Lawrence Tierney

Lawrence James Tierney (March 15, 1919 – February 26, 2002) was an American film and television actor known for his portrayals of mobsters and tough guys. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Tierney was the son of an Irish-American policeman. He was a star athlete in high school and earned an athletic scholarship to Manhattan College, but left to work as a laborer. Tierney's acting career spanned over 50 years, during which he played numerous memorable roles that mirrored his own brushes with the law. In 2005, film critic David Kehr described Tierney as a 'frightening force of nature.'