Brian Donlevy
ActingAbout Brian Donlevy
Brian Donlevy (February 9, 1901 – April 5, 1972) was an Ulster-born American film actor, noted for playing tough guys from the 1930s to the 1960s. He usually appeared in supporting roles. Among his best known films are Beau Geste (1939) and The Great McGinty (1940). For his role as Sergeant Markoff in Beau Geste he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His obituary in The Times newspaper in the United Kingdom stated that "any consideration of the American 'film noir' of the 1940s would be incomplete without him".
Best Brian Donlevy Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Brian Donlevy's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Brian Donlevy.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker | Archival Footage | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood | Professor Bernard Quatermass (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1982 | Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid | (in "The Glass Key") (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | Pit Stop | Grant Willard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Rogue's Gallery | Detective Lee | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | Waco | Ace Ross | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Big Parade of Comedy | Kurt Devlynne in 'A Southern Yankee' (arch. foot.) (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Errand Boy | Tom 'T.P.' Paramutual | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | Juke Box Rhythm | George Manton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | Cowboy | Doc Bender, Trailhand | Average | Similar → |
| 1957 | Quatermass 2 | Prof. Bernard Quatermass | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Quatermass Xperiment | Prof. Bernard Quatermass | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Big Combo | Joe McClure | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | Woman They Almost Lynched | Charles Quantrill | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Ride the Man Down | Bide Marriner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Hoodlum Empire | Sen. William J. 'Bill' Stephens | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | Fighting Coast Guard | Cmdr. McFarland | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Shakedown | Nick Palmer | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Impact | Walter Williams | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | Command Decision | Brigadier General Clifton I. Garnet | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Killer McCoy | Jim Caighn | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Heaven Only Knows | Adam 'Duke' Byron | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Kiss of Death | Assistant D.A. Louis D'Angelo | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Beginning or the End | Maj. Gen. Leslie R. Groves | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Two Years Before the Mast | Richard Henry Dana | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Canyon Passage | George Camrose | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Our Hearts Were Growing Up | Tony Minnetti | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Virginian | Trampas | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Duffy's Tavern | Brian Donlevy | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek | Governor McGinty | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Hangmen Also Die! | Dr. Franticek Svoboda | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Stand by for Action | Lieut. Cmdr. Martin Roberts | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Glass Key | Paul Madvig | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Remarkable Andrew | General Andrew Jackson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Birth of the Blues | Memphis | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Great Man's Lady | Steely Edwards | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Hold Back the Dawn | Movie Actor (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | When the Daltons Rode | Grat Dalton | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Great McGinty | Daniel 'Dan' McGinty | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Destry Rides Again | Kent | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Beau Geste | Sergeant Markoff | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Union Pacific | Sid Campeau | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Jesse James | Barshee | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | In Old Chicago | Gil Warren | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | This Is My Affair | Batiste Duryea | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Half Angel | Duffy Giles | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Human Cargo | Packy Campbell | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Strike Me Pink | Vance | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Barbary Coast | Knuckles Jacoby | Average | Similar → |
Brian Donlevy - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Brian Donlevy?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Brian Donlevy is "Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line" with a rating of 7.5/10.
How many movies has Brian Donlevy acted in?
Brian Donlevy has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Brian Donlevy?
Other notable films include "This Is My Affair", "Destry Rides Again", and "Kiss of Death".