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Walter Brennan
Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer, known for his performances in Come and Get It (1936), Kentucky (1938), The Westerner (1940), and Sergeant York (1941). He remains one of only six actors to win three Academy Awards, and is the only male or female actor to win three awards in the supporting actor category. Brennan was also recognized for his performances in To Have and Have Not (1944), My Darling Clementine (1946), Red River (1948), and Rio Bravo (1959). During the years 1957 to 1963, Brennan starred in the sitcom The Real McCoys. Brennan's singular reedy, high-pitched voice, which resulted from a wartime injury to his vocal cords, became a favorite feature for impersonators.
Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, he worked as a bank clerk before serving in the U.S. Army during World War I. On his return, he worked as a financial reporter. After losing his fortune in real estate, Brennan turned to acting. He began taking parts as an extra in films and over the next decades, he performed in a wide range of roles: from small appearances to top-billed roles. Brennan's prowess in portraying characters significantly older than he was involved clever use of his thin build, rapidly thinning hair, and unusual vocal intonations. His ability to literally take his teeth out could dramatically age his appearance.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Walter Brennan, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Walter Brennan rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Walter Andrew Brennan
Born: Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.
Citizenship: United States
Birthday: July 25, 1894
Occupations: Actor,Singer
Years Active: 1925-1972
Children: 3
Spouses: Ruth Wells
External Links and Streaming Options
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Awards and Nominations Received by Walter Brennan
Explore the awards, honors, and nominations Walter Brennan has earned across their acting career. From prestigious wins to critical acclaim, see how their talent has been recognized by the film industry and major award bodies.
Movies Featuring Walter Brennan
Rio Bravo
Support Your Local Sheriff!
Red River
The Westerner
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
To Have and Have Not
Three Godfathers
The Invisible Man
And the Oscar Goes To…
The Far Country
The Last Performance
Meet John Doe
Parachute Jumper
Restless Knights
Come Next Spring
A Ticket to Tomahawk
Bad Day at Black Rock
The Showdown
George White’s Scandals
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
Murder in the Private Car
There’s Always Tomorrow
Home for the Holidays
Lorraine of the Lions
Return of the Texan
Flight
Four Guns to the Border
A Stolen Life
Man on a Bus
Grief Street
Party Wire
The Gnome-Mobile
Fugitive Lovers
King of Jazz
Breakdowns of 1941
Maryland
Law and Order
Goldie Gets Along
Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!
Along the Great Divide
Scratch-As-Catch-Can
The Movie Orgy
The Green Promise
Slightly Dangerous
The Impatient Maiden
Surrender
Singing Guns
Death on the Diamond
Girl Missing
The Wedding Night
Affairs of Cappy Ricks
The Cowboy and the Lady
Task Force
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Curtain at Eight
Curtain Call at Cactus Creek
Whom the Gods Destroy
Riptide
West Point of the Air
Lure of the Wilderness
Rise and Shine
Barbary Coast
Two-Fisted Law
Miss Pinkerton
Glory
Good-bye, My Lady
The Buccaneer
Banjo on My Knee
Blood on the Moon
Once in a Lifetime
Great Expectations
My Darling Clementine
Drums Across the River
Good Dame
Brimstone
This Woman Is Mine
The Proud Ones
Afraid to Talk
Who’s Minding the Mint?
The North Star
Sensation Seekers
Centennial Summer
Bogart: The Untold Story
Seven Keys to Baldpate
Northwest Passage
A House Divided
Kentucky
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Metropolitan
The Pride of the Yankees
We’re in the Money
Those Calloways
My Woman
Man on the Flying Trapeze
Hangmen Also Die!
La Classe américaine
The Moon’s Our Home
Best of the Badmen
Texas Cyclone
The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
At Gunpoint
The Life of Vergie Winters
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Princess and the Pirate
Swamp Water
The Calgary Stampede
Driftwood
Nice Girl?
Mother Carey’s Chickens
These Three
The Wild Blue Yonder
The Texans
Sensation Hunters
The Oscar
Stanley and Livingstone
They Shall Have Music
Come and Get It
Woman Haters
Stand by for Action
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Walter Brennan, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1997
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Self (archive footage)
Bogart: The Untold Story
Self (archive footage)
1968
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
Grandpa Bower
1956
Come Next Spring
Jeffrey Storys
Glory
Ned Otis
Good-bye, My Lady
Uncle Jesse Jackson
The Proud Ones
Jake
1954
The Far Country
Ben Tatum
Four Guns to the Border
Simon Bhumer
Drums Across the River
Sam Brannon
1951
Along the Great Divide
Timothy 'Pop' Keith
Best of the Badmen
'Doc' Butcher
The Wild Blue Yonder
Maj. Gen. Wolfe
1950
A Ticket to Tomahawk
Terence Sweeny
The Showdown
Cap MacKellar
Surrender
Sheriff Bill Howard
Singing Guns
Dr. Jonathan Mark
Curtain Call at Cactus Creek
Rimrock
1943
Slightly Dangerous
Cornelius Burden
The North Star
Karp
Hangmen Also Die!
Prof. Stephen Novotny
1941
Meet John Doe
The Colonel
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rise and Shine
Grandpa
This Woman Is Mine
Captain Jonathan Thorne
Swamp Water
Tom Keefer
Nice Girl?
Hector Titus
1939
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
Stanley and Livingstone
Jeff Slocum
They Shall Have Music
Professor Lawson
1938
The Cowboy and the Lady
Sugar
The Buccaneer
Ezra Peavey
Kentucky
Peter Goodwin
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Muff Potter
Mother Carey’s Chickens
Ossian Popham
The Texans
Chuckawalla
1936
Three Godfathers
Banjo on My Knee
Newt Holley
The Moon’s Our Home
Lem
These Three
Taxi Driver
Come and Get It
Swan Bostrom
1935
Restless Knights
Father (uncredited)
Party Wire
Paul - Railroad Telegrapher (uncredited)
The Wedding Night
Bill Jenkins
West Point of the Air
Soldier at Kelly's Wreckage
Barbary Coast
Old Atrocity
Seven Keys to Baldpate
Station Agent
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
First Gossip
Metropolitan
Grandpa
We’re in the Money
Wedding Witness (uncredited)
Man on the Flying Trapeze
'Legs' Garnett
1934
George White’s Scandals
Hick (uncredited)
Murder in the Private Car
Switchman (uncredited)
There’s Always Tomorrow
Auto mechanic
Fugitive Lovers
2nd Bus Driver (uncredited)
Death on the Diamond
Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
Whom the Gods Destroy
Clifford (uncredited)
Riptide
Chauffeur (uncredited)
Great Expectations
Prisoner on Ship
Good Dame
Elmer Spicer
The Life of Vergie Winters
Roscoe (uncredited)
Woman Haters
Train Conductor (uncredited)
1933
The Invisible Man
Parachute Jumper
Counterman at Jewel Diner (uncredited)
Goldie Gets Along
Stuttering Waiter
Girl Missing
Joe, Garage Attendant (Uncredited)
Curtain at Eight
Backstage Detective [extra]
My Woman
Auditioning Man Who Does Animal Sounds (Uncredited)
Sensation Hunters
Stuttering Waiter
1932
Law and Order
Lanky Smith (uncredited)
The Impatient Maiden
Cigar Stand Proprietor (uncredited)
Two-Fisted Law
Bendix the Deputy Sheriff
Miss Pinkerton
Police Dispatcher (uncredited)
Once in a Lifetime
Lighting Technician (uncredited)
Afraid to Talk
Protester Sign Carrier (uncredited)
Texas Cyclone
Sheriff Lew Collins
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