Rechanneling his flamboyant salesmanship into acting, he entered films as an extra and a stuntman, earning $7.50 per day. He believed and stated in interviews, that the anti-Vietnam war and the Civil rights movements were funded by oversees communists. Both parents were born in Massachusetts and died in California. You go to work five days a week for most of the year. Broke, he began taking bit parts in films in order to earn money, and his career progressed from there. Starring the legendary actor Walter Brennan (The Westerner, The Real McCoys) as Will Sonnett and Dack Rambo (All My Children, Dallas) as Jeff, The Guns of Will Sonnet aired for only two seasons. However, much more than just being an actor, Brennan was a soldier, a singer, and a total family man. Maternal grandson of Michael (1846-1903) and Margaret (ne Hewett) Flanagan (1849-1904). Director Robert Stevenson Writers Ellis Kadison (screenplay) Upton Sinclair (book) Stars Walter Brennan Matthew Garber Karen Dotrice Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. I was thrilled with. While he undoubtedly served with the 101st Field Artillery in World War I, the assertion that he acquired his grating high-pitched voice in a gas attack is probably apocryphal. Mike was raised on the Brennan ranch in Joseph Oregon. He worked in background or unaccredited minor roles in various films including, The Calgary Stampede (1925), One Hysterical Night (1929), The Invisible Man (1933), and many more. Actor. in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA , United States, Died on September 21, 1974 (1955) and The Proud Ones (1956) and was in a short about Israel, Man on a Bus (1955). Two of his three Oscar-winning performances were directed by. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer. Brennan also endorsed Ronald Reagan in the 1966 California gubernatorial election and in his reelection in 1970.[40][35]. He did another with John Wayne, Two-Fisted Law (1932) though the star was Tim McCoy. This makes him one of four actors to win two Oscars under the same person's direction. Texas Cyclone. You make a movie and then wait around for another good part. Goldwyn mostly loaned out Brennan's services to other studios. Brennan was billed third in Northwest Passage after Spencer Tracy and Robert Young. Grandpa Amos is quick to give advice to his three grandchildren and wonders how his neighbors ever managed without him around. Had a bunker on his Los Angeles estate fully outfitted with firearms and survival supplies in case there was an invasion by the Soviets. With fast face, well-written stories and high production values, The Guns of Will Sonnett was one of the most underrated western televisions shows of . In 1925 Gary Cooper befriended another young, struggling, would-be actor named Walter Brennan. Had four top-100 singles, including the Top 5 hit "Old Rivers" (Liberty Records) which first charted on 4/7/62. At the time of Walter's death, he was survived by his wife and two children. One of the most immediately recognizable character actors of the 20th century, Walter Brennan enjoyed a four-decade career playing colorful, often sage older men in a vast array of legendary films, including "Kentucky" (1938), "The Westerner" (1940), "To Have and Have Not" (1943) and "My Darling Clementine" (1946). He has appeared in ten films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: King of Jazz (1930), The Invisible Man (1933), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Fury (1936), Sergeant York (1941), My Darling Clementine (1946), Red River (1948), Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), Rio Bravo (1959) and How the West Was Won (1962). He went on to star in two additional TV series, Tycoon (1964) and The Guns of Will Sonnett (196769). He used these features to great effect. In 1932 Brennan was in Law and Order (1932) with Walter Huston, The Impatient Maiden (1932) for James Whale, The Airmail Mystery (1932, a serial), and Scandal for Sale (1932). About. The loss of many teeth in the 1932 accident, rapidly thinning hair, thin build, and unusual vocal intonations all made him seem older than he was. Discover Walter Brennan's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Brennans other remarkable roles include that of a compassionate town doctor in John Sturges Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), as Grandfather Dinwitty in Joseph Pevneys rom-com Tammy and the Bachelor (1957), and one of his best role as a determined jailhouse keeper in Howard Hawks Rio Bravo (1959). A fine series. Listen to Family Reunion from Walter Brennan's Reminiscing with Walter Brennan for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. That's what I like. Won the first Best Supporting Actor Oscar for. I served in the trenches for nine months during World War I and I haven't regretted it until the last two or three years. He was a SGT in the United States Air Force. The bride in question is lovely Kathy Nolan, as beautiful a woman as any who ever graced a sitcom. . The single spent 11 weeks on the Billboard charts and peaked at #5. He refused to have anything to do with Ward Bond, because of Bond's alcoholism and general loutish behavior. Brennan was in Hello Trouble (1932) with Buck Jones, Speed Madness (1932), Miss Pinkerton (1932) with Joan Bennett, Cornered (1932) with McCoy, The Iceman's Ball (1932, another short for Sandrich), Fighting for Justice (1932) with McCoy, The Fourth Horseman (1932) with Tom Mix, The All American (1932), Once in a Lifetime (1932), Strange Justice (1932), Women Won't Tell (1932) for Richard Thorpe, Afraid to Talk (1932) and Manhattan Tower (1932). He did another Americana film at Fox, Scudda Hoo! The only actor to win three Best Supporting Actor Oscar awards, he was one of the most successful character actors in American film. Son of William (September 2, 1868-August 17, 1936) and Margaret (ne Flanagan) Brennan ( (June 4, 1869-February 1, 1955). He appeared in The Way to the Gold (1957) and was in a big hit playing Debbie Reynolds's grandfather in the romantic comedy Tammy and the Bachelor (1957). I'm sure all this trouble with the Negroes is caused by just a few of them. He supported Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939). It is very likely that he worked as a lumberjack, ditchdigger, bank messenger, and vaudeville performer. Brennan did another Three Stooges short, Restless Knights, and a short called Hunger Pains in (1935). In his final years Brennan often generated controversy with his ultraconservative views; he notably thought that the civil rights movement was backed by foreign communists, and he was a member of the John Birch Society. Whenever assigned one of these character parts, he would inquire of the director, With or without?; asked, With or without what? Brennan would remove his dentures and answer, Teeth! (In 1932 he reportedly lost a number of teeth during an accident on a film shoot; some claimed he had been kicked in the mouth by a mule.). Brennan owned a working, 12,000 acres cattle ranch, Lightning Creek Ranch, near Joseph, Oregon and also ran several other businesses in the area. Brennans other noteworthy film roles included Pastor Rosier Pile in Sergeant York (1941), for which he received a fourth (and final) Oscar nomination and in which Cooper (as Alvin York) won his first Academy Award; garrulous rummy Eddie in To Have and Have Not (1944); and cantankerous cattlehand Nadine Groot in Red River (1948); all of the movies were directed by Hawks. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. From 1950s, he became a familiar figure through TV Series, such as The Real McCoys. Brennan was married to Ruth Wells and they had one daughter and two sons. Hassie, the 13 year-old "old maid" as Grampa would say is played by Lydia Reed, whose only other performance I have seen was in the 1956 MGM film, High Society. "[7], After the war, he worked as a financial reporter for a newspaper in Boston. According to the Los Angeles Times, Walter passed away on September 21, 1974, at St. John's Hospital in Oxnard after suffering complications stemming from a long battle with emphysema. Andy Brennan was born on July 21, 1923 in Los Angeles, California, USA. When I see a good western . Two of his three Oscar-winning performances were directed by William Wyler. They are pros who know just the right way to play their scenes. He built the Indian Lodge Motel, a movie theater, and a variety store in Joseph, and continued going there between film roles until his death. In his later years, he's known for grilling his co-workers about their voting history. In 1967, he starred in another ABC series, The Guns of Will Sonnett (19671969), as an older man in search of his gunfighter son, James Sonnett, with his grandson, Jeff, played by Dack Rambo. Brennan won his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this performance as the leading lady Frances Farmers widower father. Walter Brennan married Ruth Wells on the 17 October 1920, and they remained married until this death in 1974. Mike was a rancher. Around this time he also starred in the TV movies The Young Country (1970), Two for the Money (1972) and Home for the Holidays (1972). In many ways the most successful and familiar character actor of American sound films and the only actor to date to win three Oscars for Best Supporting Actor, Walter Brennan attended college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, studying engineering. It also featured Richard Crenna, Kathleen Nolan, Lydia Reed, and Michael Winkelman.[28]. While the roles he was adept at playing were diverse, he is probably best remembered for his portrayals in Western movies, such as Judge Roy Bean in The Westerner, trail hand Nadine Groot in Red River, and Deputy Stumpy in Rio Bravo. Walter Andrew Brennan was a well-known American actor. Walter Brennan Movies. Brennan was billed second to Rod Cameron in Brimstone (1949), directed by Kane, and he supported Gary Cooper in Task Force (1949). [13] "That really set me up", he said later.[6]. Brennan's last screen appearance was in the Western Smoke in the Wind (1975), directed by Joseph Kane. He started filming Herbie Rides Again (1973) for Disney but fell ill and had to be replaced.[34]. In the story line, Joe tries to convince a young Clint Harding (Ben Cooper), that vengeance is not productive. In June 1928, filming a scene in San Diego, CA, he accidentally drove a automobile into the harbor. Near Joseph, OR at the base of the Wallowa Mts. However, it is less likely that he raised pineapples in Guatemala. Brennan's son Arthur Wells "Big Mike" Brennan and his wife, Florence Irene (Whitman) Brennan, lived in Joseph, Oregon. The elder Brennan was an engineer and inventor and young Walter studied engineering at Rindge Technical High School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Before Fame. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He was top billed in a follow up to Kentucky and Maryland at Fox, Home in Indiana (1944). He was the second of three children born to Irish immigrants William John Brennan and Margaret Elizabeth Flanagan. He feared that if they did, they would infected with the decadence of modernity and all of it's sinister woes. "by 1934, Walter Brennan was in a state of near collapse. Grandpa Amos is quick to give advice to his three grandchildren and wonders how his neighbors ever managed without him around.From the hills of West Virginia, Amos McCoy moves his family to an inherited farm in California. Brennan had one of his best ever roles in Goldwyn's The Westerner (1940), playing the villainous Judge Roy Bean opposite Gary Cooper. Walter Andrew Brennan was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, less than two miles from his family's home in Swampscott. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 80 years old group. It's the lefties, that's what. The series is populated with many well-known character actors and this show has a cozy, home-spun feel to it. The pair tied the knot in on October 17, 1920, and welcomed two children, a son named Arthur Mike "Big Mike" Brennan and a daughter Ruth Caroline Brennan in 1921. In a TV series, you're going right into the living room, and families are watching you. I just sit there. There was some controversy over the Academy Awards Brennan won because in that period of time the rules of the Academy permitted extras to cast votes for the nominees, and Brennan--who had been an extra for some time before his more substantial roles came along--was popular among his fellow extra workers, and they felt they were voting for one of their own. He was the second of three children born to Irish immigrants William John Brennan and Margaret Elizabeth Flanagan. Brennan's performance earned him the first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His other popular single was Dutchmans Gold (1960). Interested in acting, he participated in many school plays and also worked in Vaudeville. It had originally been the hope of Walter Brennan (and his family) that he would follow in the footsteps of his father, an engineer; but while still a student, he was bitten by the acting bug and was already at a crossroads when he graduated in 1915. in Oxnard, California, USA, This form allows you to report an error or to submit additional information about this family tree: Walter BRENNAN (1894), Copyright Wikipdia authors - This article is under licence CC BY-SA 3.0. He turned down the role of Jeeter Lester in "Tobacco Road" (1941) because of the character's shiftlessness. Paternal grandson of William (1844-1925), born in Scotland, and Helen (ne Griffith) Brennan (1848-1903), born in England. The stories are well-written and some are very heartwarming. After the war Brennan sold real estate in California until land prices crashed in 1925. He followed it with the co-starring part in Fox's Wild and Woolly (1937), billed second after Jane Withers. In 1965 Brennan recorded a speech to warn about how Communists and beatniks were plotting to take over the United States through President Johnson's War on Poverty. Always fiscally and ideologically conservative, he became politically active in later life when he saw many of the things he held dear being eroded by the counterculture movement. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Walter Brennan. Had four top-100 singles, including the Top 5 hit "Old Rivers" (Liberty Records) which first charted on April 7, 1962. Official Sites, His unmistakable high-pitched, croaking voice. He studied engineering at Rindge Technical High School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Grandpa Amos is quick to give advice to his three grandchildren and wonders how his neighbors Read allFrom the hills of West Virginia, Amos McCoy moves his family to an inherited farm in California. After supporting Robert Mitchum in Blood on the Moon (1948) he played another kindly father role in The Green Promise (1949). Born and raised in Massachusetts, he appeared in Vaudeville and school plays. He played an old outlaw, Joe, in the 1956 episode, "Vengeance Canyon", on Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre. He graduated to little larger roles with director Howard Hawks Barbary Coast (1935). Richard Crenna, fresh from playing squeaky-voiced Walter Denton on Our Miss Brooks, drops his voice to it's proper register to play Luke McCoy, Grampa Amos's grandson. Brennans portrayal of an embittered elderly horse-farm owner in David Butler directed film Kentucky (1938), won him his second Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He got to play somewhat bigger, substantial roles in films including, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938), Northwest Passage (1940) and few other. The Prescott Kid. Both parents were born in the state of Massachusetts and died in the state of California. [22] He had a good part in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) at MGM. The latter was directed by Richard Thorpe who would use Brennan as an extra several times on films. In 1920, Brennan married Ruth Caroline Wells. His range was enormous. Was offered the supporting role of Mr. Judson in. Brennan did another serial, The Phantom of the Air (1933), then Strange People (1933) for Thorpe, Meet the Champ (1933, a short), Sing Sinner Sing (1933), One Year Later (1933), Sailors Beware! See production, box office & company info, Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA. He is also survived by grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In 1936 his role in Come and Get It (1936) won him the very first Best Supporting Actor Academy Award. Everyone in this country ought to have a chance, Jew, Protestant, and . Other Brennan appearances included Dames Ahoy! He was in The Buccaneer (1938), directed by Cecil B. After his war service he went to Guatemala and raised pineapples, then migrated to Los Angeles, where he speculated in real estate. On August 27, 2019, he was honored with a day of his film work during the Turner Classic Movies Summer Under the Stars. He looked at her, and he said, 'I don't know what to eat next.'" He had made it through World War I in reasonably good shape. A few jobs as a film extra came his way beginning in 1923, then some work as a stuntman. Brennan and his wife were members of the far-right and anti-communist John Birch Society.[35]. During the 1960s he was convinced that the anti-Vietnam War and civil rights movements were being run by overseas Communists, and said as much in interviews. He may have trained to be an engineer like his father, but whether he attended college for this purpose is open to speculation. Cowboy star who played Grandpa McCoy on The Real McCoys. Instead he supported Deanna Durbin in Nice Girl? Brennan's parts remained small in Party Wire (1935), Spring Tonic (1935), The Gay Lady (1935), Man on the Flying Trapeze (1935), and Welcome Home (1935). [32] This was Brennan's last television series as a member of the permanent cast, although he did make a number of appearances on Alias Smith and Jones.[33]. He continued to appear in movies such as Gunpoint! His role of chatty rummy Eddie in To Have and Have Not (1944) and belligerent cattle-hand Nadine Groot in Red River (1948), both directed by Hawks, brought him appreciation. Brennan was back with McCoy for The Prescott Kid (1934) and could be seen in The Painted Veil (1934), Biography of a Bachelor Girl (1935), Helldorado (1935), Brick-a-Brac (1935) an Edgar Kennedy short, Northern Frontier (1935), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1935), and Law Beyond the Range (1935) with McCoy. He also had a brief uncredited role in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) starring Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster. (1933, a short), Golden Harvest (1933), Ladies Must Love (1933), Saturday's Millions (1933), Curtain at Eight (1933), and My Woman (1933). William Wyler directed and the film earned Brennan his third Best Supporting Actor Oscar within a five-year span. Years after, he made his mark on television in the series, "The Real McCoys." The actor removed his teeth and said, "Do you recognize me now?" Appeared in four Oscar Best Picture nominees: Of all the actors and actresses who won at least three acting Oscars, he is the only one not to have won for a role in a Best Picture nominee, as none of. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites In the latter film he was top billed and directed by William Wellman but the film was not widely seen.[24]. . [on "The King of Jazz"] When I went to the preview I sneezed and missed myself. Academy Award (1941): Actor in a Supporting Role, Academy Award (1939): Actor in a Supporting Role, Academy Award (1937): Actor in a Supporting Role, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Walter-Brennan, Hollywood Walk of Fame - Biography of Walter Brennan, Walter Brennan - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Born In: Lynn, Massachusetts, United States. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. He once said the 1965 Watts (CA) riots could have been stopped "with a machine gun". They had three children in their 54-year marriage: Arthur, Walter, and Ruth. He told reporters that he believed the civil rights movement in particular, and the riots in places like Watts (CA) and Newark (NJ), and demonstrations in Birmingham (AL), were the result of perfectly content "negroes" being stirred up by a handful of troublemakers and Communist agitators with an anti-American agenda. is 6'(1.83m) . From 1950s, he became a familiar figure through TV Series, such as 'The Real McCoys.' Brennan was married to Ruth Wells and they had one daughter and two sons. While earning $5,000 per week by the end of the 1940s, he also owned a working 12,000-acre (5,360-hectare) Oregon cattle ranch. Updated: January 23, 2013 Biography ID: 1916358 Jump to: Biography Memories Family Tree 1 Follower Walter Brennan's Biography He guest starred in a number of anthology series and also was a judge on ABC series Jukebox Jury. He became a very popular TV personality after starring as mulish west Virginia patriarch, Amos McCoy, in the hit sit-com series, The Real McCoys, which ran for 6 seasons and 224 episodes from 1957 to 1963. He died due to emphysema at 80. Brennan died 90 days after the movie was released to theaters, on June 6, 1974. Of all the actors and actresses who won at least three Acting Oscars, he is the only one not to have won the awards in three different decades. In 1957 he became a TV star when he was cast as mulish West Virginia farmer Amos McCoy on the weekly situation comedy The Real McCoys, which lasted six years and 224 episodes. Continuing to flourish into the 1950s with such films as John Sturgess Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) and Hawkss Rio Bravo (1959), Brennan also began to appear on television. He won Best Supporting Actor in 1936, 1938 and 1940. Walter Brennan, who is best known for his role as Grandpa Amos in "The Real McCoys," passed away in 1974 at the age of 80. His parts tended to remain small, however: A House Divided (1931) for director William Wyler, Scratch-As-Catch-Can (1931, a Bobby Clark short directed by Mark Sandrich), and Texas Cyclone (1931, a Tim McCoy Western featuring a young John Wayne). Birthdate: estimated between 1813 and 1933. He was known for being a Movie Actor. Zanuck at Fox announced he wanted to make The Man from Home, once a vehicle for Will Rogers, with Brennan. Grandpa Amos is quick to give advice to his three grandchildren and wonders how his neighbors From the hills of West Virginia, Amos McCoy moves his family to an inherited farm in California. (1930), Captain of the Guard (1930), King of Jazz (1930) (Brennan said he played nine parts but when he saw the film "I sneezed and I missed myself"),[9] The Little Accident (1930), Parlez Vous (1930), (a short), See America Thirst (1930) with Harry Langdon and Slim Summerville and Ooh La-La (1930), (another short). An exception was his turn as the heartless Old Man Clanton in My Darling Clementine (1946), directed by the prickly John Ford. Although he was known for playing "old-coot" Southerners complete with a cackling laugh and thick Southern accent, in reality he had somewhat of a New England accent, being born and raised in Massachusetts. He worked for $7.50 a day at the Universal Studios and for the next decade appeared in a number of movies. Producer Sam Goldwyn fired Hawks during filming and replaced him with William Wyler. [26] It was a hit and ran from 1957 to 1963.[27]. He appeared as a villainous river pirate up against James Stewart in MGM's epic How the West Was Won (1963). His early appearances included Webs of Steel (1925), Lorraine of the Lions (1925), and The Calgary Stampede (1925), a Hoot Gibson Western. He went on to work in total 7 films with Hawks. Was offered the supporting role of Mr. Judson in Herbie Rides Again (1974), but was too ill with emphysema to take the job. Walter Brennans income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. "I'm just plain punch drunk", he said.[18]. Brennan had a support part in Those Calloways (1965), his first film for the Disney Organisation, where he was again paired with Brandon deWilde. It's been said that when he heard of the news that King was assassinated, Brennan danced a jig, much to the shock of the cast and crew of The Guns of Will Sonnett, and did the same for the assassination of Robert F. During the 1960s he was convinced that the anti-Vietnam War and civil rights movements were being run by overseas Communists, and said as much in interviews. "He thought that the Watts riots could have been stopped 'with a machine gun'" and expressed satisfaction at the murder of the Rev. Brennan was also co-producer of the series. Brennan was also nominated for his performance in Sergeant York (1941). He was reunited with Whale in Bride of Frankenstein (1935), in which he had a brief speaking part and also worked as a stuntman. Had a bunker on his Los Angeles estate fully outfitted with firearms and survival supplies in case there was an invasion by the Soviets. An accident in 1932 cost him most of his teeth, and he most often was seen in eccentric rural parts, often playing characters much older than his actual age. Maternal great-grandson of John (1807-1882) and Bridget (ne Neagle) Hewett (1817-1858). He supported George Wallace's presidential campaign in 1968 and in 1972 supported extreme right-wing Republican Representative John Schmitz (father of Mary Kay Letourneau), as the incumbent President Richard Nixon was viewed as too progressive by many Republicans. Walter Brennan , US actor, wearing a hat while driving a red sports car, with trees and blue sky in the background, circa 1965. He died in 1974 of emphysema, a beloved figure in movies and TV, the target of countless comic impressionists, and one of the best and most prolific actors of his time. List of the best Walter Brennan movies: Swamp Water(1941), The Gnome-Mobile(1967), Maryland(1940), The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again(1970), The Family Band(1968), Goodbye, My Lady(1956), Home in Indiana(1944), Sergeant York(1941), Hangmen Also Die(1943), The Westerner(1940), Driftwood(1947), The Showdown(1950 . Goldwyn bought Trading Post to be a vehicle for Brennan but it was never made.[19]. Walter Brennan was simply amazing as old Amos McCoy, the patriarch of a family transplanted from Smokey Corners, West Virginia to "sunny Cal-i-for-nai-ay" as the theme song tells us. Michael Winkleman plays Little Luke with a naturalness not seen in today's high-strung attempts at situation comedy. He may have left homewhich was in Swampscott, Massachusettsat age 11, or perhaps he remained there until he graduated from high school. He preferred his martini cold and his automobiles powerful and fast. Walter Brennan made a mark on the hearts of many with his role as Grandpa Amos in the hit television series, "The Real McCoys," from 1957 to 1963. (Indeed, when she was absent in the show's last season, it was the last hurrah for this long-running series.) His third Oscar win led to the disenfranchisement of the Extras Union from voting. Born July 25, 1894 Died September 21, 1974 (80) Add to list Won 3 Oscars 5 wins & 2 nominations total Photos 210 Known for The Westerner 7.3 Judge Roy Bean 1940 To Have and Have Not 7.8 Eddie 1944 Red River 7.8 Nadine Groot 1948 Rio Bravo 8.0 Stumpy 1959 Credits Edit Actor244 Soundtrack21 Self33 Thanks1 Archive Footage31 IMDbPro Expand below Actor In 1972, he endorsed far-right candidate John Schmitz, who much like Brennan, was a member of the John Birch Society. He implored his daughter not to give his grandchildren records by. Walter Brennan, for more than 50 years one of Hollywood's most renown character actors, died Saturday at St. John's Hospital in Oxnard. Brennan married Ruth Caroline Wells in 1920 and the couple had 3 children, a daughter, Ruth Caroline Brennan and 2 sons, Arthur Mike and Andrew Andy Brennan. He had one of the leads in Three Godfathers (1936) playing one of the title outlaws. The role that brought him recognition and award was that of a Swedish Lumberman Swan Bostrom in the period film, Come and Get It (1935). Image Credit Birthday: July 25, 1894 ( Leo) Born In: Lynn, Massachusetts, United States 115 16 Actors #1470 Film & Theater Personalities #3138 Quick Facts Just wanted to be good at what I was doing. . Omissions? In the Three Godfathers, he played one of the three title characters. He played the lead in 1957 hit movie God is My Partner.. [2][5] He served in France for two years. The Shannons of Broadway. Brennans breakthrough role was that of the Swedish lumberman Swan Bostrom in Goldwyns Come and Get It (1936), which earned for him his first best supporting actor Academy Award. Rustlers' Roundup. Brennan portrayed town drunk and accused murderer Muff Potter in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938). 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