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‘Dallas’, ‘Dynasty’ & ‘Knots Landing’ Actor Brian Dennehy Dead at 81
Remembering the life of an award-winning actor…
Golden Globe and two-time Tony Award-winner Brian Dennehy, who also appeared on soaps including Dallas and Dynasty, died Wednesday night, April 15, in New Haven, Connecticut from natural causes, Soaps.com has learned. He was 81. His daughter, actress Elizabeth Dennehy (Guiding Light, Christina Bauer/Lindsey Thorpe; The Young and the Restless, Laura Flannery) confirmed his death on Twitter… “It is with heavy hearts we announce that our father, Brian passed away last night from natural causes… 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.”
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1938, Dennehy grew up in Long Island, New York, and parlayed a football scholarship into a Columbia University education. His gruff and solid presence stood him in good stead as he went on to graduate studies in dramatic arts at Yale University; later, he played rugby and worked as a stockbroker. Dennehy is survived by his wife, costume designer Jennifer Arnott, who he married in 1988; he was previously married to Judith Scheff from 1958 – 1974. He had three children with Scheff (Elizabeth, Kathleen and Deirdre) and two with Arnott (Cormac and Sarah).
More: GH actor Danny Goldman passed away at 80
Some of Dennehy’s earliest TV roles put him into primetime soaps, including Dallas (Luther Frick); Dynasty (Jake Dunham) and Knots Landing (James Cargill). He earned a Golden Globe Award in 2001 for Death of a Salesman, a role he won a Tony for in 1999. He earned his second Tony in 2003, in Long Day’s Journey into Night. His most recent long-running TV role was on The Blacklist. But Dennehy was also a regular in films, with a big-screen breakthrough in 1982 as a sheriff in First Blood opposite Sylvester Stallone and as Big Tom in 1995’s Tommy Boy. Over the years his films included Semi-Tough (1977), Cocoon (1985) and Presumed Innocent (1990).
He was remembered by theater and Hollywood fans alike, including Dana Delaney (Love of Life, Amy Russell; As the World Turns, Hayley Wilson) who starred opposite him in Sirens (1999) . “I met Brian in a bar, acted in a movie with him but the stage was what he loved. In rehearsal he said, ‘This is it, kid.’ He was a fellow nutmegger, mick and a Marine. They don’t make his kind anymore.” Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda also gave a shout-out on Twitter, “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.”
Soaps.com sends Dennehy’s family and friends our deepest condolences. Take a look though the gallery below to remember other soap opera alums who have passed this year…
https://twitter.com/dennehyeliza/status/1250828465223303168
https://twitter.com/DanaDelany/status/1250841353556115456
https://twitter.com/Lin_Manuel/status/1250845161288019970
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<p>General Hospital alum and Highlander star <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/557507/obituary-general-hospital-stan-kirsch-dead-at-51/" target="_blank">Stan Kirsch tragically died</a> at the age of 51 on January 11, 2020. The former ABC soap opera star played the role of Carl. </p>
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<p>Days of our Lives alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/557718/obituary-norma-michaels-days-of-our-lives-dead-at-95/" target="_blank">Norma Michaels passed away</a> at the age of 95 on January 11, 2020. The actress was best known for her role as Josephine on King of Queens. </p>
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<p>Another World and Dark Shadows actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/558084/obituary-john-karlen-dead-86/" target="_blank">John Karlen passed away</a> on January 22, 2020 due to congestive heart failure. The actor was 86 years old. </p>
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<p>Days of our Lives alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/558115/obituary-marsha-kramer-dead-74/" target="_blank">Marsha Kramer passed away at 74</a> on January 23, 2020. The soap alum was best known for her role playing Margaret on Modern Family. </p>
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<p>Legendary soap opera actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/558330/obituary-marj-dusay-dead-83/" target="_blank">Marj Dusay passed away at 83</a> on January 28, 2020. She appeared on many soaps, including Capitol, Santa Barbara, Days of our Lives, All My Children and Guiding Light.<br /> </p>
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<p>Husband of The Bold and the Beautiful’s Alley Mills (Pam Douglas), <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-bold-and-the-beautiful/news/559116/obituary-bold-and-beautiful-orson-bean-dead-at-91/" target="_blank">Orson Bean died in a traffic accident</a> at age 91. The actor guest-starred on the CBS soap opera in 2016. </p>
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<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/559805/obituary-days-of-our-lives-lynn-cohen-dead-at-86/" target="_blank">Lynn Cohen died on February 14 </a>of unknown causes in New York. The actress, best known for her role of Magda on <em>Sex and the City, </em>had numerous theatre, film and television credits to her name including Days of our Lives. </p>
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<p>Best known for her role of Willona Woods on <em>Good Times, </em><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/560021/obituary-love-of-life-janet-dubois-dead-at-74/" target="_blank">Ja’net DuBois passed away</a> at age 74. The actress also starred on <em>Love of Life</em>, making her the first African-American actress cast as a regular on a soap opera. </p>
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<p>Legendary co-creator of Bold and Beautiful and Young and the Restless <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/560502/obituary-lee-phillip-bell-dead-91-co-creator-bb-yr/" target="_blank">Lee Phillip Bell passed away</a> on February 25. She was 91 and the mother of William J. Bell, Jr., Lauralee Bell (Christine Williams, Young and Restless) and Bradley Bell (head writer, executive producer, Bold and Beautiful).</p>
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<p>Best known for his position on Inside the Actors Studio, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/560761/obituary-soap-writer-guiding-light-actor-james-lipton-dead-93/" target="_blank">James Lipton died on March 1</a>. He was 93. Lipton was also a head writer and writer for numerous soap operas and appeared on Guiding Light. </p>
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<p>Soap opera legend <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/561078/obituary-soap-star-roscoe-born-dead-at-69/" target="_blank">Roscoe Born passed away</a> on March 3. The actor is known for playing a villain in various soaps including Days of our Lives, One Life to Live and Young and the Restless to name a few.</p>
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<p>Award winning playwright and former Young and Restless actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/562088/obituary-yr-alum-playwright-terrence-mcnally-dead-at-80/" target="_blank">Terrence McNally died</a> on March 24. He played Dr. Robert Lynch on and off from 1993 to 1994.</p>
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<p>Soap vet <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/562326/obituary-john-callahan-all-my-children-santa-barbara-soap-star-dead-66/" target="_blank">John Callahan passed away at 66</a> after suffering a massive stroke on March 27. The actor is known for his roles on All My Children, Days of our Lives, General Hospital and Santa Barbara.</p>
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<p>Another World alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/562382/obituary-david-schramm-another-world-wings-actor-dead-73/" target="_blank">David Schramm’s death was announced</a> in March. The actor played Herb Harris on the soap opera and was best known for playing Roy Biggins on Wings.</p>
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<p>Edge of Night actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/562847/obituary-forrest-compton-dead-94/" target="_blank">Forrest Compton died on April 4, 2020</a>. He also appeared in numerous soap operas including All My Children, As the World Turns and One Life to Live.</p>
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<p>General Hospital alum, Smurfs and Young Frankenstein actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/563445/obituary-gh-alum-young-frankenstein-danny-goldman-dead-80/" target="_blank">Danny Goldman passed away at 80</a> on April 12, 2020. Daytime fans may remember him for playing Clarence Darrow in 1991.</p>
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<p>Veteran actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/563584/obituary-dallas-dynasty-knots-landing-brian-dennehy-dead-81/" target="_blank">Brian Dennehy died on April 15, 2020</a> of natural causes. He appeared in numerous films and in the primetime soap operas Dallas, Dynasty and Knots Landing.</p>
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<p>Veteran actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/563977/obituary-oltl-desperate-housewives-shirley-knight-dead-83/" target="_blank">Shirley Knight passed away</a> on April 22, 2020 of natural causes. She appeared in daytime on One Life to Live as Claire in 1986 and held numerous primetime and film roles.</p>
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<p>Legendary signer <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/565314/obituary-little-richard-dead-87/" target="_blank">Little Richard died on May 9, 2020</a>. He made guest appearances on One Life to Live as well as Young and the Restless.</p>
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<p>Days of our Lives alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/566149/days-of-our-lives-scarface-geno-silva-dead/" target="_blank">Geno Silva died on May 9, 2020</a>. He played the role of Domingo Salazar in 1991.</p>
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<p>Actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-bold-and-the-beautiful/news/565880/obituary-bold-beautiful-fred-willard/" target="_blank">Fred Willard passed away at age 86</a> on May 15, 2020. He was known to daytime fans for playing John Forrester, brother to Eric, on Bold & Beautiful. </p>
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<p>Guiding Light alum and Emmy Award winning actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/567892/mary-pat-gleason-dead/" target="_blank">Mary Pat Gleason died on June 2, 2020</a>. The prolific film and television actress passed away from cancer.</p>
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<p>General Hospital alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/570391/general-hospital-linda-cristal-dead/" target="_blank">Linda Cristal died on June 27, 2020</a>. The actress played a mob boss’ mistress named Dimitri in 1988.</p>
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<p>Soap opera director <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/571198/soap-opera-director-maximilian-b-bryer-dead/" target="_blank">Maximilian B. Bryer passed away</a> on June 16, 2020. He worked on both As the World Turns and The Edge of Night.</p>
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<p>Actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/571739/capitol-csi-cyber-kelly-preston-dead/" target="_blank">Kelly Preston died at 57</a> after privately battling breast cancer. The actress who starred in the movies Twins and Jerry Maguire had an early role in the CBS soap opera Capitol.</p>
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<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/572374/phyllis-somerville-dead-76/" target="_blank">Phyllis Somerville died on July 16</a>. The recognizable actress appeared in many television series including As the World Turns, Loving, and more. Somerville was 76.</p>
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<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/573326/john-saxon-dead/" target="_blank">John Saxon passed away</a> on July 25, 2020. The veteran actor starred in the primetime soap Dynasty as well as the film Nightmare on Elm Street. </p>
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<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/573328/regis-philbin-dead-susan-lucci-tribute/" target="_blank">Regis Philbin passed away</a> on July 24, 2020. The TV legend once appeared on All My Children, One Life to Live and Ryan’s Hope.</p>
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<p>All My Children alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/576619/chadwick-boseman-dead-all-my-children-reggie/" target="_blank">Chadwick Boseman passed away</a> at 43 on August 28, 2020. He played Reggie on the ABC soap opera and T’Challa on Black Panther.</p>
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<p>Days of our Lives alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/577376/kevin-dobson-knots-landing-days-of-our-lives-dead/" target="_blank">Kevin Dobson passed away</a> at 77 on September 6, 2020. He is best known for playing Mack MacKenzie on Knots Landing.</p>
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<p><em>All My Children</em> actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/580358/all-my-children-actor-ben-jorgensen-dead-suicide/" target="_blank">Ben Jorgensen passed away</a> at 51 years old. He played Kevin Sheffield from 1995 to 1998. </p>
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<p><em>The Young and the Restless’</em> original Mamie Johnson, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/586505/young-restless-marguerite-ray-mamie-dead/" target="_blank">Marguerite Ray died on November 18, 2020</a>. She was 89 years old. </p>
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