M. Emmet Walsh

Born:March 22, 1935

Place of Birth:Ogdensburg, New York, USA

Died:March 19, 2024

Known For:Acting

Biography

M. Emmet Walsh, born Michael Emmet Walsh on March 22, 1935, left a lasting impact on Hollywood with his remarkable career as a character actor. With a filmography boasting over 200 films and television series, Walsh solidified himself as a versatile talent in the industry. His ability to seamlessly transition between various genres and roles set him apart from his peers.

One of Walsh's standout performances was in the Coen Brothers' debut film, "Blood Simple" (1984), where he portrayed a memorable character that earned him critical acclaim and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. This role showcased his ability to bring depth and authenticity to the characters he portrayed, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Walsh graced the screen in supporting roles in numerous major studio features, including iconic films such as Carl Reiner's "The Jerk" (1979), Robert Redford's "Ordinary People" (1980), and Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (1982). His presence in these films added a layer of richness and complexity to the storytelling, elevating the overall cinematic experience.

In addition to his work in live-action films, Walsh also lent his talents to the world of animation, voicing a character in Brad Bird's beloved film "The Iron Giant" (1999). His distinctive voice and emotive delivery brought the animated character to life, further showcasing his range as an actor.

One of Walsh's more eclectic roles was in Barry Sonnenfeld's steampunk western "Wild Wild West" (1999), where he brought his signature charisma and presence to the big screen. His ability to immerse himself in diverse genres and narratives highlighted his versatility and adaptability as a performer.

Beyond his on-screen work, Walsh's dedication to his craft and his commitment to bringing authenticity to every role he undertook earned him respect and admiration from both his peers and audiences alike. His contributions to the world of cinema have left an indelible mark, solidifying his legacy as a talented and esteemed character actor.

M. Emmet Walsh's career spanned decades, during which he collaborated with some of the most renowned filmmakers in the industry. His ability to captivate audiences with his nuanced performances and his unparalleled work ethic made him a beloved figure in Hollywood. Walsh's legacy lives on through his vast body of work, each role a testament to his talent and passion for the craft.

Images

Filmography

Acting

Knives Out

Mr. Proofroc

2019

When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death.

Blade Runner

Bryant

1982

In the smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, blade runner Rick Deckard is called out of retirement to terminate a quartet of replicants who have escaped to Earth seeking their creator for a way to extend their short life spans.

Brothers

Judge Farful

2024

A reformed criminal's attempt at going straight is derailed when he reunites with his sanity-testing twin brother on a road trip for the score of a lifetime. Dodging bullets, the law, and an overbearing mother along the way, they must heal their severed family bond before they end up killing each other.

The Iron Giant

Earl Stutz (voice)

1999

In the small town of Rockwell, Maine in October 1957, a giant metal machine befriends a nine-year-old boy and ultimately finds its humanity by unselfishly saving people from their own fears and prejudices.

Big Stan

Lew Popper

2007

A weak con man panics when he learns he's going to prison for fraud. He hires a mysterious martial arts guru who helps transform him into a martial arts expert who can fight off inmates who want to hurt or love him.

Romeo + Juliet

Apothecary

1996

In director Baz Luhrmann's contemporary take on William Shakespeare's classic tragedy, the Montagues and Capulets have moved their ongoing feud to the sweltering suburb of Verona Beach, where Romeo and Juliet fall in love and secretly wed. Though the film is visually modern, the bard's dialogue remains.

A Time to Kill

Willard Tyrell Bass (uncredited)

1996

A young lawyer defends a black man accused of murdering two white men who raped his 10-year-old daughter, sparking a rebirth of the KKK.

Serpico

Gallagher

1973

New York cop Frank Serpico blows the whistle on the rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him.

Wild Wild West

Coleman

1999

Legless Southern inventor Dr. Arliss Loveless plans to rekindle the Civil War by assassinating President Ulysses S. Grant. Only two men can stop him: gunfighter James West and master-of-disguise and inventor Artemus Gordon. The two must team up to thwart Loveless' plans.

Escape from the Planet of the Apes

Aide

1971

The world is shocked by the appearance of three talking chimpanzees, who arrived mysteriously in a spacecraft. Intrigued by their intelligence, humans use them for research - until the apes attempt to escape.

Midnight Cowboy

Bus Passenger (uncredited)

1969

Joe Buck is a wide-eyed hustler from Texas hoping to score big with wealthy New York City women; he finds a companion in Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo, an ailing swindler with a bum leg and a quixotic fantasy of escaping to Florida.

Critters

Harv

1986

Carnivorous aliens arrive unannounced at a Kansas family farm; two intergalactic bounty hunters soon follow, determined to blow them off the planet.

My Best Friend's Wedding

Joe O'Neal

1997

When she receives word that her longtime platonic pal Michael O'Neal is getting married to debutante Kimberly Wallace, food critic Julianne Potter realizes her true feelings for Michael -- and sets out to sabotage the wedding.

Raising Arizona

Machine Shop Ear-Bender

1987

When a childless couple--an ex-con and an ex-cop--decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintuplets, their lives become more complicated than they anticipated.

The Immaculate Room

Kate's Father

2022

Mike and Kate, a young couple, get the once-in-a lifetime chance to win a cool five million dollars. The challenge: Live for 50 days in a blank space. Sticking it out for thirty days, and the five million are theirs. How difficult can it be?

Racing Stripes

Woodzie

2005

Shattered illusions are hard to repair -- especially for a good-hearted zebra named Stripes who's spent his life on a Kentucky farm amidst the sorely mistaken notion that he's a debonair thoroughbred. Once he faces the fact that his stark stripes mark him as different, he decides he'll race anyway. And with help from the young girl who raised him, he just might end up in the winner's circle.

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home

Bill Wilcox

1995

Jesse becomes reunited with Willy three years after the whale's jump to freedom as the teenager tries to rescue the killer whale and other orcas from an oil spill.

Little Big Man

Shotgun Guard

1970

Jack Crabb, looking back from extreme old age, tells of his life being raised by Indians and fighting with General Custer.

Missing in Action

Tuck

1984

American servicemen are still being held captive in Vietnam and it's up to one man to bring them home in this blistering, fast-paced action/adventure starring martial arts superstar Chuck Norris. Following a daring escape from a Vietnamese POW camp, Special Forces Colonel James Braddock (Norris) is on a mission to locate and save remaining MIAs.

Ordinary People

Swim Coach

1980

Beth, Calvin, and their son Conrad are living in the aftermath of the death of the other son. Conrad is overcome by grief and misplaced guilt to the extent of a suicide attempt. He is in therapy. Beth had always preferred his brother and is having difficulty being supportive to Conrad. Calvin is trapped between the two trying to hold the family together.

The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power

Gorak

2015

When he is betrayed by a trusted friend, Mathayus must marshal all his strength and cunning to outwit a formidable opponent who will stop at nothing to unlock a supreme ancient power.

Snow Dogs

George

2002

When a Miami dentist inherits a team of sled dogs, he's got to learn the trade or lose his pack to a crusty mountain man.

Blood Simple

Loren Visser

1984

The owner of a seedy small-town Texas bar discovers that one of his employees is having an affair with his wife. A chaotic chain of misunderstandings, lies and mischief ensues after he devises a plot to have them murdered.

Back to School

Coach Turnbull

1986

Self-made millionaire Thornton Melon decides to get a better education and enrolls at his son Jason's college. While Jason tries to fit in with his fellow students, Thornton struggles to gain his son's respect, giving way to hilarious antics.

Fletch

Dr. Joseph Dolan

1985

When investigative reporter Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher goes undercover to write a piece on the drug trade at a local beach, he's approached by wealthy businessman Alan Stanwyk, who offers him $50,000 to murder him. With sarcastic wit and a knack for disguises, Fletch sets out to uncover Stanwyk's story.

Reds

Speaker at Liberal Club

1981

An account of the revolutionary years of the legendary American journalist John Reed, who shared his adventurous professional life with his radical commitment to the socialist revolution in Russia, his dream of spreading its principles among the members of the American working class, and his troubled romantic relationship with the writer Louise Bryant.

Harry and the Hendersons

George Henderson Sr.

1987

Returning from a hunting trip in the forest, the Henderson family's car hits an animal in the road. At first they fear it was a man, but when they examine the "body" they find it's a "bigfoot". They think it's dead so they decide to take it home (there could be some money in this). As you guessed, it isn't dead. Far from being the ferocious monster they fear "Harry" to be, he's a friendly giant.

Random Hearts

Billy (uncredited)

1999

After losing their spouses in a plane crash, an internal affairs cop and a congresswoman find each other's keys in each other's loved ones' possessions and discover that the two were having an affair.

No Man's Land

Captain Haun

1987

A rookie cop goes undercover to infiltrate a gang of car thieves led by smooth and charming Ted. The rookie becomes too involved and starts to enjoy the thrill and lifestyle of the game, and becomes romanticly involved with the leaders sister.

Brubaker

C.P. Woodward

1980

The new warden of a small prison farm in Arkansas tries to clean it up of corruption after initially posing as an inmate.

Wildcats

Walt Coes

1986

High school track coach Molly McGrath knows just as much about football as anyone else on the planet. When a football coach's position becomes vacant, she applies for the job, despite snickers from fellow staff members and her former husband.

What's Up, Doc?

Arresting Officer

1972

The accidental mix-up of four identical plaid overnight bags leads to a series of increasingly wild and wacky situations.

The Jerk

Madman

1979

After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson sets off on a hilarious misadventure that takes him from rags to riches and back again. The slaphappy jerk strikes it rich, but life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in the end, all that really matters to Johnson is his true love.

Calvary

The Writer

2014

After being threatened during a confession, a good-natured priest must battle the dark forces closing in around him.

Christmas with the Kranks

Walt Scheel

2004

When their only daughter Blair leaves the family nest, Luther and Nora Krank decide to book an island cruise to beat the yuletide blues and just skip the holidays. But their decision to boycott tradition has the whole neighborhood in an uproar, and when Blair calls on Christmas Eve to announce a surprise visit with her new fiancée, the Kranks have just twelve hours to perform a miracle and pull themselves and their neighbors together to throw the best celebration ever!

Slap Shot

Dickie Dunn

1977

To build up attendance at their games, the management of a struggling minor-league hockey team signs up the Hanson Brothers, three hard-charging players whose job is to demolish the opposition.

Narrow Margin

Sergeant Dominick Benti

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.

Panther

Dorsett

1995

Panther is a semi-historic film about the origins of The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. The movie spans about 3 years (1966-68) of the Black Panther's history in Oakland. Panther also uses historical footage (B/W) to emphasize some points.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Uncle Bub

2012

A childless couple bury a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant. Soon, a child is born, though Timothy Green is not all that he appears.

Youth in Revolt

Mr. Saunders

2009

As a fan of Albert Camus and Jean-Luc Godard, teenage Nick Twisp is definitely out of his element when his mother and her boyfriend move the family to a trailer park. When a pretty neighbor named Sheeni plays records by French crooners, it's love at first sight for frustrated and inexperienced Nick. Learning that she is dating someone, Nick launches a hilarious quest to find his way into Sheeni's heart -- and bed.

Clean and Sober

Richard Dirks

1988

Hotshot real estate salesman Daryl has a bad cocaine habit. After embezzling his company's money, he wakes up next to a girl who overdosed. To hide from the police, he checks into a rehabilitation program guaranteeing anonymity. Under the mentorship of counselor Craig, Daryl accepts that he has a substance abuse problem. As he falls in love with fellow patient Charlie, Daryl begins committing to a newly sober life.

Bound for Glory

Husband

1976

A biography of Woody Guthrie, one of America's greatest folk singers. He left his dust-devastated Texas home in the 1930s to find work, discovering the suffering and strength of America's working class.