Brian Dennehy – Bio, Age, Height, Wife, Children, Is He Dead or Still Alive?

Quick Facts

More than 4 decades, hundred and sixty movies, TV series, and TV films, and a Golden Globe are part of the legacy of Brian Dennehy. Dennehy is a film, stage, and TV actor who has risen to be one of the best in the industry as well as one of the not too many to have had a sustained career year after year. His most popular works include First Blood Teasle (1982), Death of a Salesman (2000), and Knight of Cups (2015). Find out more about his eventful life and career below.

Brian Dennehy Biography and Age

The actor was born Brian Manion Dennehy on July 9, 1938, in Connecticut. Of Irish ancestry, he was brought up alongside his two brothers; Michael and Edward. Growing up in a very dedicated Catholic family, they moved to Long Island where he was brought up so that the boys could attend private Catholic school, Chaminade. At the time, what the young Brain was into, was playing football before his teacher met him on the football field to tell him he was a great actor as a footballer. This was how he pulled him into the school’s drama club and at the age of 14, he played Macbeth in Shakespear’s play in school.

Still, he didn’t think much of acting as he continued playing football thanks to which he got a scholarship to Columbia University where he studied history before much later, going to study dramatic arts at Yale University.

After he graduated, Dennehy joined the Marine Corps, serving until 1963. He would later come to claim that he fought in the Vietnam War, something that would be disproved and he apologize for lying.

Although he began acting much earlier, it was until his late thirties that he took it seriously and began to make a living off acting. Before then, Brian Dennehy worked as a bartender and truck driver to be able to support his family.

His first role came in Semi-Tough (1977), followed by Looking for Mr. Goodbar and Bumpers all in the same year. This marked his start, before going on to First Blood in 1982 which would be his first big work. The actor growing as he grew to handle everything that has to do with acting including on TV and Stage.

His most recent works are Hap and Leonard (2017), A Very Merry Toy Store (2017), The Blacklist from 2016 to 2018, and Tag (2018). For all his efforts, Brian has won a number of awards including CableACE Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Tony Awards, and Golden Globe Awards.

Wife and Children

The actor has been married twice in the past. His first marriage was to Judith Scheff in 1949 but by 1974, the marriage was over. They had three children between them- Elizabeth Dennehy who is an actress, Kathleen Dennehy, and Deirdre Dennehy. Before her death in 2015, Judith had worked as a school teacher.

The next woman to become the wife of Brian Dennehy is Jennifer Arnott whom he married in 1988. The two have been together since then and their union has produced two children; Cormack Dennehy who was born in 1993 and Sarah Dennehy born in 1995.

Height

Obviously, Brian Dennehy is a man who has good height and a body build that has helped him in many of the action roles he had taken up in his much younger days. That said, he stands at a height of ‎6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) while his body weight is 240 pounds (108 kg).

Is He Dead or Still Alive?

Dennehy is one of the actors that many have grown up watching as since he began his career in 1977, the actor has been consistent with appearing in at least a movie, TV series, or TV film each year except for 2014. With that said, he is not presently as active as he used to be many years ago when he was younger. Because of this, many who have been watching him since his early days are now wondering if the actor is dead or still alive. He is very much alive and still active in Hollywood. In 2018, he worked on a number of projects including The Seagull and Tag.

In 2016, the actor lost his younger brother, Edward Dennehy whose body was discovered the same day his wife died and the family went to break the news to him. Popularly referred to as Ed, he was also an actor and so this might have gotten some people confusing one for the other.

Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.