Brian Dennehy, the burly character actor who was Rambo’s adversary in the original First Blood and Chris Farley’s doting dad in Tommy Boy, has died at the age of 81.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dennehy died at his home in Connecticut on April 15 of natural causes.
His daughter Elizabeth paid tribute to him on Twitter: “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.”
With his large frame and tough guy bearing, Dennehy was a natural for authority figures, with his turn as the relentless Sheriff Teasle in the original Rambo film, First Blood, launching him to greater notoriety.
But Dennehy, a former football player, also lent his characters a blue collar authenticity and could play sympathetic figures, such as the dad in Tommy Boy and Django, the leader of the rats, in Pixar’s Ratatouille.
The veteran actor appeared in a slew of films from the 1970s to the 2000s, including Cocoon, Presumed Innocent, Silverado, F/X, Best Seller, 10, and the remake of Assault on Precinct 13.
Dennehy’s television work saw him portray serial killer John Wayne Gacy in 1992’s To Catch a Killer, Indiana Hoosiers coach Bobby Knight in 2002’s A Season on the Brink, and detective Jack Reed in a number of TV movies. He also portrayed Dom Wilkinson on The Blacklist.
Dennehy was also an acclaimed stage actor, winning Tonys for his portrayal of Wily Loman in a revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and for Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night.
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Source: IGN.com Brian Dennehy, Rambo Villain and Tommy Boy's Dad, Dies at 81