Dennehy's star turn as Will Teasle led to a long, long list of roles as no-nonsense toughs and/or authority figures in a variety of genres. In the '80s alone, for example, he appeared in the adaptation of the popular mystery novel Gorky Park, as another Sheriff — this one of the Old West variety — in Lawrence Kasdan's 1985 Western revival Silverado, and as the leader of an Earthbound contingent of aliens in the 1985 sci-fi comedy Cocoon and its 1989 sequel.
He cemented his reputation as a gifted dramatic actor with roles in features such as the 1990 Harrison Ford-starring legal drama Presumed Innocent and Baz Luhrmann's 1996 neo-Shakespeare adaptation Romeo + Juliet (although he wasn't afraid to dive into comedic roles, as evidenced by his turn in the Chris Farley classic Tommy Boy). Along the way, he picked up two Tonys for his stage work: the first for starring as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman in 1999, and the second for his lead role in Long Day's Journey Into Night in 2003.
He would go on to share the screen with Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro in 2008's Righteous Kill, and with Jack Black, Owen Wilson, and Steve Martin in 2011's The Big Year, such was the depth of his range. He last appeared in the 2019 comedy 3 Days with Dad, and he left behind a couple of appearances for us to enjoy in upcoming films: the historical drama Son of the South, and the long-gestating prison drama Long Day Journey (no relation to the similarly titled play) opposite Danny Glover.
Our thoughts are with Mr. Dennehy's family; he will be remembered for as long as people are watching movies as an uncommonly versatile and committed actor.
