Don Brodka is dead

Feb 28, 2002, 1:53 PM ET5 posts by 4 posters
5 posts
Gyumaoh

I guess Bart can go back to the Try-N-Save now.

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Actor Lawrence Tierney Dies at 82

.c The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 28) - Veteran actor and B-movie leading man Lawrence Tierney, whose tough-guy characters during the 1940s and '50s often mirrored his troubled real life, has died. He was 82.

Tierney died in his sleep Tuesday at a Los Angeles nursing home.

Throughout his 80-film career, the actor perfected many gangster roles. But he is probably best known for the title role in the 1945 B-movie classic ''Dillinger'' and the leader of a group of killers in Quentin Tarantino's 1992 crime drama ''Reservoir Dogs.''

Tierney's acting roles often mimicked his troubled off-screen life during the 1950s. The actor was arrested numerous times on charges stemming from participating in drunken brawls at bars and Hollywood parties.

''The people who knew Larry knew that wasn't all there was to Larry,'' said Tierney's nephew, Michael Tierney, told the Los Angeles Times. ''He was a wacky, kind of quirky, comical guy, and a very nice man to a lot of people.''

Tierney was born in Brooklyn in 1919. As a star member of his high school track team, he earned a scholarship to Manhattan College but he dropped out after two years and ended up traveling around the country while working numerous odd jobs.

In 1943, RKO studios signed Tierney to a contract when a talent scout spotted him among members of the American-Irish Theater.

He soon landed supporting roles in films such as ''The Ghost Ship'' and ''The Falcon Out West.'' Stardom for Tierney came in 1945, when he played the vicious gangster John Dillinger in ''Dillinger.''

That role led him to play other tough guy characters - both good and bad - in such movies such as ''San Quentin,'' ''The Devil Thumbs a Ride,'' ''Born to Kill,'' and ''Kill or Be Killed.''

He also played the bad guy who caused the train wreck in Cecil B. DeMille's 1952 best-picture Oscar-winner, ''The Greatest Show on Earth.''

But Tierney's run-ins with the law in real life took a toll on his career. Throughout the 1960s and '70s, he was only able to get small parts in movies as his troubles followed his moves to Europe and back to the United States.

He returned to Hollywood in late 1983 and tried to rekindle his acting career by guest-starring on television shows such as ''Star Trek: The Next Generation,'' ''Remington Steele,'' ''Fame'' and ''Hunter.'' He also had a recurring role on ''Hill Street Blues.''

Tierney is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Tierney, of Park City, Utah.

Jason SaslowGyumaoh

It's either my way, or the highway.

Please note: If you would like to respond to me, don't use my "From" or "Reply-to" address as it is used as a spam filter. You can contact me directly by sending e-mail to jsaslow using the shoelacecity domain. BTW- that's a dotcom!
Dr MusicGyumaoh

"Gyumaoh" wrote in message news:[email]...

Tierney,

He was also Elaine's father on Seinfeld.

Yours truly, Some bozo

Sydney AssbasketGyumaoh
I thought Alex Rocco played Brodka.  Catfeesh?
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If love of money is the root of all evil, why do churches want it so badly?

Remove "bination" to reply.

Dr MusicSydney Assbasket

"Sydney Assbasket " wrote in message news:[email]...

No, Alex Rocco is (usually) Roger Meyers Junior.

Yours truly, Some bozo