M. Emmet Walsh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids M. Emmet Walsh
Walsh at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival
Born	Michael Emmet Walsh (1935-03-22)March 22, 1935 Ogdensburg, New York, U.S.
Died	March 19, 2024(2024-03-19) (aged 88) St. Albans, Vermont, U.S.
Alma mater	Clarkson University, B.A. 1958
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1968–2024

Michael Emmet Walsh (born March 22, 1935 – died March 19, 2024) was a famous American actor. He was known as a "character actor," meaning he often played interesting supporting roles instead of the main hero. He appeared in over 200 movies and TV shows!

Some of his memorable roles include Earl Frank in Straight Time (1978), the Madman in The Jerk (1979), and Captain Bryant in Blade Runner (1982). He also played Harv in Critters (1986) and Walt Scheel in Christmas with the Kranks (2004).

Walsh starred as a private detective named Loren Visser in Blood Simple (1984). This was the very first movie by the famous Coen Brothers. For his amazing work in Blood Simple, he won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.

He also appeared in many other well-known films. These include Midnight Cowboy (1969), Little Big Man (1970), What's Up, Doc? (1972), and Serpico (1973). Later movies include Fletch (1985), Back to School (1986), Raising Arizona (1987), and My Best Friend's Wedding (1997). He even voiced a character in The Iron Giant (1999) and appeared in Knives Out (2019).

Early Life and Education

Michael Emmet Walsh was born in Ogdensburg, New York. His mother was Agnes Katharine Sullivan, and his father was Harry Maurice Walsh Sr., who worked as a customs agent. His family had Irish roots.

He grew up in a small town called Swanton, Vermont. When he was three years old, he had an operation on his ear. This operation caused him to become deaf in his left ear.

Walsh went to Clarkson University and graduated in 1958 with a degree in Business Administration. While at Clarkson, he started acting in school plays. A teacher encouraged him to continue acting. So, he moved to New York City to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. For the next ten years, he performed in different theaters. In 1969, he made his first appearance on Broadway, acting alongside Al Pacino in a play called Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?

Acting Career Highlights

M. Emmet Walsh became known as one of Hollywood's most sought-after supporting actors. Film critic Roger Ebert once famously said that "no movie featuring either Harry Dean Stanton or M. Emmet Walsh in a supporting role can be altogether bad." This shows how much people appreciated his acting.

Walsh's unique accent, from growing up in Vermont, meant he wasn't often cast in classic plays like Shakespeare. He focused on roles where his natural speech fit perfectly. He was excellent at playing characters who helped move the story forward. He often played villains who didn't even realize they were bad.

One of his early important roles was in Straight Time (1978). He played a tough parole officer opposite Dustin Hoffman. A film critic described his character as "a cesspool in a flowered shirt," showing how well Walsh played difficult roles.

He gained more fame in the 1977 hockey comedy Slap Shot. In this movie, he played Dickie Dunn, a cynical sportswriter. He also had a small but memorable part as a crazy sniper in the Steve Martin comedy The Jerk.

One of his most famous roles was Captain Harry Bryant in Ridley Scott's classic science fiction film Blade Runner. He told the main character, Decker, "I need your magic." His most praised performance was in Blood Simple (1984). He played a double-crossing private detective and won the first-ever Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead in 1986.

Other notable film roles include a doctor in the Chevy Chase movie Fletch (1985). He also played a college diving coach in the Rodney Dangerfield film Back to School (1986). He was in the horror film Critters (1986) and Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (1996). He also appeared in the romantic comedy My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) and voiced Earl Stutz in the animated film The Iron Giant (1999). Later, he was in Snow Dogs (2002) and Christmas with the Kranks (2004). In 2019, he appeared in the mystery film Knives Out.

On television, Walsh played Alex Lembeck, a motorcycle cop, in The Sandy Duncan Show in 1972. He also made guest appearances on popular shows like Home Improvement as Tim Taylor's father-in-law in 1994. Other TV shows he appeared in include Early Edition, The X-Files, Ed, and Frasier. He also played Dr. Joseph Krofft on an episode of NYPD Blue.

In 2018, Walsh was honored by his Blade Runner co-star Harrison Ford. He was inducted into the Character Actor Hall of Fame and received a Lifetime Achievement award. Walsh once said about his acting, "My job is to come in and move the story along." He believed in supporting the main actors and driving the movie forward. He also said, "I approach each job thinking it might be my last, so it better be the best work possible. I want to be remembered as a working actor."

Death

M. Emmet Walsh passed away from a cardiac arrest in St. Albans, Vermont, on March 19, 2024. He was 88 years old, just three days before his 89th birthday.

Filmography

Film

Television