The Wild Man of Hollywood Played Raucous, Rage-Filled Human Steamrollers Onscreen, and His Offscreen Life Was Nearly as Outrageous

Lawrence Tierney, "The Devil Thumbs a Ride" (1947).

By Paul Parcellin

In a career that spanned over 50 years, Lawrence Tierney played mobsters, tough guys and cold blooded killers, among an assortment of other roles. His on-screen persona communicated a sense of unrestrained intimidation behind a dead-eyed stare. The characters he portrayed were capable of stunning, sadistic violence, and his performances were often jagged and crude but were always credible. New York Times film critic David Kehr called him "the hulking Tierney" and "not so much an actor as a frightening force of nature.” Author and poet Barry Gifford went a step further in describing the dark force that seems to propel the actor forward, observing, “There is absolutely no light in his eyes.”

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 15, 1919, Lawrence Tierney was the son of an Irish-American patrolman with the New York aqueduct police force. A star athlete at Brooklyn's Boys High School, he won a sports scholarship to Manhattan College. He dropped out of school after two years to work as a laborer on the New York Aqueduct, and labored at various odd jobs. His penchant for acting led to him join the Black Friars theatre group and the American-Irish Theatre. A scout for RKO Pictures saw one of his performances and signed him to a contract in 1943. A versatile actor, he appear in films noir, westerns, and crime dramas.

His big break came in 1945 when he starred in “Dillinger,” playing notorious bank robber John Dillinger. Following that he acted in a string of notable film noir roles, including “The Devil Thumbs a Ride” (1947), “Born to Kill” (1947) and “The Hoodlum” (1951).

Offscreen, Tierney showed himself to be as gritty as the roughnecks he played in films, but his reputation began to have a negative effect on his career. A dozen arrests between 1944 and 1951, mostly for public drunkenness and brawling, led to a 90-day stretch in jail and a stay in a sanitarium. By the end of the 1940s he was being offered only supporting roles. 

Tierney in a 1951 arrest.

In the 1950s, his alcoholism and erratic behavior got him blacklisted by Hollywood for a time. But he continued to work in television, including “The Untouchables,” “Gunsmoke" and “The Twilight Zone,” as well as in independent films.

There were occasional roles in feature films, including that of Gena Rowlands' attorney husband in John Cassavetes' "A Child Is Waiting" (1963). But Tierney's continued brushes with the law tested the good will of casting agents and producers. He moved to Europe for a period, where he married and reportedly had several children. He returned to the United States in the late 1960s, only to go back to his old career-killing ways.

In 1973, he was stabbed during a bar fight, and police questioned him about a 1975 incident in which a woman he was visiting leapt to her death from a fourth-floor window. During this period, Tierney made ends meet by working as a bartender and driving a hansom cab in Central Park. 

After swearing off alcohol later in the decade, he played a significant number of characters in films and television, often elderly but still dangerous criminals, cops and other streetwise types. A small role as New York's chief of police in John Huston's "Prizzi's Honor" (1985) kicked off a revival that lasted for over a decade.

In the 1990s, Quentin Tarantino cast Tierney in a film that would become a cult classic, “Reservoir Dogs” (1992). Tierney starred as gang leader Joe Cabot, who masterminds a diamond heist. But what should have been a cake walk toward juicier roles was scuttled by the actor’s on-set behavior. According to Tarantino, Tierney was very antagonistic during the filming and he was not very fond of Tarantino’s conversational screenwriting. Tarantino claimed that directing Tierney was the most challenging part of making the film. 

“Tierney was a complete lunatic," said Tarantino. "He just needed to be sedated.” 

When the actor was arrested for allegedly firing a shotgun at his own nephew at his Hollywood apartment his fate was sealed. In order to continue the production, he was released from jail for a day but by then Tarantino had made up his mind to never work with the actor again.

Even Tierney's manager admitted that at 75, he remained as irascible as he was a decade before when his drinking was at its peak. Similar stories ran throughout Tierney's final years, including his being ejected from the Tarantino-owned New Beverly Cinema for urinating into a soft drink cup during a screening of "Reservoir Dogs," and strong-arming his way into a discussion after a showing of "Born to Kill" at the Egyptian Theatre. 

However, in a strange turn of events, his cantankerous reputation seemed to open the doors to new roles. Between 1995 and 1996 he appeared in 10 projects, including an episode of "The Simpsons" in which he was the voice of a security guard who caught Bart shoplifting a video game. However, Tierney terrorized the show's staff with threats and bizarre behavior, including refusing to say certain lines if he didn't understand the humor. Additionally, there was the now infamous confrontation on the set of "Seinfeld," which cost Tierney a recurring role playing Elaine's father.

Despite the many difficulties he experienced throughout his working life, Tierney's career ended on a high note with an uncredited turn as Bruce Willis' father in the blockbuster "Armageddon" (1998). He made one last screen appearance in "Evicted" (2000), a low-budget drama starring and directed by his nephew, Michael Tierney. 

His tumultuous life came to an end on Feb. 26, 2002, when the 82-year-old Tierney died in his sleep at a Los Angeles area nursing home.

He left behind an impressive list of films and TV programs in which he played a variety of indelible characters. Here are some of the crime films that featured Lawrence Tierney:

Anne Jeffreys, Lawrence Tierney, "Dillinger." 

"Dillinger" (1945)

Tierney portrays notorious bank robber John Dillinger, who is released from prison in 1933 and quickly falls in with a group of hardened criminals who begin a wave of bank robberies. The FBI, led by Melvin Purvis (Brian Donlevy), pursues them. Dillinger is a charismatic and popular figure who becomes a folk hero. The public sees him as a Robin Hood, robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. But he’s also a ruthless killer with several murders under his belt. The film culminates in a shootout between Dillinger and the FBI. Dillinger finally meets his match, but his legend lives on.

“Step by Step” (1946)

Johnny Christopher (Tierney), a former Marine who has just returned from active duty in the Pacific, meets Evelyn Smith  (Anne Jeffreys) at the beach. Evelyn, a secretary to U.S. Sen. Remmy (Lowell Gilmore), is working on a top-secret project that involves monitoring fugitive Nazi spies. Johnny and Evelyn share a mutual, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that Johnny is also involved in the Nazi spy investigation. When Evelyn is kidnapped by the Nazis, Johnny and his dog, Bazuka, come to her rescue. Johnny and Evelyn are then forced to go on the run, with Nazis and police in hot pursuit.

“San Quentin” (1946)

San Quentin Prison Warden John Kelly (Harry Shannon) takes three model prisoners to a press event in San Francisco. One of the prisoners, Nick Taylor (Barton MacLane), is actually a dangerous criminal who is using the prison's Mutual Welfare League to advance his nefarious activities. During the trip to San Francisco, Taylor escapes and kills the warden's driver. The warden then enlists the help of Jim Roland (Lawrence Tierney), a former convict who is now a member of the Mutual Welfare League, to bring Taylor back to justice. Roland tracks Taylor down to a waterfront bar, where he is hiding out with his girlfriend, Betty Richards (Marian Carr). A dramatic showdown ensues.

"The Devil Thumbs a Ride" (1947)

Charming sociopath Steve Morgan (Tierney) robs and kills a bank patron. He hitches a ride to Los Angeles with unsuspecting Jimmy 'Fergie' Ferguson (Ted North). On the way they stop at a filling station and pick up two women. When they run into a roadblock, Morgan persuades the group to spend the night at a vacant beach house — a mistake on their part. "The Devil Thumbs a Ride" is a classic noir and is one of Tierney’s most powerful performances.

Claire Trevor, Elisha Cook Jr., Lawrence Tierney, "Born to Kill" (1947).

"Born to Kill" (1947)

In a fit of jealous rage, Sam Wilde (Tierney) kills the girl he’s attracted to and her boyfriend. San Francisco socialite Helen Brent (Claire Trevor), fresh off a divorce, discovers the bodies in the Reno rooming house where she’s been staying. Rather than report the crimes she boards a train for her home city, where she meets Sam, unaware that he’s the one behind the killings. They share a mutual attraction. But Sam’s hopes of wedding a rich lady are dashed when he finds she’s engaged to a wealthy man she doesn’t love. Instead, he woos Helen’s half sister in an attempt to tap into the family's newfound wealth. And it’s soon apparent that Sam finds it all too easy to kill again.

“Bodyguard” (1948)

Police detective Mike Carter (Tierney) is fired from the LAPD for insubordination. Fred Dysen (John Litel), nephew of meatpacking heiress Gene Dysen (Lane), offers him $2,000 to protect Gene, whose life has been recently threatened. Carter takes the job and investigates the threats against Gene. He soon discovers that there are several people who would benefit from her death, including her ex-husband, her business partner and her own brother. As Carter gets closer to the truth, he finds himself in danger. He is eventually framed for murder and must clear his name and protect Gene before it’s too late.

“Shakedown” (1950)

Unscrupulous newspaper photographer Jack Early (Howard Duff) is sent to take a picture of racketeer Nick Palmer, who doesn't like to be photographed. Palmer takes a liking to Early and asks him to frame his henchman Harry Colton (Tierney), but Early double-crosses Palmer and informs Colton that his boss had planned to frame him. Shortly afterward, Palmer exacts revenge and Early becomes famous for snapping a photo of the event. But the photographer finally discovers that his luck has run out.

“Kill or Be Killed” (1950)

Wrongly accused of murder, Robert Warren (Lawrence Tierney) must elude capture while trying to track down the real killer. Along the way, Warren is assisted by the beautiful Maria Marek (Marissa O'Brien). Her jealous husband (Rudolph Anders) and his henchman (George Coulouris) put Warren in even deeper trouble.

“The Hoodlum” (1951)

Habitual criminal Vincent Lubeck (Tierney) is on parole from prison. He’s a violent and unpredictable man, and he quickly begins to spiral out of control. Lubeck seduces his brother Johnny’s (Edward Tierney) fiancee Rosa (Allene Roberts). He becomes interested in an armored car that makes regular stops across the street from his service station job. It goes without saying that a crime spree ensues.

“The Steel Cage” (1954)

Ruthless convict Chet Harmon (Tierney) plans a breakout with help from brothers Al (John Ireland) and Frank (Charles Nolte). A gun is planted and Chet is almost successful, taking Warden Duffy (Paul Kelly) hostage, but Al has second thoughts after his brother is seriously wounded.

“Female Jungle” (1955)

Police Det. Sgt. Jack Stevens (Tierney) is called to the scene of a murder. The victim is a young woman who has been strangled. Stevens is immediately suspected of the crime — he was the last person seen with the victim. The investigation leads him to Candy Price (Jayne Mansfield), an artist's mistress, and to gossip columnist Claude Almstead (John Carradine) who was with the victim that night. But is he the real killer?

“Reservoir Dogs” (1992)

Veteran criminal Joe Cabot (Tierney) recruits a gang of hardened criminals to execute an audacious jewel heist. Unbeknownst to the band of thieves, an undercover officer has infiltrated their ranks. More troubling, still, one of Cabot’s recruits is a psychopathic killer, and his hair-trigger reactions will turn the heist into a scene of carnage.

Tierney, "Reservoir Dogs" (1992).