather refused to return to Ireland in his later years. 'My grandfather who was an immigrant under the worst conditions didn’t go back and never wanted to go back, refused to go back, he was so bitter about his experiences as a child. I think most Irish Americans have forgotten how difficult it was for those people. But I can still remember his scars about that. That’s something that we shouldn’t forget…how difficult it was in the 1880s and the 1890s and before.'"
