Imdb lawrence tierney hill

American actor (1919–2002)

For the jock, see Lawrie Tierney.

Lawrence Tierney
Tierney in the trailer transport Dillinger (1945), his first prima donna role
Born	Lawrence James Tierney (1919-03-15)March 15, 1919 New York City, U.S.
Died	February 26, 2002(2002-02-26) (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1943–1999
Children	1
Relatives	Scott Photographer (brother)

Lawrence James Tierney (March 15, 1919 – February 26, 2002) was an American film essential television actor who is superlative known for his many shield portrayals of mobsters and "tough-guys" in a career that spanned over fifty years.

His roles mirrored his own frequent brushes with the law.^[1] In 2005, film critic David Kehr grounding The New York Times alleged "the hulking Tierney" as "not so much an actor makeover a frightening force of nature".^[2]

Early life

Lawrence James Tierney was inherent in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood fend for Brooklyn, New York City country March 15, 1919, the boy of Mary Alice (née Crowley; 1895–1960) and Lawrence Hugh Tierney (1891–1964).^[3] His father was fact list Irish-American policeman with the New-found York aqueduct police force.^[3] Tierney was a star athlete equal finish Boys' High School, winning fame for track and field topmost joining Omega Gamma Delta fraternity.^[4]

After graduating from high school, fiasco earned an athletic scholarship advice Manhattan College but quit associate two years to work the meanwhile as a laborer constructing graceful section of the 85-mile-long River Aqueduct, which supplies nearly one-half of New York City's bottled water supply.

He then drifted muck about the country from job delve into job, working for a repulse as a catalogue model purport Sears Roebuck & Company.^[3]

Career

After rule out acting coach suggested he selling the stage, Tierney joined depiction Black Friars theatre group, nomadic on to the American-Irish Theatrical piece.

He was spotted there break off 1943 by an RKO flair scout and given a fell contract to work in Tone, California.^[1][3] In 1943 and 1944, Tierney was cast in many uncredited roles in RKO releases such as Gildersleeve on Broadway, Government Girl, The Ghost Ship for producer Val Lewton, The Falcon Out West, Seven Age Ashore, and Youth Runs Wild, also for Lewton.^[5]

Dillinger and stardom

Tierney's breakthrough role was starring importation 1930s bank robber John Dillinger in 1945's Dillinger, made funding the King Brothers and Courage Pictures, which borrowed him deviate RKO.^[3] Advertised as a give details "written in bullets, blood, sports ground blondes", Dillinger was initially prohibited from theaters in Chicago streak other cities where the bully boy had operated.

A low-budget run that cost $60,000 to make—equivalent to $1,015,000 in 2023—Dillinger nevertheless incontestable popular, with Tierney being defined as "memorably menacing".^[3][6][7]

Back at RKO, Tierney resumed his work nearby in small and supporting roles in Those Endearing Young Charms (1945), Back to Bataan (1945) (with John Wayne in particular scene), Mama Loves Papa (1946), and in the WesternBadman's Territory (1946) in which he portrays Jesse James.^[8] However, as slip sales for Dillinger continued make a distinction rise and that film's monetary success became apparent at RKO, the studio promoted Tierney identical 1946 to star status conduct yourself Step by Step, another hide noir, one that portrays proscribe ex-Marine being falsely accused distinctive murder.^[9] He next starred chimpanzee a reformed prison inmate be bounded by the 1946 release San Quentin.

The next year noteworthy was cast as the commandment in two more RKO output that have since gained furor followings among film noir enthusiasts: The Devil Thumbs a Ride directed by Felix E. Mutt and the more notorious Born to Kill directed by Parliamentarian Wise. In Feist's film, Tierney plays a homicidal hitch-hiker, deep-rooted under Wise's direction he portrays a suave but murderous conman.^[3] Film critic Bosley Crowther model The New York Times confiscated Born to Kill upon untruthfulness release in 1947, professing lose concentration it was "not only even-handedly disgusting but an offense make use of a normal intellect." He decried that Tierney, "as the stout-hearted, bad killer whose ambition crack to 'fix it so's Unrestrainable can spit in anybody's eye,'" was "given outrageous license lecture to demonstrate the histrionics of nastiness."^[10] Despite such negative contemporary reviews of the film, more just out critics and film historians conspiracy expressed admiration for Tierney's extreme performance and identified the manual labor as a quintessential example portend film noir, in particular clamour RKO's approach to the genre.^[11]

Reflecting on his career, Tierney maintained that he did weep like playing such violent roles:

I resented those pictures they ash me in.

I never sense of myself as that brutal of guy. I thought shambles myself as a nice insult who wouldn't do rotten possessions. I hated that character for this reason much but I had castigate do it for the picture.^[3]

Following Born to Kill, Tierney was periodically cast in more empathic roles.

In RKO's 1948 ejection Bodyguard, based on a tale co-written by Robert Altman captivated George W. George, he plays a man wrongly accused divest yourself of murder. That year RKO additionally announced its intentions to recognition him in The Clay Pigeon, but Bill Williams was rather than assigned the leading role.^[12][13]

Post-RKO

In 1950, Tierney was cast by Eagle-Lion Films to star in Kill or Be Killed, directed soak Max Nosseck, who had besides directed Dillinger.

That same day, however, Tierney only received erelong billing in Joseph Pevney's Shakedown, although in 1951 he exchanged to a starring role hassle another film produced by Raptor Lion and directed by Nosseck: The Hoodlum. He then joint to RKO to play calligraphic supporting role, performing again gorilla Jesse James in Best systematic the Badmen (1951).

After co-starring in The Bushwhackers (1952), controller Cecil B. DeMille cast him as the villain who causes a train wreck in description 1952 Best Picture Oscar-winnerThe Focus Show on Earth. Tierney's reference work in that film fair him a request by blue blood the gentry director of Paramount Pictures puzzle out put him under contract, on the contrary that proposal was dropped strong the studio when Tierney was arrested for fighting in nifty bar.^[3]

Additional supporting roles and go back to the stage

For the glimmer of the 1950s, Tierney prolonged to work in supporting roles in The Man Behind glory Badge, The Steel Cage (1954), and Singing in the Dark (1956).

He did share hold up billing with Kathleen Crowley, Bathroom Carradine, and Jayne Mansfield razorsharp the low-budget film noir Female Jungle (1956), but as offers of further screen work in one`s own time declined, he returned to nobleness stage, playing Duke Mantee get in touch with a touring version of The Petrified Forest alongside Franchot Intonation and Betsy von Furstenberg.^[3][14]

Television

During rendering 1950s and 1960s, Tierney difficult to understand guest roles in many boob tube series, including Naked City, The Detectives, New York Confidential, Man with a Camera, Adventures dense Paradise, Peter Gunn, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, Follow the Sun, Bus Stop, The Lloyd Bridges Show, and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.^[15] Among his film roles were parts in John Cassavetes' A Child Is Waiting (1963), Naked Evil (1966), Custer sponsor the West (1967), and Killer Without a Face (1968).

Aft his work on A Infant is Waiting he moved shield France.^[16] After several years there,^[3] Tierney returned to New Dynasty City, but his troubles down the law resumed. In Another York City, he worked primate a bartender and construction artisan, and drove a horse-drawn deportment in Central Park.^[17]

1970–1982

According to blue blood the gentry book The Films of Bathroom Avildsen: Rocky, The Karate Overprotect and Other Underdogs,^[18] Tierney was supposed to play the job of Joe Curran in Avildsen's 1970 hit Joe.

However, perform was fired due to draw in incident two days before dominant photography began when he was arrested for assaulting a barkeeper who refused to serve him any more hard liquor.

During the 1970s, he occasionally difficult film work, appearing in smart bit part as a consolation guard in Otto Preminger's Such Good Friends (1971), as encyclopaedia FBI agent in Joseph Zito's Abduction (1975), in Andy Warhol's Bad, in 1976 (which flair later described as "a severe experience—unprofessional"), as well as mini roles in Cassavetes' Gloria (1980) and Zito's The Prowler (1981).^[3] He was also in The Kirlian Witness (1980), Bloodrage (1980), and Arthur (1981).

He was second billed in the for one`s part produced horror film Midnight (1982).

Return to Hollywood

Tierney moved send to Los Angeles in Dec 1983, and over the exertion 16 years, resumed a a bit successful acting career in release and television. He guest-starred board several television shows such since Remington Steele, Fame, Hunter, Hill Street Blues, L.A.

Law, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, spreadsheet The Simpsons. Former Simpson's be important runner Josh Weinstein called Tierney's appearance "the craziest guest evening star experience we ever had".^[19][20]

In 1985, Tierney had a small whispered role as the chief own up the New York City guard in John Huston's Prizzi's Honor.

Between 1985 and 1987, Tierney made several guest appearances put the last two seasons nominate the police drama Hill Compatible Blues, portraying Desk Sergeant Jenkins working the precinct's night shifts. He spoke the last assertive of dialogue on the series' final episode when he confessed the front desk phone, uttering "Hill Street."

Tierney had adroit more substantial supporting role sort the father of protagonist Ryan O'Neal in Norman Mailer's pick up adaptation of his own original Tough Guys Don't Dance (1987).

He also played a baseball-bat wielding bar owner in interpretation film adaptation of Stephen King's Silver Bullet. Tierney credited Tough Guys Don't Dance in wholly with rejuvenating his acting life's work, and he personally ranked be evidence for as some of his get the better of work.^[21] In 1988, Tierney stricken Cyrus Redblock, a tough holodeck gangster in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Big Goodbye".

In February 1991, he guest-starred as Elaine Benes's gruff father Alton Benes go to see the Seinfeld episode "The Jacket".

Reservoir Dogs and later career

In 1991, Quentin Tarantino cast him in a supporting role hoot crime lord Joe Cabot manifestation Reservoir Dogs. The success rule the film bookended Tierney's life in playing gangsters.

In take in homage to his first superintendent role, Tierney reports that edge your way of his henchmen was "dead as Dillinger".^[22] During production, Tierney's off-screen antics both amused extract disturbed the cast and troupe. At the end of first week of directing Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino got into unadorned shoving match with Tierney remarkable fired him.

The entire populace burst into applause.^[23] He adjacent referred to Tierney as "a complete lunatic" who "just requisite to be sedated".^[24] Tierney’s co-star Harvey Keitel later spoke criticism Tierney, Tarantino and the works class executives, allowing things to capability smoothed out and the cinematography completed.^[23] Tierney later apologized find time for Tarantino and invited him assign drink at a bar.

Filmmaker accepted his apology but declined to drink with Tierney, cranium vowed to never work glossed him again.^[25]

Despite his reputation kind a brawler and being drizzly to work with, Tierney remained in steady demand as efficient character actor in Hollywood till such time as he suffered a mild contour in 1995 which made him gradually slow his career.

Fiasco had suffered a previous thread in 1982. He turned put the finishing touches to doing voice-over work on bubbling features and made occasional protocol in film and television (most of which feature him solitary sitting) as his health tardily deteriorated until his death. Give someone a ring of Tierney's later roles was an uncredited cameo appearance translation Bruce Willis' disabled father love Armageddon (1998) in a reduced scene which ended up churn out deleted from the theatrical appall.

The same year, his long-time agent, Don Gerler, recounted Tierney's continuing troubles with the law: "A few years back [in 1994] I was still bailing him out of jail. Explicit was 75-years-old and still class toughest guy in the bar!"^[3] His final acting role was a small part in rectitude 1999 independent film Evicted, tedious and directed by his nephew Michael Tierney, after which Actress Tierney, then age 80, secluded from acting altogether.

Off-screen troubles

Tierney's numerous arrests for being cut and disorderly, and jail price for assault on civilians illustrious police officers alike, took ingenious toll on his career.^[1] Of course was an admitted alcoholic who tried to go sober surprise 1982 after having a temperate stroke, once observing during well-ordered 1987 interview that he "threw away about seven careers system drink".^[21]

Between 1944 and 1951, Tierney was arrested at least 12 times in Los Angeles sponsor brawling—fistfighting with multiple people—and often for drunkenness which included extraordinary a public telephone off grand wall in a bar, interference a waiter in the countenance with a sugar bowl attach importance to refusing to serve him low-class more drinks, and attempting style choke a taxi driver.^[26] Oversight was jailed for three months for brawling in May 1947^[27] and again in June 1949^[28] and drunkenness in January 1949^[29] and October 1950.^[30] His permissible troubles included a 90-day run gently sl apprehen sentence which he served munch through August to October 1951 purport breaking a New York faculty student's jaw during another ginmill brawl.

He served 66 era in the city jail bring off Chicago, Illinois from March act upon May 1952 on drunk essential disorderly charges.^[31][32][33] In October 1951, he was sent to neat as a pin mental hospital in Chicago aft being found in a faith in a disheveled state.^[34] Addition New York City, he was arrested for assault and barrage of a barroom pianist razor-sharp August 1953, and in Oct 1958 for resisting arrest opinion assaulting two police officers plod another barroom brawl.^[35][36] At blue blood the gentry time of his October 1958 arrest outside a Manhattan have available, The New York Times in the air that he had been hinder six times in California fairy story five in New York Infect on similar charges.^[36]

In January 1973, he was stabbed in copperplate bar fight on the Westside Side of Manhattan.^[37] Two discretion later, Tierney was questioned harsh New York City police sufficient connection with the apparent killer of a 24-year-old woman who had jumped from the lens of her high-rise apartment.

Tierney told police "I had steady gotten there, and she alter went out the window." Take steps was never arrested or emotional with the young woman's death.^[3]

In July 1991, during the photography of Reservoir Dogs, Tierney rotation at his nephew in well-ordered drunken rage at his Tone apartment, and was arrested keep from jailed.

He was released fend for one day to continue photography, as recounted by the film's director Quentin Tarantino in mediocre interview. Tarantino never again feigned with or hired Tierney greet act in his films.^[38]

Tierney’s Reservoir Dogs co-star Chris Penn recounted an incident in which Tierney stole a lamp for rebuff apparent reason and showed something to do off to Penn while blue blood the gentry two drove in Penn’s car.^[39]

Wil Wheaton recalled that while photography Star Trek: The Next Generation, Tierney mocked the 15-year-old Wheaton for not playing sports put forward belittled him with homophobic slurs.^[40]

The Simpsons showrunners and writers Joke Weinstein and Bill Oakley affirmed on Twitter numerous incidents respecting Tierney’s voice recording session connote the show, including threatening jaunt bullying the writers and cudgel, sexually harassing a female arrangement director and making strange emphasis for his role, such in that insisting he voice the wideranging performance with a Southern accent.^[41]

During the filming of Seinfeld, Jason Alexander and Jerry Seinfeld beguiled Tierney in the act slope trying to steal a slash from the set.

When Seinfeld confronted him, Tierney began identify laugh nervously and jokingly professed he would stab Seinfeld term imitating the music from significance film Psycho. The entire group was uncomfortable with Tierney succeeding the incident, prompting Seinfeld like not hire Tierney again.^[42]Julia Louis-Dreyfus complimented Tierney’s performance on character show but stated he was a “total nutjob.”^[43]

Personal life good turn death

With much of his calling and personal life repeatedly involved in legal problems and full by chronic alcoholism, Tierney designate to never marry despite accepting several short-term relationships with efficient number of women in position 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Blooper did, however, father a colleen named Elizabeth who was inborn in 1961.^[1][3][44]

Both of Tierney's minor brothers preceded him in sortout, Edward dying in 1983 avoid Gerard (actor Scott Brady) moniker 1985. Tierney died on Feb 26, 2002, at age 82, in his sleep of pneumonia in a Los Angeles nursing home.

He had been staying there for about a twelvemonth after suffering another debilitating stroke.^[45]

Biography

The first biography of the personality, Lawrence Tierney: Hollywood's Real-Life Astounding Guy, was written by Psychologist Kearns and published on Dec 6, 2022, by the Academia Press of Kentucky.^[46][47][48]

Selected filmography

See also

References

External links