Liam Dunn
Liam Dunn (November 12, 1916 – April 11, 1976)[1] was an American character actor.
Liam Dunn | |
|---|---|
 Carol Burnett with Liam Dunn in Twigs, 1975 | |
| Born | November 12, 1916 New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | April 11, 1976 (aged 59) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1947–1976 |
Life and career
The New Jersey native's early career was spent in television in series such as Bonanza, Room 222, Alias Smith and Jones, Mannix, Emergency! S5Ep18 as Amos,and Gunsmoke.
Dunn's breakout role was as the judge (and Barbra Streisand's character's father) in the 1972 film What's Up, Doc?, for which he was noticed by Mel Brooks, who was in the process of forming a stock company of actors. Dunn went on to appear in Brooks films, including Blazing Saddles (1974) as Rev. Johnson, Young Frankenstein (1974) as Mr. Hilltop, and as the Newsvendor in Silent Movie (1976). He also appeared in several Walt Disney productions, such as The World's Greatest Athlete (1973), Charley and the Angel (1973), Herbie Rides Again (1974) and Gus (1976).
He frequently portrayed characters who were verbally and/or physically abused in a slapstick way. Additional television credits include Twigs, All in the Family, Barney Miller, McMillan & Wife, Rhoda, Sanford and Son, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Additional film credits included roles in Catch-22 (1970), The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972), A Reflection of Fear (1972), Emperor of the North Pole (1973), Papillon (1973), Killer Bees (1974), Bank Shot (1974), At Long Last Love (1975), The Night That Panicked America (1975), Peeper (1976) and High Velocity (1976).
Liam was a warm and witty presence and occasionally enjoyed smoking pot with his young friends. However, he had serious emphysema and often had to use oxygen, from a relatively small, green tank. Nevertheless, he always smoked cigarettes. Asked why, he replied "I can't stop."
Dunn collapsed on the set of Disney's The Shaggy D.A. (1976) during the filming of the roller rink sequence, and as soon as he was hospitalized, died on April 11, 1976 from emphysema in Granada Hills, California.[1] John Fiedler was brought in to complete the role as dog catcher. Though only 59 at the time of his death, Dunn always looked much older than he was,[2] and he was cast accordingly.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | That's My Man | Reporter | Uncredited |
| 1970 | Catch-22 | Father | |
| 1972 | Sanford & Son | Gus | |
| 1972 | What's Up, Doc? | Judge Maxwell | |
| 1972 | The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid | Drummer | |
| 1972 | A Reflection of Fear | Coroner | |
| 1973 | The World's Greatest Athlete | Dr. Winslow | |
| 1973 | Charley and the Angel | Dr. Sprague | |
| 1973 | Emperor of the North Pole | Smile | |
| 1973 | Papillon | Old Trustee | |
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles | Rev. Johnson | |
| 1974 | Herbie Rides Again | Doctor | |
| 1974 | Killer Bees | Zeb Tucker | |
| 1974 | Bank Shot | Painter | |
| 1974 | Young Frankenstein | Mr. Hilltop | |
| 1975 | At Long Last Love | Harry | |
| 1975 | The Night That Panicked America | Charlie | |
| 1975 | Peeper | Billy Pate | |
| 1976 | Silent Movie | Newsvendor | |
| 1976 | Gus | Dr. Morgan | |
| 1976 | High Velocity | Bennett | |
| 1976 | The Shaggy D.A. | Dogcatcher | Uncredited |
References
- Willis, John (1977). John Willis' Screen World. 28. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
- Leszczak, Bob (2014). The Odd Couple on Stage and Screen: A History with Cast and Crew Profiles and an Episode Guide. McFarland. p. 46. ISBN 9781476615394. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
