Walter Brennan

Walter Brennan
Brennan inThe Real McCoys(1958)
Born	Walter Andrew Brennan (1894-07-25)July 25, 1894 Lynn, Massachusetts,U.S.
Died	September 21, 1974(1974-09-21)(aged 80) Oxnard, California,U.S.
Resting place	San Fernando Mission Cemetery,Los Angeles, U.S.
Occupations	Actor singer
Years active	1925–1972
Known for	Come and Get It(1936) Kentucky(1938) The Westerner(1940) Sergeant York(1941)
Political party	Republican American Independent Party(1968, 1972)
Spouse	Ruth Wells ​ ​ (m.1920)​
Children	3
Awards	ThreeAcademy Awards

Walter Andrew Brennan(July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer.He won theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actorfor his performances inCome and Get It(1936),Kentucky(1938) andThe Westerner(1940), making him one of only threemale actors to win three Academy Awards,and the only male or female actor to win three awards in the supporting actor category. Brennan was also nominated for his performance inSergeant York(1941). Other noteworthy performances were inTo Have and Have Not(1944),My Darling Clementine(1946),Red River(1948) andRio Bravo(1959). On television, he starred in the sitcomThe Real McCoys(1957-1963).

Early life

Brennan was born inLynn, Massachusettson July 25 1894, less than two miles from his family's home inSwampscott, Massachusetts.His parents were both Irish immigrants.His father was an engineer and inventor, and young Brennan also studied engineering atRindge Technical High SchoolinCambridge, Massachusetts.

While working as a bank clerk, he enlisted in theU.S. Armyand served as a private with the101st Field Artillery Regimentin France during World War I.He served in France for two years."While there, he suffered an injury to his vocal cords from exposure to mustard gas that left him with his screen trademark: a distinctively reedy, high-pitched voice that became a favorite for celebrity impersonators for decades."

After the war, he worked as a financial reporter for a newspaper in Boston.During the early 1920s, he made a fortune in thereal estatemarket, but lost most of his money during a real estate slump.

Career

Early work

Brennan inAffairs of Cappy Ricks(1937)

Finding himself penniless, Brennan began taking parts as an extra in films atUniversal Studiosin 1925, starting at $7.50 a day, equal to $130.3 today. He wound up working at Universal off and on for the next ten years.

His early appearances includedWebs of Steel(1925),Lorraine of the Lions(1925) andThe Calgary Stampede(1925), aHoot GibsonWestern. Brennan was also inWatch Your Wife(1926),The Ice Flood(1926),Spangles(1926),The Collegians(1926, a short),Flashing Oars(1926, a short),Sensation Seekers(1927),Tearin' Into Trouble(1927),The Ridin' Rowdy(1927),Alias the Deacon(1927),Blake of Scotland Yard(1927) (a serial),Hot Heels(1927),Painting the Town(1928) andThe Ballyhoo Buster(1928). The latter was directed byRichard Thorpewho would use Brennan as an extra several times on films.

Brennan had minor roles inThe Racket(1928) fromHoward Hughes,The Michigan Kid(1928),Silks and Saddles(1929),The Cohens and the Kellys in Atlantic City(1929) andSmilin' Guns(1929) andThe Lariat Kid(1929) with Gibson. He also worked as a stand in.

Brennan was inHis Lucky Day(1929),Frank Capra'sFlight(1929),One Hysterical Night(1929) (a bigger role),The Last Performance(1929),The Long Long Trail(1929) with Gibson andThe Shannons of Broadway(1929).

Other Brennan appearances includedDames Ahoy!(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" ),The Little Accident(1930),Parlez Vous(1930), (a short),See America Thirst(1930) withHarry LangdonandSlim SummervilleandOoh La-La(1930), (another short).

The following year Brennan had more small roles inHello Russia(1931, a short withSlim Summerville),Many a Slip(1931) with Summerville,Heroes of the Flames(1931) a serial withTim McCoy,Honeymoon Lane(1931),Dancing Dynamite(1931),Grief Street(1931) directed byRichard ThorpeandIs There Justice?(1931).

Brennan had a bigger role inNeck and Neck(1931), directed byRichard Thorpe.His parts tended to remain small, however:A House Divided(1931) for directorWilliam Wyler,Scratch-As-Catch-Can(1931, aBobby Clarkshort directed byMark Sandrich), andTexas Cyclone(1931, aTim McCoyWestern featuring a youngJohn Wayne).

In 1932 Brennan was inLaw and Order(1932) withWalter Huston,The Impatient Maiden(1932) forJames Whale,The Airmail Mystery(1932, a serial) andScandal for Sale(1932). He did another with John Wayne,Two-Fisted Law(1932) though the star wasTim McCoy.

Brennan was inHello Trouble(1932) withBuck 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) withTom 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) andManhattan Tower(1932).

Brennan was inSensation Hunters(1933) forCharles Vidor,Man of Action(1933) with McCoy,Parachute Jumper(1933),Goldie Gets Along(1933),Girl Missing(1933),Rustlers' Roundup(1933) with Mix,The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble(1933) for directorGeorge Stevens,Lucky Dog(1933) andThe Big Cage(1933). His scenes inWilliam Wellman'sLilly Turner(1933) were deleted.

Brennan did another serial,The Phantom of the Air(1933), thenStrange People(1933) for Thorpe,Meet the Champ(1933, a short),Sing Sinner Sing(1933),One Year Later(1933),Sailors Beware!(1933, a short),Golden Harvest(1933),Ladies Must Love(1933),Saturday's Millions(1933),Curtain at Eight(1933) andMy Woman(1933).

James Whalegave him a bit part inThe Invisible Man(1933) and he could be seen inKing for a Night(1933),Fugitive Lovers(1933),Cross Country Cruise(1934),Beloved(1934),You Can't Buy Everything(1934),Paradise Valley(1934),Radio Dough(1934, a short),The Poor Rich(1934),The Crosby Murder Case(1934),George White's Scandals(1934),Good Girl(1934),Riptide(1934),Uncertain Lady(1934),I'll Tell the World(1934) andFishing for Trouble(1934, a short).

Brennan was in the Three Stooges shortWoman Haters(1934), then didHalf a Sinner(1934),The Life of Vergie Winters(1934),Murder on the Runaway Train(1934),Whom the Gods Destroy(1934),Gentlemen of Polish(1934, a short),Death on the Diamond(1934),Great Expectations(1934),Luck of the Game(1934),Tailspin Tommy(1934, a serial),There's Always Tomorrow(1934) andCheating Cheaters(1934).

Brennan was back with McCoy forThe Prescott Kid(1934) and could be seen inThe Painted Veil(1934),Biography of a Bachelor Girl(1935),Helldorado(1935),Brick-a-Brac(1935) anEdgar Kennedyshort,Northern Frontier(1935),The Mystery of Edwin Drood(1935) andLaw Beyond the Range(1935) with McCoy. He also had a brief uncredited role inBride of Frankenstein(1935) starringBoris KarloffasFrankenstein's monster.

Around this time, Brennan received what he later described as "the luckiest break in the world." He was acting in a fight scene when an actor kicked him in the face and knocked out all of his teeth. As a result, Brennan wore false teeth. He said, "I looked all right off the set, but when necessary I could take 'em out and suddenly look about 40 years older."

Brennan appeared in another Three Stooges short,Restless Knights,and a short titledHunger Painsin 1935.

Work at MGM

A break for Brennan came when he was cast inThe Wedding Night(1935), produced bySam Goldwyn,alongsideGary Cooper(it was actually their second film together). He was only an extra, but his part was expanded during filming and it resulted in Brennan's getting a contract with Goldwyn.

Goldwyn mostly loaned out Brennan's services to other studios. MGM put him inWest Point of the Air(1935). He was reunited with Whale inBride of Frankenstein(1935), in which he had a brief speaking part and also worked as a stuntman.

Brennan's parts remained small inParty Wire(1935),Spring Tonic(1935),The Gay Lady(1935),Man on the Flying Trapeze(1935) andWelcome Home(1935). He did a short,The Perfect Tribute(1935) and was in George Stevens'Alice Adams(1935), but his scenes were deleted.

He could be seen inWe're in the Money(1935) andShe Couldn't Take It(1935).

Move to supporting actor

Brennan finally earned significant roles with a decent part in Goldwyn'sBarbary Coast(1935), directed byHoward Hawksand an uncredited William Wyler."That really set me up", Brennan said later.

He followed with small appearances inMetropolitan(1935) andSeven Keys to Baldpate(1935).

He had one of the leads inThree Godfathers(1936) playing one of the title outlaws.

He had a small role inThese Three(1936) with Wyler and a larger one inWalter Wanger'sThe Moon's Our Home(1936) andFury(1936), directed byFritz Lang.

First Oscar:Come and Get It(1936)

Brennan's breakthrough part came when cast byHoward Hawksas Swan Bostrom in the period filmCome and Get It(1936), playing the sidekick ofEdward Arnoldwho eventually marries the girl Arnold abandons (played byFrances Farmer). ProducerSam Goldwynfired Hawks during filming and replaced him with William Wyler. Brennan's performance earned him the firstAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Brennan followed it with support parts inBanjo on My Knee(1936) at Fox,She's Dangerous(1937), andWhen Love is Young(1937). Goldwyn announced him for a role inThe Real Gloryin 1936, but he ended up not appearing in the final film.

Brennan had his first lead role inAffairs of Cappy Ricks(1937) atRepublic Pictures.He followed it with the co-starring part in Fox'sWild and Woolly(1937), billed second afterJane Withers.He was inThe Buccaneer(1938), directed byCecil B. DeMille.

Brennan portrayed town drunk and accused murderer Muff Potter inThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer(1938).

Brennan followed it withThe Texans(1938),Mother Carey's Chickens(1938) and Goldwyn'sThe Cowboy and the Lady(1938) withGary Cooper– the first time Brennan played Cooper's sidekick.

Second Oscar:Kentucky(1938)

Brennan won his second Best Supporting Oscar forKentucky(1938), a horse racing film from20th Century FoxwithLoretta Young.

He supportedFred AstaireandGinger RogersinThe Story of Vernon and Irene Castle(1939). Brennan also appeared inMelody of Youth(1939), andStanley and Livingstone(1939) at Fox.At MGM he was inJoe and Ethel Turp Call on the President(1939).

Throughout his career, Brennan was frequently called upon to play characters considerably older than he was. 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. He used these features to great effect. In many of his film roles, Brennan wore dentures; in MGM'sNorthwest Passage(1940) – a film set in the late 18th century – he wore a dental prosthesis which made him appear to have rotting and broken teeth. Brennan was billed third inNorthwest PassageafterSpencer Tracyand Robert Young.

Zanuck at Fox announced he wanted to makeThe Man from Home,once a vehicle forWill Rogers,with Brennan.Instead Brennan was top-billed in Fox'sMaryland(1940), an attempt to repeat the success ofKentucky.Brennan said he had been working constantly since Christmas 1937. "I'm just plain punch drunk", he said.

Third Oscar:The Westerner(1940)

Brennan had one of his best roles in Goldwyn'sThe Westerner(1940), playing the villainousJudge Roy Beanopposite Gary Cooper. William Wyler directed and the film earned Brennan his third Best Supporting Actor Oscar within a five-year span.

Goldwyn boughtTrading Postas a vehicle for Brennan, but the film never materialized.

Brennan next supportedDeanna DurbininNice Girl?(1941) and then Cooper again inFrank Capra'sMeet John Doe(1941) and Hawks'Sergeant York(1941), a role that earned Brennan a fourth Oscar nomination. He could also be seen inThis Woman is Mine(1941) as a sea captain.

Brennan played the top-billed lead inSwamp Water(1941), the first American film by directorJean Renoir.He appeared inRise and Shine(1941) and then played reporter Sam Blake inPride of the Yankees(1942).

Brennan appeared in the war filmsStand By for Action(1942) andHangmen Also Die!(1943), in which he played a Czech professor. He also appeared inSlightly Dangerous(1943),The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith(1943) and Goldwyn's Russian war epicThe North Star(1943).

He was top-billed in a follow-up toKentuckyandMarylandat Fox,Home in Indiana(1944).

Brennan was particularly skilled in playing the sidekick of the protagonist or the "grumpy old man" in films such as Hawks'To Have and Have Not(1944).

Brennan was a comic pirate in theBob HopefilmThe Princess and the Pirate(1944). He was teamed with John Wayne for the first time since both men had obtained stardom inDakota(1945), directed byJoseph Kane.He supportedBette DavisinA Stolen Life(1946) and appeared in the Fox musicalCentennial Summer(1946).

Western roles

Brennan returned as a villain asOld Man ClantoninJohn Ford'sMy Darling Clementine(1946), oppositeHenry Fonda.He followed this with parts inNobody Lives Forever(1946) at Warner Bros.andRepublic'sDriftwood(1947).

He appeared in another Americana film at Fox,Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!(1948), and then in one of the greatest films in his career,Red River(1948), playing John Wayne's sidekick.

After supportingRobert MitchuminBlood on the Moon(1948), he played another kindly father role inThe Green Promise(1949). Brennan was billed second toRod CameroninBrimstone(1949), and he supported Gary Cooper inTask Force(1949).

Brennan focused on Westerns:Singing Guns(1950),A Ticket to Tomahawk(1950),Curtain Call at Cactus Creek(1950),The Showdown(1950),Surrender(1950),Along the Great Divide(1951),Best of the Badmen(1951) andReturn of the Texan(1952).

He appeared in the war filmsThe Wild Blue Yonder(1951) andLure of the Wilderness(1952), a remake ofSwamp Waterin which he reprised his role, although with less screen time than in the original film.

Brennan was inSea of Lost Ships(1953) withJohn Derek,Drums Across the River(1954) withAudie Murphy,The Far Country(1954) withJames StewartandFour Guns to the Border(1954) withRory Calhoun.He also appeared inBad Day at Black Rock(1955) for MGM.

Later work

Work on television

Brennan began to work on television, guest-starring on episodes ofScreen Directors Playhouse,Lux Video Theatre,Schlitz Playhouse,Ethel Barrymore Theater,Cavalcade of AmericaandThe Ford Television Theatre.He played the old outlaw Joe in the 1956 episode "Vengeance Canyon" ofDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre.

He appeared as himself as a musical judge in the 1953–1954 ABC seriesJukebox Jury.Brennan later said that he preferred television to films because there were not "long layoffs between jobs."

He continued to appear in movies such asGunpoint!(1955) andThe Proud Ones(1956) and was in a short film about Israel,Man on a Bus(1955).

Brennan appeared in films such asGlory(1956),Come Next Spring(1956) andBatjac'sGood-bye My Lady(1956) with 14-year-oldBrandon deWilde,with whom he recordedThe Stories ofMark Twainthat same year.

He appeared inThe Way to the Gold(1957) and playedDebbie Reynolds' grandfather in the romantic comedyTammy and the Bachelor(1957).

Brennan was given another lead role inGod Is My Partner(1957), a low-budget film that became a surprise hit.

The Real McCoys

Brennan inRio Bravo(1959)

Brennan had resisted overtures to star in a regular TV series but relented forThe Real McCoys,asitcomabout a poorWest Virginiafamily that relocated to a farm inSouthern California.It was a hit and ran from 1957 to 1963.

Brennan continued to appear in films and other TV shows during the series' run such asColgate Theatreand another Howard Hawks picture,Rio Bravo(1959), supporting John Wayne andDean Martin.

After five years on ABC,The Real McCoysswitched toCBSfor a final season. Brennan joined with series creatorIrving Pincusto form Brennan-Westgate Productions.The series was coproduced with Danny Thomas's Marterto Productions. It also featuredRichard Crenna,Kathleen Nolan,Lydia ReedandMichael Winkelman.

For Brennan Productions, Brennan starred inShoot Out at Big Sag(1962). He appeared as a villainous river pirate in MGM's epicHow the West Was Won(1963).

Singing career

Following Brennan's success withThe Real McCoys,he performed on several recordings. The most popular of these was "Old Rivers",a song about an old farmer and his mule. It was released as a single in 1962 by Liberty Records with" The Epic Ride ofJohn H. Glenn"on the flip side." Old Rivers "peaked at #5 on the U.S.Billboardchart, making the 67 year-old Brennan the oldest living person to have a Top 40 hit at the time.At age 68, Brennan reached the Top 40 again, this time with "Mama Sang a Song"on November 17, 1962.

AfterThe Real McCoysended, Brennan provided the voice for a cartoon ofThe Shooting of Dan McGrew.

Other TV roles and Disney

Brennan starred as the wealthy executive Walter Andrews in the short-lived 1964–1965 ABC seriesThe Tycoon,withVan Williams.

Brennan had a support part inThose Calloways(1965), his first Disney film, again paired with Brandon deWilde. He had a small role inThe Oscar(1966).

Walter Brennan inThe Guns of Will Sonnett(1967)

In 1967, he starred in another ABC series,The Guns of Will Sonnett(1967–1969), as an older man in search of his gunfighter son. It ran for two seasons.

Brennan was top-billed in Disney'sThe Gnome-Mobile(1967) and made a pilot for the TV seriesHoratio Alger Jones,which did not become a series.

After a support role inWho's Minding the Mint?(1967), he returned to Disney forThe One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band(1968).

Brennan had a part as the villain inSupport Your Local Sheriff!(1969) withJames Garner.

Later career

Brennan received top billing overPat O'Brienin theTV movieThe Over-the-Hill Gang(1969) andFred AstaireinThe Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again(1970).,

He joined the second season of the CBS sitcomTo Rome with Love(1969–1971) withJohn Forsythe.This was Brennan's last television series as a member of the permanent cast, although he did make a number of appearances onAlias Smith and Jones.

Around this time he also starred in the TV moviesThe Young Country(1970),Two for the Money(1972) andHome for the Holidays(1972). He was announced for a Western that was not made,One Day in Eden.

He started filmingHerbie Rides Again(1973) for Disney but fell ill and was replaced.

Brennan's last screen appearance was in the WesternSmoke in the Wind(1975), directed byJoseph Kane.

Personal life

The Real McCoys(1962), L-R:Tony Martínez,Walter Brennan,Richard Crenna

In 1920, Brennan married Ruth Caroline Wells. They had three children in their 54-year marriage: Arthur, Walter and Ruth.

In 1940, Brennan purchased the 12,000-acre Lightning Creek Ranch, 20 miles north ofJoseph, Oregon.He built the Indian Lodge Motel, a movie theater and a variety store in Joseph, and continued retreating to the ranch between film roles until his death. Some members of his family continue to live in the area.

Brennan's grave at San Fernando Mission Cemetery

Brennan spent his last years mostly in retirement at his ranch in Moorpark in Ventura County, California. He died ofemphysemaon September 21, 1974, at the age of 80 inOxnard, California.His remains were interred atSan Fernando Mission Cemeteryin Los Angeles.

Religious and political views

Brennan, aRoman Catholic,did not publicize his own religious affiliation, but declared in 1964, "I'm too old not to be a religious fella... It appears we are losing something a lot of people made a lot of sacrifices for."That year, Brennan spoke at Project Prayer, a rally attended by 2,500 at theShrine Auditoriumin Los Angeles. The gathering, hosted byAnthony Eisley,sought to floodCongresswith letters in support ofschool prayerfollowing two decisions by theSupreme Courtin 1962 and 1963 that had invalidated the practice of mandatory prayer in public schools, which the court ruled to have conflicted with theEstablishment Clauseof theFirst Amendment to the United States Constitution.

According to his biographerCarl Rollyson,Brennan was fiercely opposed to communism and reportedly branded people as communists if they supportedJohn F. Kennedy.Rollyson wrote that Brennan "thought that theWatts riotscould have been stopped 'with a machine gun'. "Rollyson also reported that Brennan's home" included a bunker stocked with weapons and food in anticipation of a Soviet invasion. "Brennan reportedly expressed satisfaction at the murder of theRev. Martin Luther King Jr.,much to the shock of the cast and crew ofThe Guns of Will Sonnett,and also rejoiced in the assassination ofRobert F. Kennedy.Everett Greenbaum,who wrote 32 episodes ofThe Real McCoys,described Brennan as a bigot who frequently uttered racist remarks.

A staunch conservativeRepublicanand a member of theMotion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals,Brennan supportedBarry Goldwaterin the1964 United States presidential electionbecause Goldwater had voted against theCivil Rights Act of 1964,but Brennan later endorsedGeorge Wallacein 1968, believing thatRichard Nixonwas too liberal for a Republican. In 1972, Brennan endorsed far-right candidateJohn Schmitz,who like Brennan, was a member of theJohn Birch Society.Brennan served as finance chairman and narrated advertisements in support of Schmitz's campaign.Brennan also endorsedRonald Reaganin the1966 California gubernatorial electionand in his reelection in 1970.

Legacy

One film critic regards Brennan as one of the finestcharacter actorsin motion picture history. While the roles that he played were diverse, he may be best remembered for his portrayals inWesternfilms such as those of Judge Roy Bean inThe Westerner,trail hand Nadine Groot inRed Riverand Deputy Stumpy inRio Bravo.He was the first actor to win three Academy Awards and remains the only person to have won theBest Supporting Actoraward three times. However, he remained somewhat embarrassed about how he had won the awards; in the early years of the Academy Awards, extras could vote, and Brennan was popular with the extras' union.His third win prompted the disenfranchisement of the union from Oscar voting.Following this change, Brennan failed to win the Oscar for his fourth Best Supporting Actor nomination in 1941 forSergeant York.(The award went to Donald Crisp forHow Green Was My Valleyinstead.)

Brennan played more than 230 film and television roles during a career that spanned nearly five decades. For his contributions to the film industry, he has a star on theHollywood Walk of Fameat 6501Hollywood Boulevard.In 1970, he was inducted into theHall of Great Western Performersat theNational Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseuminOklahoma City,where his photograph hangs prominently.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1925	Webs of Steel	Performer	uncredited
	Lorraine of the Lions	Minor role	uncredited
	The Calgary Stampede	Racing spectator	uncredited
1926	Watch Your Wife	Performer
	The Ice Flood	Lumberjack	uncredited
	Spangles	Lunch counterman	uncredited
1927	Sensation Seekers	Below deck yacht crewman	uncredited
	Tearin' Into Trouble	Billy Martin
	The Ridin' Rowdy	Performer
	Alias the Deacon	Cashier at Cunningham's Rink	uncredited
	Blake of Scotland Yard	Henchman	uncredited
	Hot Heels	Pool hall inhabitant	uncredited
1928	The Ballyhoo Buster	Performer
	The Michigan Kid	Minor role	uncredited
	The Racket	Man in front of barber shop	uncredited
1929	Silks and Saddles	Undetermined role	uncredited
	The Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic City	Man at police station	uncredited
	Smilin' Guns	Ranch Foreman
	The Lariat Kid	Pat O'Shea
	His Lucky Day	Roadhouse hhug	uncredited
	Flight	Marine pilot	uncredited
	One Hysterical Night	Paul Revere
	The Last Performance	Clown	uncredited
	The Long Long Trail	Skinny Rawlins
	The Shannons of Broadway	Hez
1930	Dames Ahoy!	Side show barker	uncredited
	Captain of the Guard	Peasant	uncredited
	King of Jazz	Various roles
	The Little Accident	Milkman	uncredited
	See America Thirst	Spumoni bodyguard	uncredited
	Many a Slip	Minor role	uncredited
1931	Honeymoon Lane	Driver
	Heroes of the Flames	Bit Part	[Ch. 12] – uncredited
	Dancing Dynamite	Henchman
	Grief Street	Walt
	Is There Justice?	Rollins
	Neck and Neck	Hector
	Scratch-As-Catch-Can	Performer	Short film
	A House Divided	Musician	uncredited
1932	Horse Feathers	Football commentator	uncredited
	Texas Cyclone	Sheriff Lew Collins
	Law and Order	Lanky Smith	uncredited
	The Impatient Maiden	Cigar stand proprietor	uncredited
	The Airmail Mystery	Holly
	Scandal for Sale	Newspaperman	uncredited
	Two-Fisted Law	Deputy Sheriff Bendix
	Hello Trouble	A Texas Ranger	uncredited
	Miss Pinkerton	Police dispatcher	uncredited
	Speed Madness	Joe
	Cornered	Court bailiff	uncredited
	Fighting for Justice	Cowhand Fletcher	uncredited
	The Fourth Horseman	Toothless town drunk	uncredited
	The All American	News commentator at game	uncredited
	Once in a Lifetime	Lighting technician	uncredited
	Strange Justice	Eddie – mechanic	uncredited
	Women Won't Tell	Dump workman	uncredited
	Afraid to Talk	Protester sign carrier	uncredited
	Manhattan Tower	Mechanic	uncredited
1933	Sensation Hunters	Stuttering waiter
	Man of Action	Cashier Summers
	Parachute Jumper	Counterman at Jewel Diner	uncredited
	Goldie Gets Along	Stuttering waiter	uncredited
	Girl Missing	Joe-garage attendant	uncredited
	Rustlers' Roundup	Walt	uncredited
	The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble	Bit role	uncredited
	Lucky Dog	Drunk #2
	The Big Cage	Tickettaker	uncredited
	Lilly Turner	Performer	scenes deleted
	The Phantom of the Air	'Skid'	uncredited
	Strange People	The radio repairman
	Sing Sinner Sing	Henchman Riordan
	One Year Later	Yokel	uncredited
	Golden Harvest	Farmhand at wedding	uncredited
	Ladies Must Love	Flute player	uncredited
	Saturday's Millions	Reporter	uncredited
	Curtain at Eight	Silent detective	uncredited
	My Woman	Stuttering animal imitator	uncredited
	The Invisible Man	Bicycle owner	uncredited
	King for a Night	Soda Jerk	uncredited
1934	Fugitive Lovers	Second bus driver	uncredited
	Tailspin Tommy	Hospital Orderly	[Ch. 8] – uncredited
	Cross Country Cruise	Niagara Falls boatman	uncredited
	Beloved	Stuttering boarder
	You Can't Buy Everything	Train Vendor	uncredited
	Paradise Valley	Farmer Hiram
	The Poor Rich	Dr. Johnson the coroner	uncredited
	The Crosby Case	Ship's officer	uncredited
	George White's Scandals	Hick	uncredited
	Good Dame	Elmer Spicer	uncredited
	Riptide	Chauffeur	uncredited
	Uncertain Lady	Gas station attendant	uncredited
	I'll Tell the World	Otto – Bicycle repairman	uncredited
	Woman Haters	Train Conductor	uncredited Short film
	Half a Sinner	Radio announcer
	The Life of Vergie Winters	Roscoe – a gossiper	uncredited
	Murder in the Private Car	Switchman	uncredited
	Whom the Gods Destroy	Clifford	uncredited
	Death on the Diamond	Hotdog vendor	uncredited
	Great Expectations	Prisoner on ship	uncredited
	Gridiron Flash	Diner Proprietor	uncredited
	There's Always Tomorrow	Mechanic	uncredited
	Cheating Cheaters	Ship's telegrapher	uncredited
	The Prescott Kid	Zeke (stage driver)
	The Painted Veil	Performer	scenes deleted
1935	Biography of a Bachelor Girl	Reporter on ship	uncredited
	Helldorado	Pete, the Waiter	uncredited
	Northern Frontier	Stuttering cook
	The Mystery of Edwin Drood	First gossip	uncredited
	Law Beyond the Range	Abner
	Restless Knights	Father	uncredited Short film
	The Wedding Night	Bill Jenkins
	West Point of the Air	Soldier at Kelly's wreckage	uncredited
	Bride of Frankenstein	Neighbor	uncredited
	Party Wire	Paul – railroad telegrapher	uncredited
	Spring Tonic	Bum	uncredited
	Lady Tubbs	Joseph	uncredited
	Man on the Flying Trapeze	'Legs' Garnett
	Welcome Home	Walter	uncredited
	Alice Adams	Performer	scenes deleted
	We're in the Money	Wedding witness	uncredited
	She Couldn't Take It	Peddler	uncredited
	Barbary Coast	Old Atrocity
	Metropolitan	Grandpa	uncredited
	Seven Keys to Baldpate	Station agent
1936	Three Godfathers	Sam "Gus" Barton
	These Three	Taxi driver
	The Moon's Our Home	Lem
	Fury	'Bugs' Meyers
	Come and Get It	Swan Bostrom
	Banjo on My Knee	Newt Holley
1937	She's Dangerous	Ote O'Leary
	When Love Is Young	Uncle Hugo
	Affairs of Cappy Ricks	Cappy Ricks
	Wild and Woolly	Gramp 'Hercules' Flynn
1938	The Buccaneer	Ezra Peaves
	The Adventures of Tom Sawyer	Muff Potter
	The Texans	Chuckawalla
	Mother Carey's Chickens	Mr. Ossian Popham
	The Cowboy and the Lady	Sugar
	Kentucky	Peter Goodwin
1939	The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle	Walter
	They Shall Have Music	Professor Lawson
	Stanley and Livingstone	Jeff Slocum
	Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President	Jim
1940	Northwest Passage	"Hunk" Marriner
	Maryland	William Stewart
	The Westerner	Judge Roy Bean
1941	Nice Girl?	Hector Titus
	Meet John Doe	The 'Colonel'
	Sergeant York	Pastor Rosier Pile
	This Woman Is Mine	Capt. Jonathan Thorne
	Swamp Water	Tom Keefer
	Rise and Shine	Grandpa
1942	The Pride of the Yankees	Sam Blake
	Stand By for Action	Chief Yeoman Henry Johnson
1943	Hangmen Also Die	Prof. Stephen Novotny
	Slightly Dangerous	Cornelius Burden
	The North Star	Karp
1944	Home in Indiana	J. F. "Thunder" Bolt
	To Have and Have Not	Eddie
	The Princess and the Pirate	Featherhead
1945	Dakota	Capt. Bounce of theRiverbird
1946	A Stolen Life	Eben Folger
	Centennial Summer	Jesse Rogers
	My Darling Clementine	Newman Haynes Clanton
	Nobody Lives Forever	Pop Gruber
1947	Driftwood	Murph
1948	Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!	Tony Maule
	Red River	Nadine Groot
	Blood on the Moon	Kris Barden
1949	The Green Promise	Mr. Matthews
	Brimstone	Brimstone "Pop" Courteen
	Task Force	Pete Richard
1950	Singing Guns	Dr. Jonathan Mark
	A Ticket to Tomahawk	Terence Sweeny
	Curtain Call at Cactus Creek	Rimrock Thomas
	The Showdown	Cap Mackellar
	Surrender	Sheriff Bill Howard
1951	Along the Great Divide	Timothy 'Pop' Keith
	Best of the Badmen	"Doc" Butcher
	The Wild Blue Yonder	Major General Wolfe
1952	Return of the Texan	Grandpa Firth Crockett
	Lure of the Wilderness	Jim Harper
1953	Sea of Lost Ships	C.P.O. "Chief" O'Malley
1954	Drums Across the River	Sam Brannon
	Four Guns to the Border	Simon Bhumer
1955	The Far Country	Ben Tatum
	Bad Day at Black Rock	Doc Velie
	At Gunpoint	Doc Lacy
1956	Glory	Ned Otis
	Come Next Spring	Jeffrey Storys
	The Proud Ones	Jake
1956	Good-bye, My Lady	Uncle Jesse Jackson
1957	The Way to the Gold	Uncle George Williams
1957	Tammy and the Bachelor	Grandpa
1957	God Is My Partner	Dr. Charles Grayson
1959	Rio Bravo	Stumpy
1962	Shoot Out at Big Sag	"Preacher" Hawker
1962	How the West Was Won	Col. Jeb Hawkins
1965	Those Calloways	Alf Simes
1966	The Oscar	Orrin C. Quentin
1967	The Gnome-Mobile	D.J. Mulrooney/Knobby
1967	Who's Minding the Mint?	Pop Gillis
1968	The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band	Grandpa Bower
1969	Support Your Local Sheriff!	Pa Danby
1975	Smoke in the Wind	H. P. Kingman	final film role (posthumous release)

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1953–56	Schlitz Playhouse of Stars	Simmons/Ezra Jenkins	3 episodes
1955	Screen Directors Playhouse	Grandpa	Episode: The Brush Roper
1956	Ethel Barrymore Theatre	Performer	Episode: The Gentle Years
1956	Cavalcade of America	Link Morley	Episode: Woman's Work
1956	The Ford Television Hour	Duffy	Episode: Duffy's Man
1956–57	Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre	Sheriff John Larson/Joe	2 episodes
1958	Colgate Theatre	Mr. Tutt	Episode: Mr. Tutt (or Strange Counsel)
1957–63	The Real McCoys	Grandpa Amos McCoy	224 episodes
1964–65	The Tycoon	Walter Andrews	32 episodes
1967–69	The Guns of Will Sonnett	Will Sonnett	50 episodes
1969–70	The Red Skelton Hour	Various Roles	3 episodes
1969	The Over-the-Hill Gang	Nash Crawford	Television Movie
1970	The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again	Nash Crawford	Television Movie
1970	The Young Country	Sheriff Matt Fenley	Television Movie
1970–71	To Rome with Love	Andy Pruitt	17 episodes
1971	Alias Smith and Jones	Silky O'Sullivan/Gantry	3 episodes
1972	Home for the Holidays	Benjamin Morgan	Television Movie
1972	Two for the Money	Cody Guilford	Television Movie

Radio

Year	Program	Episode	Co Star
1944	Lux Radio Theatre	"Home in Indiana"	w/ Charlotte Greenwood
1945	Lux Radio Theatre	"Kentucky"	w/ Laraine Day
1955	Lux Radio Theatre	"The Treasure of the Sierra Madre"	w/ Edmund O'Brien

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	US	Label
1960	Dutchman's Gold	—	Dot
1962	Old Rivers	54	Liberty
	Mama Sang a Song	—	Liberty
	'Twas the Night Before Christmas... Back Home	—	Liberty

Singles

Year	Single	Chart Positions				Album
		US	US AC	US Country	Canada
1960	"Dutchman's Gold"	30	—	—	30	Dutchman's Gold
1962	"Old Rivers"	5	2	3	18	Old Rivers
1962	"Houdini"	100	—	—	—	Mama Sang a Song
1962	"Mama Sang a Song"	38	14	—	—	Mama Sang a Song

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Film	Result
1936	Academy Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Come and Get It	Won
1938			Kentucky	Won
1940			The Westerner	Won
1941			Sergeant York	Nominated
1959	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series	The Real McCoys	Nominated

See also

• List of actors with Academy Award nominations

Further reading

• Rollyson, Carl E. (2015).A real American character: the life of Walter Brennan.Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.ISBN9781628460476.

External links

• Walter BrennanatIMDb
• Walter BrennanatAllMovie
• Walter Brennandiscography atDiscogs
• Guide to Walter Brennan PapersArchivedJanuary 9, 2018, at theWayback Machineat Dickinson Research Centre
• Kinotv| Walter Brennan