Lawrence Tierney
ActingAbout Lawrence Tierney
Lawrence Tierney (March 15, 1919 – February 26, 2002) was an American actor, known for his many screen portrayals of mobsters and hardened criminals, which mirrored his own frequent brushes with the law. Commenting on the DVD release of a Tierney film in 2005, a New York Times critic observed: "The hulking Tierney was not so much an actor as a frightening force of nature." Description above from the Wikipedia article Lawrence Tierney, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Lawrence Tierney Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Lawrence Tierney reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Lawrence Tierney's work falls within the Crime genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 42% of Lawrence Tierney's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Mama Loves Papa, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Lawrence Tierney Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Lawrence Tierney's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Lawrence Tierney has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Evicted | Bob | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Armageddon | Eddie 'Gramp' Stamper (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | 2 Days in the Valley | Old Man | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | Who Do You Think You're Fooling? | Joe Cabot (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1993 | Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story | Joey Buttafucco's Father | Average | Similar → |
| 1993 | Red | Louis 'Red' Deutsch | Average | Similar → |
| 1993 | Midnight 2 | Bert Johnson (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | Reservoir Dogs | Joe Cabot | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | City of Hope | Kerrigan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Dillinger | Sheriff Sarber | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | Why Me? - Warum gerade ich | Armenian Robber #1 | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | The Horror Show | Warden | Flop | Similar → |
| 1988 | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | Angels Manager | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | From a Whisper to a Scream | Warden | Average | Similar → |
| 1986 | Murphy's Law | Cameron | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | Silver Bullet | Owen Knopfler | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Prizzi's Honor | Lt. Hanley | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Nothing Lasts Forever | Carriage Driver | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Terrible Joe Moran | Pico | Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Midnight | Bert Johnson | Flop | Similar → |
| 1981 | The Prowler | Maj. Chatham | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Arthur | Man in Coffee Shop | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Gloria | Broadway Bartender | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | The Kirlian Witness | Detective | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Bad | O'Reilly-O'Crapface | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | Custer of the West | General Philip Sheridan | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | A Child Is Waiting | Douglas Benham | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Female Jungle | Det. Sgt. Jack Stevens | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | Singing in the Dark | Biff Lamont | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Steel Cage | Chet Harmon, a Ringleader, segment "The Hostages" | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | The Greatest Show on Earth | Mr. Henderson | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | The Bushwhackers | Sam Tobin | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | Best of the Badmen | Jesse James | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | The Hoodlum | Vincent Lubeck | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Shakedown | Harry Colton | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Kill or Be Killed | Robert Warren | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | Bodyguard | Michael C. 'Mike' Carter | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Born to Kill | Sam Wild | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Devil Thumbs a Ride | Steve Morgan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | San Quentin | Jim Roland | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Step by Step | Johnny Christopher | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Badman's Territory | Jesse James | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Mama Loves Papa | Sharpe | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Those Endearing Young Charms | Lt. Ted Brewster | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Back to Bataan | Lt. Cmdr. Waite | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Dillinger | John Dillinger | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Birthday Blues | Tom Williams - Neighbor | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Ghost Ship | Seaman Louie Parker | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Government Girl | FBI Man (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Gildersleeve on Broadway | Cab Driver (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
Lawrence Tierney - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Lawrence Tierney?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Lawrence Tierney is "Mama Loves Papa" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Lawrence Tierney acted in?
Lawrence Tierney has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Lawrence Tierney?
Other notable films include "Those Endearing Young Charms", "Reservoir Dogs", and "Evicted".