Liam Dunn (November 12, 1916 – April 11, 1976) was an American character actor.The New Jersey native's early career was spent toiling in television in series such as Bonanza, Room 222, Alias Smith and Jones, Mannix, and Gunsmoke.Dunn's breakout role was as the judge (and Barbra Streisand's father) in the 1972 film What's Up, Doc?, in which he was noticed by Mel Brooks, who was in the process of forming a stock company of actors. Dunn went on to appear in Brooks films, Blazing Saddles as 'Rev. Johnson', Young Frankenstein as 'Mr. Hilltop', and as the 'Newsvendor' in Silent Movie.He frequently portrayed characters who were verbally and/or physically abused in a slapstick way. Additional credits include Twigs, Barney Miller, McMillan & Wife, Rhoda, Sanford and Son,The Mary Tyler Moore Show and several episodes of the Disney anthology television series.In Spring 1976, it is said Liam Dunn collapsed on the set of Disney's The Shaggy D.A. (1976), during the filming of the roller rink sequence, and died soon after on April 11, 1976, from emphysema in Granada Hills, California. John Fiedler was brought in to complete the role as dog catcher. Though only 59 at his death, Dunn always looked much older, and was cast accordingly.
According to Suzanne Finstad's 2005 biography of Warren Beatty, Dunn (spelled Dunne in the book), was a casting director at CBS in 1957 and gave Beatty his first acting role in a 15-minute Sunday religious show, Lamp Unto My Feet. Another CBS employee, Pamela Illott, is quoted by Finstad as saying that Dunn discovered Steve McQueen for the same program, and also George C. Scott.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Quinns
1977
TV Movie
Sean Quinn Sr.
The Shaggy D.A.
1976
Dogcatcher (uncredited)
High Velocity
1976
Bennett
Three Times Daley
1976
TV Movie
Alex Daley
Ace
1976
TV Movie
Mr. Strutt
Gus
1976
Dr. Morgan
Silent Movie
1976
Newsvendor
Panache
1976
TV Movie
M. Durant / Pere Joseph
Family
1976
TV Series
Mr. Howard
Rhoda
1976
TV Series
Gene Dempsey
Emergency!
1976
TV Series
Amos
McMillan & Wife
1975-1976
TV Series
Dave Duncan / Rev. Coffey
McCoy
1976
TV Series
Billy Sunshine
Peeper
1976
Billy Pate
Barney Miller
1975
TV Series
Fuzzo
The Night That Panicked America
1975
TV Movie
Charlie
Karen
1975
TV Series
Captain Pike
Twigs
1975
TV Movie
Pa
Kojak
1975
TV Series
Faxy
At Long Last Love
1975
Harry
Lucas Tanner
1975
TV Series
Judge
McCloud
1975
TV Series
Ben
Young Frankenstein
1974
Mr. Hilltop
Virginia Hill
1974
TV Movie
Auctioneer
Bank Shot
1974
Painter
The Healers
1974
TV Movie
Mr. Addison
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
1974
TV Movie
Mr. Barker
A Cry in the Wilderness
1974
TV Movie
Mr. Hainie
If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever?
1974
TV Movie
Grandfather Bennett
The Partridge Family
1974
TV Series
Salesman / Mr. Neumeyer
Killer Bees
1974
TV Movie
Zeb Tucker
Herbie Rides Again
1974
Doctor
Blazing Saddles
1974
Rev. Johnson
Koska and His Family
1973
TV Movie
The Snoop Sisters
1973
TV Series
Franklin Birdwell
Papillon
1973
Old Trustee
Miracle on 34th Street
1973
TV Movie
Zookeeper
Adam's Rib
1973
TV Series
Charlie
The Odd Couple
1973
TV Series
Captain Wyatt
Mary Tyler Moore
1973
TV Series
Robert Baxter
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
1973
TV Series
Myron
Isn't It Shocking?
1973
TV Movie
Myron Flagg
Love, American Style
1973
TV Series
The Minister (segment "Love and the Seven Year Wait")