Walter Brennan

Walter Brennan was an award winning American singer along with a film and television actor. Brennan played Grandpappy Amos McCoy on the television show The Real McCoys and also played many characters in various films throughout his career.

Fast Facts

1. Name: Walter Andrew Brennan
2. Born: July 25, 1894
3. Died: September 21, 1974
4. Birthplace: Swampscott, Massachusetts
5. Married to Ruth Wells for 54 years
6. Won 3 Academy Awards
7. Studied engineering before becoming and actor
8. Worked as a stuntman in The Bride of Frankenstein
9. Career spanned 5 decades
10. Appeared in more than 230 films and television roles

Career

While Brennan was still in school he became interested in acting and began preforming in vaudeville. After WW1 he moved to Guatemala and raised pineapples finally settling in Los Angeles. He became involved in real estate in the 1920s and made a considerable amount of money but lost it when the market took a downturn.

In the 1930s he began appearing in films and was often called to play roles that the characters were older than he was in real life. He continued to play roles in films and gain recognition.

In the 1950s he got a starring role in the ABC series The Real Mcoys which ran from 1957-1962 before switching to CBS as The McCoys for a last season.

Brennan also made a few recordings in his lifetime. Old Rivers was released as a single in 1962 by Liberty Records which became popular.

Notable Roles

• 1938: Kentucky
• 1940: The Westerner
• 1957: The Real McCoys
• 1962: How The West Was Won
• 1967: The Guns of Will Sonnet

Notable Recordings

• 1962: "Old Rivers"

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