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Brian Dennehy

Brian Dennehy

Actor, also producer, director and writer · Died April 15, 2020, aged 81 · Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA

Golden Globe winner · Screen Actors Guild Award winner · Primetime Emmy nominee · 2 other major award bodies

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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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 9, 1938
Died
April 15, 2020 (aged 81)
From
Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer, director and writer
Titles
116 on MovieCove · 196 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 13% in 30 days

What are Brian Dennehy's films like?

Across their 88 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama28 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy19 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
26%
Bonds
22%
Self
21%
Power
10%
Survival
10%
Society
6%
Ideas
4%
Justice28 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds23 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose14 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption12 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 87 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 32 · Serious 25 · Dark 30

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 68 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 18 · Charged 43 · Intense 26

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 48 · Shifting 36 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 55 · Some laughs 25 · Funny 7

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 36 · Even-paced 48 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 40 · Engaged 37 · Full focus 10

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 32 · Affecting 30 · Heavy 25

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 63 · Open-ended 19 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

56 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 16 of 56 analyzed roles.

Mentor
16 of 56
Hero
12 of 56
Shadow
10 of 56
Ally
9 of 56
Threshold guardian
5 of 56
Shapeshifter
3 of 56
Herald
1 of 56
Show the 56 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
55
Melancholic
28
Contemplative
27
Hopeful
23
Warm
20
Other
70

How their films linger

Hopeful34 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking31 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy23
  • Bittersweet49
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous10

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Brian Dennehy's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 62 of their 116 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (37).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Brian Dennehy's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

196 credits, 116 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Son of the South(2020)

    as Grandfather

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Driveways(2019)

    as Del

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Penny Dreadful: City of Angels(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerome Townsend

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • 3 Days with Dad(2019)

    as Bob

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Song of Sway Lake(2018)

    as Hal Sway

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Tag(2018)

    as Mr. Cilliano

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Seagull(2018)

    as Pjotr Sorin

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • A Very Merry Toy Store(2017)

    as Joe Haggarty

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Hap and Leonard(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sheriff Valentine Otis

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Ultimate Legacy(2016)

    as Gus

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Knight of Cups(2015)

    as Joseph

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Public Morals(2015)

    Show 7 episodes · as Joe Patton

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Cocked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Wade

  • The Blacklist(2013)

    Show 9 episodes · In Memory Of · as Dominic Wilkinson

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Challenger Disaster(2013)

    as Rogers

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Twelfth Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Sir Toby Belch

  • The Big Year(2011)

    as Raymond Harris

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Next Three Days(2010)

    as George Brennan

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Alleged(2010)

    as Clarence Darrow

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Big C(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Dad

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Caesar and Otto meet Dracula’s Lawyer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Steve Dracula’s More Famous Brother

  • Rizzoli & Isles(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Ret. Det. Kenny Leahy

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Meet Monica Velour(2010)

    as Pop Pop

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Every Day(2010)

    as Ernie

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Bunker Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Martin 'Mutt' Kelsey

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bucky Stabler

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Lost Road of the Popes: Via Papale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Narrator

  • Love and Valor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Righteous Kill(2008)

    as Hingis

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Cat City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Harold

  • War Eagle, Arkansas(2007)

    as Pop, Enochs Father

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Welcome to Paradise(2007)

    as Bobby Brown

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Masters of Science Fiction(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Bedzyk

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Ratatouille(2007)

    as Django (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil and the Presidency(2008)

    as Andrew Jackson (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Marco Polo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Kublai Khan

  • Marco Polo(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Kublai Khan

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • The Ultimate Gift(2006)

    as Gus

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Rules of Engagement(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Roy

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Mickey J

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Everyone's Hero(2006)

    as Babe Ruth (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Exonerated (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Gary Gauger

  • 10th & Wolf(2006)

    as Agent Horvath

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Our Fathers(2005)

    as Father Dominic Spagnolia

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Assault on Precinct 13(2005)

    as Sargeant Jasper O'Shea

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Category 6: Day of Destruction(2004)

    as Andy Goodman

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Category 6: Day of Destruction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Andy Goodman

  • She Hate Me(2004)

    as Billy Church

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The 4400 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Mitch Baldwin

  • American Valor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Narrator

  • Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Fred Silverman

  • The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone(2003)

    as Tom Stone

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron(2003)

    as Mr. Blue

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Making 'The Misfits' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Narrator

  • Founding Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Stolen Summer(2002)

    as Father Kelly

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • A Season on the Brink (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Bobby Knight

  • Code Yellow: Hospital at Ground Zero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Narrator

  • Three Blind Mice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Executive Producer · as Matthew Hope

  • The Agency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as James Graydon

  • Summer Catch(2001)

    as John Schiffner

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Night Visions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Director · as Camper Ben (segment "Quiet, Please")

  • Warden of Red Rock(2001)

    Executive Producer · as Sheriff Selwyn Church

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Fighting Fitzgeralds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mr. Fitzgerald

  • Animated Tales of the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain (voice)

  • Founding Fathers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 4 episodes · as George Washington (voice)

  • Dish Dogs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Frost

  • Fail Safe(2000)

    as Gen. Bogan

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Death of a Salesman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Executive Producer · as Willy Loman

  • Silicon Towers(1999)

    as Tom Warner

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Sirens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Lt. Denby

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Rafe Framingham

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Judson Tierney

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Out of the Cold(1999)

    as David Bards

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · as Louis Bromfield

  • Netforce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lowell Davidson

  • NetForce(1999)

    as Lowell Davidson

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Thanks of a Grateful Nation(1998)

    as Sen. Donald Riegle

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Voyage of Terror(1998)

    as The President

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Indefensible: The Truth About Edward Brannigan(1997)

    Director · Executive Producer · as Eddie Brannigan

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Just Shoot Me!(1997)

    Show 4 episodes · as Red Finch

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Nostromo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 3 episodes · as Joshua C. Holroyd

  • Shadow of a Doubt(1995)

    Director · Executive Producer · Teleplay · as Charley Sloan

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance(1996)

    Director · Co-Executive Producer · Writer · as Jack Reed

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Romeo + Juliet(1996)

    as Ted Montague

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Undue Influence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Paul Madriani

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Dead Man's Walk(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Chevallier

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • A Season in Purgatory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gerald Bradley

  • Jack Reed: A Killer Among Us(1996)

    Director · Writer · as Jack Reed

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Stars Fell on Henrietta(1995)

    as Big Dave McDermot

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Jack Reed: One of Our Own(1995)

    Director · Co-Executive Producer · Writer · as Jack Reed

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Tommy Boy(1995)

    as Thomas 'Big Tom' Callahan

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Midnight Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as James Boyce

  • Jack Reed: A Search for Justice(1994)

    Director · Co-Executive Producer · Writer · as Jack Reed

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Leave of Absence(1994)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Birdland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 7 episodes · as Dr. Brian McKenzie

  • Final Appeal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Perry Sundquist

  • Jack Reed: Badge of Honor(1993)

    Co-Executive Producer · as Jack Reed

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story(1993)

    as Ervil LeBaron

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Murder in the Heartland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as John McArthur

  • Foreign Affairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Chuck Mumpson

  • Deadly Matrimony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Jack Reed

  • The Diamond Fleece (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Inspector Outlaw

  • Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story(1992)

    as Jackie Presser

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • To Catch a Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as John Wayne Gacy

  • Gladiator(1992)

    as Jimmy Horn

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Burden of Proof (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dixon Hartnell

  • To Catch a Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as John Wayne Gacy

  • F/X2(1991)

    as Leo McCarthy

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Zebras: Patterns in the Grass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • In Broad Daylight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Len Rowan

  • Presumed Innocent(1990)

    as Raymond Horgan

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Rising Son(1990)

    as Gus Robinson

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • A Killing in a Small Town(1990)

    as Ed Reivers

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Last of the Finest(1990)

    as Frank Daly

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Pride and Extreme Prejudice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Bruno Morenz

  • Perfect Witness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as James Falcon

  • Georg Elser - Einer aus Deutschland(1989)

    as Wagner

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Indio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Whitaker

  • Day One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Gen. Leslie Groves

  • American Experience(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Aaron Burr (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Miles from Home(1988)

    as Frank Roberts Sr.

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Cocoon: The Return(1988)

    as Walter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Return to Snowy River(1988)

    as Harrison

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • A Father's Revenge(1988)

    as Paul Hobart

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam(1987)

    as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Best Seller(1987)

    as Dennis Meechum

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Belly of an Architect(1987)

    as Stourley Kracklite

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Lion of Africa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Sam Marsh

  • The Little Mermaid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as King Neptune (Narrator) (voice)

  • Annie Oakley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Buffalo Bill

  • Legal Eagles(1986)

    as Cavanaugh

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Check Is in the Mail...(1986)

    as Richard Jackson

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Acceptable Risks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Don Sheppard

  • F/X(1986)

    as Lt. Leo McCarthy

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Twice in a Lifetime(1985)

    as Nick

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Tall Tales & Legends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Buffalo Bill

  • Silverado(1985)

    as Cobb

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Cocoon(1985)

    as Walter

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Evergreen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as Matthew Malone

  • The Last Place on Earth(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Frederick Cook

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as James Boyce

  • The River Rat(1984)

    as Doc Cole

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Bolin

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Billy Bob Proverb

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Pigs vs. Freaks(1982)

    as Sergeant Cheever

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Finders Keepers(1984)

    as Frizzoli

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Gorky Park(1983)

    as William Kirwill

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Never Cry Wolf(1983)

    as Rosie

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Blood Feud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Edward Grady Partin

  • Blood Feud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 2 episodes · as Edward Grady Partin

  • I Take These Men(1983)

    as Phil Zakarian

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • First Blood(1982)

    as Hope Sheriff Will Teasle

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Split Image(1982)

    as Kevin Stetson

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Star of the Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 10 episodes · as Leslie 'Buddy' Krebs

  • Faerie Tale Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as King Neptune / Narrator (voice)

  • The Man Who Married a French Wife and Other Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Grimmet

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael Magruder

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Darkroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Roland

  • Skokie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Police Chief Arthur Buchanan

  • Fly Away Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Tim Arnold

  • The Girls in Their Summer Dresses and Other Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Grimmet

  • Dynasty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 5 episodes · as Jake Dunham

  • The Jericho Mile(1979)

    as Dr. D

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • A Rumor of War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sgt. Ned Coleman

  • The Seduction of Miss Leona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Bliss Dawson

  • Little Miss Marker(1980)

    as Herbie

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as James Cargill

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • 10(1979)

    as Donald

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Big Shamus, Little Shamus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 10 episodes · as Arnie Sutter

  • Butch and Sundance: The Early Days(1979)

    as O.C. Hanks

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Dummy(1979)

    as Ragoti

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as John O'Neil

  • A Real American Hero(1978)

    as Buford Pusser

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Pearl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sgt. Otto Chain

  • Foul Play(1978)

    as Fergie

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • F.I.S.T.(1978)

    as Frank Vasko

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Dallas(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Luther Frick

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • A Death in Canaan(1978)

    as Barney Parsons

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Ruby and Oswald (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as George Paulsen

  • Ants!(1977)

    as Fire Chief

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Semi-Tough(1977)

    as T.J. Lambert

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Looking for Mr. Goodbar(1977)

    as Surgeon

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Wilson

  • Lucan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Fisher

  • The Fitzpatricks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Coach Hatfield

  • Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye(1977)

    as Longshoreman

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lanigan's Rabbi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Burton Tree

  • The Tony Randall Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Brian Sr.

  • Serpico (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Jody

  • Police Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Burrows

  • Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Grimmet

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Connor

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • M*A*S*H(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as M.P. Ernie Connors

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Grimmet

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 196 titles from 1971 to 2021; peak year 1986.

Biggest box office

Ratatouille (2007)

$624M worldwide

Highest rated

Ratatouille (2007)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19712021

Peak 1986 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 18 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1977Screen debut· Looking for Mr. Goodbar
  • 1987First top-billed film· The Belly of an Architect
  • 1987Career best· The Belly of an Architect

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting196 of 196: 184 only acting, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score49thDirecting7 of 196: 0 only directing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score43rdWriting5 of 196: 0 only writing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score43rdProducing9 of 196: 0 only producing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score32ndOther crew1 of 196: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

196 titles, 12 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 9 of them.

By decade

1970s28 · acting1980s51 · acting1990s48 · 48 acting · 7 crew2000s45 · 45 acting · 4 crew2010s21 · 21 acting · 1 crew2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 5% of 56 roles
77828792020712

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and 1 other major award from 10 major nominations, 1990–2005.

WinNomination
  1. 2005
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
  2. 2001
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Spoken Word Album
  3. 2000
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
  4. 1993
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
  5. 1992
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
  6. 1990
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Brian Dennehy's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 92; across their 87 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 87

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 87

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 87

Midcredits score across 116 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up29
  • 50th to 74th28
  • 25th to 49th41
  • Below 25th18

Shape of the crowd

47 of their 116 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser47
  • Broadly Agreed15
  • Mixed36

Most divisive · actor

Welcome to Paradise (2007)

91st percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Ratatouille (2007)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 82 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Brian Dennehy's work okay for kids?

Across up to 29 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore18 titles18–80 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity29 titles17–61 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity21 titles37–81 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs17 titles28–68 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense18 titles10–68 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Brian Dennehy work with?

People who share at least 2 of Brian Dennehy's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bill Phillips shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles