Lawrence Tierney

[johnny]

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...ughtierney.jpg
One of the toughest actors on and off the screen, hard-boiled legend Lawrence Tierney was a notorious character with an edge of danger and menace (the man had a real record) that was tremendously powerful on-screen. Though the good-looking mad dog hit it big with Dillinger in 1945 and created some of noir's most intense villains via The Devil Thumbs a Ride and the splendid Born to Kill (where his rage is so strong and real, he doesn't appear to be acting) he is perhaps best known to more mainstream audiences from Quentin Tarantino's debut Reservoir Dogs. In all his bald-headed, gravel-voiced geezer glory, Tierney tore up the screen as gangster Joe Cabot, the man who was not only in charge of the various Misters' actions (“Let’s go to work”) but also the guy who assigned them their colors (to Mr. Pink Steve Buscemi's vocal disapproval). Tierney's Cabot was as bad-ass as they come, but still, like every good, tough old man, believed in tipping. I wish he had made more pictures, while young and old -- he was one truly frightening force of nature.


Brother of Scott Brady.


Here is a fun webpage dedicated to Lawrence Tierney
http://toddmecklem.com/tierney.html

another great website
http://www.eddiemuller.com/tierney.html

[Guest]

Brilliant gangster actor. Great in Dillinger.

[johnny]

oh yeah. dillinger was a heck of a good flick.

i recall his role also in seinfeld. remember he was elaine's dad and made jerry wear his leather jacket out in the rain.

here is a nice tribute two parts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOsES7OzJXw

[Guest]

Nice tribute. Thanks for the link Johnny

[Dan33185]

oh yeah. dillinger was a heck of a good flick.

i recall his role also in seinfeld. remember he was elaine's dad and made jerry wear his leather jacket out in the rain.

here is a nice tribute two parts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOsES7OzJXw

Yeah, he was a real nut off the set though, they were disappointed because he was such a good character, but nobody wanted him back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...7En0N2bg#t=129

Forward to 2:09 for more info

[Buttercup]

I have an anniversary edition of "Reservoir Dogs" which includes interviews with some of the cast. In Quentin Tarantino's interview, he told how he fired Tierney because he was such a jack ass to him then later changed his mind. He also mentioned how they all went to Musso and Frank's for dinner and Tierney got so drunk, he walked out in the middle of Hollywood Blvd and (if I remember right) dropped his pants. Eddie Bunker (Mr. Blue) said the Tierney beat him up many years ago, but Tierney never remembered it (Bunker was glad he forgot about it).

BTW, considering how nuts he was, I still love the guy. He was one of those characters that make Hollywood interesting.

[pkstracy]

Wow, sounds like you didn't want to mess with him. Never saw any of the movies.

[bat115]

He was a family friend. I never ever got to meet him but, man, the stories I heard about him!

[VeuveClicquotNJ]

For my money, Lawrence Tierney's defining role is as Sam Wild in 1947's Born To Kill. Great flick.





My two favorite noir actors are Tierney and Steve Cochran - exactly the type of men you know you should steer well clear of, but know you're going to head down that dark path regardless

VCNJ~

[Drew]

For my money, Lawrence Tierney's defining role is as Sam Wild in 1947's Born To Kill. Great flick.


Great Movie both he and Claire Trevor were pure EVIL.


My two favorite noir actors are Tierney and Steve Cochran - exactly the type of men you know you should steer well clear of, but know you're going to head down that dark path regardless

VCNJ~

[Slick SKillet Mayhand]

Lawrence Tierney closed the series "Hill Street Blues." The last seen of the last ep was Tierney answering the phone, saying "Hill Street."