Lawrence Tierney

Biography

Legendary Hollywood "tough guy", on screen and off. Remembered as the title character in Dillinger (1945) and as the consummately brutal lover of Claire Trevor in Born to Kill (1947). Notorious also for his frequent, well-publicized past involvements in public altercations - like barroom brawls - and other real-life manifestations of rowdiness. (In a 1973 incident, he managed to get himself stabbed.) Though now a puffy-faced, totally bald old man, he continues as screen actor to project the hard-as-nails mien that has been ingrained since his younger days, as he evidences quite amply in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1992).

82years old at death

Born March 15, 1919Brooklyn
Died February 26, 2002Los Angeles
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
Also credited as Lawrence James Tierney

Movie Career

Films: 27
Career span: 53 years1943 to 1996

Genres

Drama67%, 18 films
Crime52%, 14 films
Thriller33%, 9 films
Horror22%, 6 films
Action15%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
Lawrence Tierney was spotted in 1943 by an RKO talent scout while performing with the American-Irish Theatre, which led to a film contract in Hollywood.
A first
Lawrence Tierney spoke the final line of dialogue on Hill Street Blues, answering the front desk phone with "Hill Street" in the series' last episode.

Lawrence Tierney movies on Netflix

2 Days in the Valley1996IMDb rating 6.5as Old Man
Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story1993IMDb rating 5.1as Joey Buttafucco's Father
Reservoir Dogs1992IMDb rating 8.2as Joe Cabot
City of Hope1991IMDb rating 7.3as Kerrigan
The Runestone1991IMDb rating 4.8as Chief Richardson
Why Me?1990IMDb rating 5.7as Armenian Robber #1
The Horror Show1989IMDb rating 5.2as Warden
From a Whisper to a Scream1987IMDb rating 5.7as Warden
Tough Guys Don't Dance1987IMDb rating 5.0as Dougy Madden
Murphy's Law1986IMDb rating 5.9as Cameron
Prizzi's Honor1985IMDb rating 6.7as Lt. Hanley
Silver Bullet1985IMDb rating 6.4as Owen Knopfler
Midnight1982IMDb rating 5.0as Bert Johnson
The Prowler1981IMDb rating 5.9as Major Chatham
Gloria1980IMDb rating 7.1as Broadway Bartender
Custer of the West1967IMDb rating 5.8as General Philip Sheridan
A Child Is Waiting1963IMDb rating 7.2as Douglas Benham
The Greatest Show on Earth1952IMDb rating 6.5as Mr. Henderson
The Hoodlum1951IMDb rating 6.2as Vincent Lubeck
Shakedown1950IMDb rating 7.1as Harry Colton
Bodyguard1948IMDb rating 6.5as Michael C. 'Mike' Carter
Born to Kill1947IMDb rating 7.2as Sam Wild
The Devil Thumbs a Ride1947IMDb rating 6.7as Steve Morgan
Badman's Territory1946IMDb rating 6.2as Jesse James
Back to Bataan1945IMDb rating 6.6as Lt. Cmdr. Waite
Dillinger1945IMDb rating 6.5as John Dillinger
The Ghost Ship1943IMDb rating 6.6as Seaman Louie Parker

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Reservoir Dogs1992 Crime, Thrilleras Joe Cabot
IMDb rating 8.21.2M votes
The Prowler1981 Horror, Mystery, Thrilleras Major Chatham
IMDb rating 5.915K votes
Born to Kill1947as Sam Wild
IMDb rating 7.26.8K votes
Prizzi's Honor1985as Lt. Hanley
IMDb rating 6.729K votes
Dillinger1945as John Dillinger
IMDb rating 6.52.5K votes
The Greatest Show on Earth1952as Mr. Henderson
IMDb rating 6.518K votes
Midnight1982as Bert Johnson
IMDb rating 5.01.4K votes
Bodyguard1948as Michael C. 'Mike' Carter
IMDb rating 6.51.4K votes

Most often with

John Herzfeld directed two of these films, John Cassavetes two and Max Nosseck two. Twelve actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Fred Aldrich

Elisha Cook Jr.

Marc Lawrence

Jack Kehler

Gena Rowlands

William Hickey

John HerzfeldDirector, 2 films

John CassavetesDirector, 2 films Max NosseckDirector, 2 films

Films together

Fred Aldrich2 films together, 1945 to 1946
Fred Aldrich's page
- Badman's Territory1946IMDb rating 6.2Tierney as Jesse JamesAldrich as Townsman at Dance
- Dillinger1945IMDb rating 6.5Tierney as John DillingerAldrich as Convict in Prison Cafeteria
Elisha Cook Jr.2 films together, 1945 to 1947
Elisha Cook Jr.'s page
- Born to Kill1947IMDb rating 7.2Tierney as Sam WildCook as Marty
- Dillinger1945IMDb rating 6.5Tierney as John DillingerCook as Kirk Otto
Marc Lawrence2 films together, 1945 to 1967
Marc Lawrence's page
- Custer of the West1967IMDb rating 5.8Tierney as General Philip SheridanLawrence as Gold Miner
- Dillinger1945IMDb rating 6.5Tierney as John DillingerLawrence as Doc Madison
Jack Kehler2 films together, 1990 to 1993
Jack Kehler's page
- Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story1993IMDb rating 5.1Tierney as Joey Buttafucco's FatherKehler as Elliot Fisher
- Why Me?1990IMDb rating 5.7Tierney as Armenian Robber #1Kehler as Freedly
Gena Rowlands2 films together, 1963 to 1980
Gena Rowlands's page
- Gloria1980IMDb rating 7.1Tierney as Broadway BartenderRowlands as Gloria Swenson
- A Child Is Waiting1963IMDb rating 7.2Tierney as Douglas BenhamRowlands as Sophie Widdicombe
William Hickey2 films together, 1985 to 1991
William Hickey's page
- The Runestone1991IMDb rating 4.8Tierney as Chief RichardsonHickey as Lars Hagstrom
- Prizzi's Honor1985IMDb rating 6.7Tierney as Lt. HanleyHickey as Don Corrado Prizzi
John HerzfeldDirector, 2 films, 1993 to 1996
All films by John Herzfeld
- 2 Days in the Valley1996IMDb rating 6.5Tierney as Old Man
- Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story1993IMDb rating 5.1Tierney as Joey Buttafucco's Father
John CassavetesDirector, 2 films, 1963 to 1980
All films by John Cassavetes
- Gloria1980IMDb rating 7.1Tierney as Broadway Bartender
- A Child Is Waiting1963IMDb rating 7.2Tierney as Douglas Benham
Max NosseckDirector, 2 films, 1945 to 1951
All films by Max Nosseck
- The Hoodlum1951IMDb rating 6.2Tierney as Vincent Lubeck
- Dillinger1945IMDb rating 6.5Tierney as John Dillinger
Also two films together6 more actors
- Steve BrodieBodyguard (1948) and Badman's Territory (1946)
- Dick ElliottThe Devil Thumbs a Ride (1947) and Dillinger (1945)
- Isabel JewellBorn to Kill (1947) and Badman's Territory (1946)
- Andrew TombesThe Devil Thumbs a Ride (1947) and Badman's Territory (1946)
- Thom BrayThe Horror Show (1989) and The Prowler (1981)
- Phil WarrenThe Devil Thumbs a Ride (1947) and Badman's Territory (1946)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.