J. T. Walsh

Born:28. September 1943

Place of Birth:San Francisco, California, USA

Died:27. Februar 1998

Known For:Acting

Biography

J.T. Walsh, born James Thomas Patrick Walsh, was an esteemed American actor whose career spanned across film, television, and theater. Renowned for his remarkable versatility and ability to embody a diverse array of characters, Walsh left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.

Prior to gracing the silver screen, Walsh honed his craft as a stagehand and set builder, showcasing his dedication to the art of storytelling. His on-screen debut in the early 1980s marked the beginning of a prolific career, during which he garnered acclaim for his compelling portrayals, often excelling in roles of authority figures and antagonists.

The late 1980s and early 1990s saw Walsh soar to prominence with standout performances in iconic films such as "Good Morning, Vietnam" (1987), "A Few Good Men" (1992), and "Sling Blade" (1996). Known for his commanding presence and intense performances, Walsh effortlessly captivated audiences in both leading and supporting roles, earning a reputation as a master of his craft.

Regarded for his ability to embody "quietly sinister white-collar sleazeballs," as aptly noted by film critic Leonard Maltin, Walsh's on-screen persona was both enigmatic and unforgettable. Described as "everybody's favourite scumbag" by Playboy magazine, he brought a unique depth and complexity to each character he portrayed, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.

Walsh's commitment to authenticity and his meticulous approach to acting set him apart as a consummate professional in the industry. Seamlessly navigating between genres, from drama to comedy to suspense, he garnered widespread acclaim as a versatile character actor capable of elevating any project in which he was involved.

Tragically, Walsh's illustrious career was cut short with his untimely passing on February 27, 1998, at the age of 54. Despite his premature departure, his legacy endures through his unforgettable performances and the profound impact he made on audiences and peers alike. Walsh's contributions to the world of entertainment continue to be celebrated, solidifying his status as a revered talent whose work remains etched in the annals of cinematic history.

Images

Filmografie

Schauspiel

A Few Good Men

Lt. Col. Matthew A. Markinson

1992

When cocky military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee and his co-counsel, Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway, are assigned to a murder case, they uncover a hazing ritual that could implicate high-ranking officials such as shady Col. Nathan Jessep.

The Negotiator

Insp. Terence Niebaum

1998

The police try to arrest expert hostage negotiator Danny Roman, who insists he's being framed for his partner's murder in what he believes is an elaborate conspiracy. Thinking there's evidence in the Internal Affairs offices that might clear him, he takes everyone in the office hostage and demands that another well-known negotiator be brought in to handle the situation and secretly investigate the conspiracy.

Misery

State Trooper Sherman Douglas (uncredited)

1990

After an accident, acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued by a nurse who claims to be his biggest fan. Her obsession takes a dark turn when she holds him captive in her remote Colorado home and forces him to write back to life the popular literary character he killed off.

Outbreak

Chief of Staff (uncredited)

1995

A deadly airborne virus finds its way into the USA and starts killing off people at an epidemic rate. Col. Sam Daniels' job is to stop the virus spreading from a small town, which must be quarantined, and to prevent an over reaction by the White House.

Backdraft

Alderman Marty Swayzak

1991

Firemen brothers Brian and Stephen McCaffrey battle each other over past slights while trying to stop an arsonist with a diabolical agenda from torching Chicago.

Miracle on 34th Street

Ed Collins

1994

Six-year-old Susan Walker has doubts about childhood's most enduring miracle—Santa Claus. Her mother told her the secret about Santa a long time ago, but, after meeting a special department store Santa who's convinced he's the real thing, Susan is given the most precious gift of all—something to believe in.

Breakdown

Warren 'Red' Barr

1997

On their cross-country drive, a married couple, Jeff and Amy Taylor, experience car trouble after their SUV breaks down. Stranded in the New Mexico desert, the two catch a break when a passing truck driver offers Amy a ride to a nearby café to call for help. Meanwhile, Jeff is able to fix the car and make his way to the café, but Amy isn't there. He tracks down the trucker -- who tells the police he's never seen Jeff or his wife before. Jeff then begins a desperate, frenzied search for Amy.

The Client

Jason McThune

1994

A street-wise kid, Mark Sway, sees the suicide of Jerome Clifford, a prominent Louisiana lawyer, whose current client is Barry 'The Blade' Muldano, a Mafia hit-man. Before Jerome shoots himself, he tells Mark where the body of a Senator is buried. Clifford shoots himself and Mark is found at the scene, and both the FBI and the Mafia quickly realize that Mark probably knows more than he says.

Pleasantville

Big Bob

1998

Geeky teenager David and his popular twin sister, Jennifer, get sucked into the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV sitcom called "Pleasantville," and find a world where everything is peachy keen all the time. But when Jennifer's modern attitude disrupts Pleasantville's peaceful but boring routine, she literally brings color into its life.

Good Morning, Vietnam

Sgt. Major Dickerson

1987

A disk jockey goes to Vietnam to work for the Armed Forces Radio Service. While he becomes popular among the troops, his superiors disapprove of his humor.

Sniper

Beckett's Senior Officer

1993

Tough guy Thomas Beckett is an US soldier working in the Panamanian jungle. His job is to seek out rebels and remove them using his sniper skills. Beckett is notorious for losing his partners on such missions. This time he's accompanied by crack marksman Richard Miller.

Executive Decision

Senator Mavros

1996

Terrorists hijack a 747 inbound to Washington D.C., demanding the release of their imprisoned leader. Intelligence expert David Grant (Kurt Russell) suspects another reason and he is soon the reluctant member of a special assault team that is assigned to intercept the plane and hijackers.

Sling Blade

Charles Bushman

1996

Karl Childers, a mentally disabled man, has been in the custody of the state mental hospital since the age of 12 for killing his mother and her lover. Although thoroughly institutionalized, he is deemed fit to be released into the outside world.

The Last Seduction

Frank Griffith

1994

A devious femme fatale steals her husband’s drug money and hides out in a small town where she meets the perfect dupe for her next scheme.

The Babysitter

Harry Tucker

1995

Jennifer (Alicia Silverstone) is a lovely teen who has been hired to baby-sit the kids of Harry Tucker (J.T. Walsh) and his wife, Dolly (Lee Garlington). The Tuckers go to a party and proceed to get inebriated, with Mr. Tucker fantasizing about his beautiful baby sitter. Meanwhile, Jack (Jeremy London), her boyfriend, and Mark (Nicky Katt), another guy interested in her, decide to spy on Jennifer at the Tucker house, with each young man also fixated on her.

Nixon

John Ehrlichman

1995

A look at President Richard M. Nixon—a man carrying the fate of the world on his shoulders while battling the self-destructive demands from within—spanning his troubled boyhood in California to the shocking Watergate scandal that would end his Presidency.

Hannah and Her Sisters

Ed Smythe

1986

Between two Thanksgivings, Hannah's husband falls in love with her sister Lee, while her hypochondriac ex-husband rekindles his relationship with her sister Holly.

The Russia House

Colonel Quinn

1990

Barley Scott Blair, a Lisbon-based editor of Russian literature who unexpectedly begins working for British intelligence, is commissioned to investigate the purposes of Dante, a dissident scientist trapped in the decaying Soviet Union that is crumbling under the new open-minded policies.

National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1

Desk Clerk

1993

An LA detective is murdered because she has microfilm with the recipe to make cocaine cookies. Two cops partner to find and stop the fiends before they can dope the nation by distributing their wares via the 'Wilderness Girls' cookie drive.

The Grifters

Cole

1990

A small-time conman has his loyalties torn between his estranged mother and his new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.

Tequila Sunrise

DEA Agent Hal McGuire

1988

In a seaside California town, best friends Mac and Nick are on opposite sides of the law. Mac is a former drug dealer trying to clean up his act, while Nick is a high-profile detective trying to take down a Mexican drug lord named Carlos. Soon Nick's loyalties are put to the test when he begins an affair with restaurateur Jo Ann -- a love interest of Mac's -- unwittingly leading his friend into a police-orchestrated trap.

Hoffa

Frank Fitzsimmons

1992

A portrait of union leader James R. Hoffa, as seen through the eyes of his friend, Bobby Ciaro. The film follows Hoffa through his countless battles with the RTA and President Roosevelt.

Blue Chips

Happy

1994

Pete Bell, a college basketball coach is under a lot of pressure. His team isn't winning and he cannot attract new players. The stars of the future are secretly being paid by boosters. This practice is forbidden in the college game, but Pete is desperate and has pressures from all around.

Narrow Margin

Michael Tarlow

1990

An L.A. District Attorney attempts to take an unwilling murder witness back to the United States to testify against a top-level mob boss. Frantically attempting to escape two deadly hitmen sent to silence her, they board a Vancouver-bound train only to discover that the killers are onboard with them. For the next 20 hours, as the train hurls through the beautiful but isolated Canadian wilderness, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues in which their ability to tell friend from foe is a matter of life and death.

Needful Things

Danforth 'Buster' Keeton III

1993

A mysterious new shop opens in a small town which always seems to stock the deepest desires of each shopper, with a price far heavier than expected.

The Big Picture

Allen Habel

1989

Hollywood beckons for recent film school grad Nick Chapman, who is out to capitalize on the momentum from his national award-winning student film. Studio executive Allen Habel seduces Nick with a dream deal to make his first feature, but once production gets rolling, corporate reality begins to intervene: Nick is unable to control a series of compromises to his high-minded vision, and it's all he can do to maintain his integrity in the midst of filmmaking chaos.

Red Rock West

Wayne Brown

1993

When a promised job for Texan Michael fails to materialize in Wyoming, Mike is mistaken by Wayne to be the hitman he hired to kill his unfaithful wife, Suzanne. Mike takes full advantage of the situation, collects the money, and runs. During his getaway, things go wrong, and soon get worse when he runs into the real hitman, Lyle.

House of Games

The Businessman

1987

A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led by a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men.