WALTER BRENNAN?

WALTER BRENNAN (1894-1974), born Walter Andrew Brennan, was first Grandpa Amos McCoy, before I learned his real name. I became acquainted with Walter Brennan when seeing him in the 1957 television series "The Real McCoys", in reruns. My mother had known of Walter Brennan for a long time. She explained he was films long before he was on television. Once I knew who he was, I saw him in film after film and was surprised again and again how extremely talented he was.


Haven't you seen The Gnome-Mobile (1967)? This is a charming Disney classic with two kids from Mary Poppins, Karen Dotice and Matthew Gaber. Walter Brennan plays two parts, that of D. J. Mulrooney and a gnome named Knobby.


Watch this and then see these other four films.


The Westerner (1940) I haven't seen all of Walter Brennan's films by any means. He was in 218 films. Of those I have seen, however, I think this has to be one of his greatest performances. He plays Judge Roy Bean in this Gary Cooper film. Walter Brennan took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this role and rightly deserved.
The Pride of the Yankees (1942) He plays Sam Blake. Gary Cooper plays Lou Gehrig.
Sergeant York (1941) Walter Brennan played a variety of roles and it's wonderful that he was in so many Gary Cooper films. Here, he plays Pastor Rosier Pile. Gary Cooper, of course, is Sergeant York.
Meet John Doe (1941) In this Gary Cooper film, Walter Brennan plays The Colonel. I hope you'll see all of these films and continue to look for other Walter Brennan performances, as I do. He won't disappoint you.


*Contributed by: "Elizabeth Van Cleve Randolph" Date: Mon, Oct 10 2005 / 9:45:00 PST

Academy Awards®
© A.M.P.A.S.®
1936 Won Best Actor in a Supporting Role: COME AND GET IT
1938 Won Best Actor in a Supporting Role: KENTUCKY
1940 Won Best Actor in a Supporting Role: THE WESTERNER
1941 Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role: SERGEANT YORK