Brian Dennehy, a prolific star of stage and screen, is dead at 81.
Dennehy's family announced his death on Thursday, noting that he died from natural causes and not due to the ongoing COVID-19 problem in the U.S.
"It is with heavy hearts we announce that our father, Brian passed away last night from natural causes, not Covid-related," daughter Elizabeth Dennehy said following a report from TMZ. "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."
Dennehy won accolades for his performance in Death of a Salesman and was also known for a number of celebrated film and television roles including Tommy Boy, Cocoon, Romeo + Juliet, Ratatouille, and more.
In a retrospective interview with Film School Rejects in 2018, Dennehy shared some insight on his relationship with the film industry at large, pointing to an admirably distanced approach from the business side of things.
"I like movies," he said. "I live way out in the country and I have a TV set and I get pictures in the mail all the time from Hollywood, some of which I watch and some of which I don't. But this whole idea of the business and what’s happening and what's going on, I don't have any idea what some of this stuff is."
Following news of Dennehy's passing, fellow actors and admirers of his craft alike shared messages of remembrance on Twitter:
RIP.
