Scott Brady (born Gerard Kenneth Tierney; September 13, 1924 – April 16, 1985) was an American film and television actor best known for his roles in Western films and as a ubiquitous television presence. He played the title role in the television series '' Shotgun Slade'' (1959–1961).

Early years

Gerard Kenneth Tierney was born in

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

to Lawrence and Mary Alice (née Crowley) Tierney; his father was an Irish-American policeman who was chief of the New York City Aqueduct Police force. His older and younger brothers were fellow actors Lawrence and Edward Tierney, respectively. He took his screen name from a friend's short story in which the hero, a boxer, was named Scott Brady. Brady was reared in suburban

Westchester County, New York Westchester County is a County (United States), county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, bordering the Long Island Sound and the Byram River to its east and the Hudson River on its west. The c ...

. He was nicknamed "Roddy" in his youth. He attended Roosevelt and St. Michael's High Schools, where he lettered in basketball, football, and track. He aspired to become a football coach or a radio announcer, but instead enlisted in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

before his graduation from high school. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he served as a naval aviation mechanic overseas on the USS ''Norton Sound''. Discharged in 1946, Brady headed to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, where his older brother Lawrence was already making some progress as an actor. First working a cab driver and a lumberjack, Brady studied at the Beverly Hills Drama School. Brady had two brushes with scandal. In 1957, he was arrested for narcotics possession, but the charge was dropped, and he always maintained that he was framed. In 1963, he was barred by the New York State Harness Racing Commission from participation in the sport due to his association with known bookmakers. He also was involved in two lawsuits with Eagle-Lion Films in 1950. The studio sued Brady for $105,000, charging that he had failed to fulfill his contract's requirement of making two films a year for five years. Brady countersued for $510,000 in damages, saying that his career had been damaged when Eagle-Lion suspended him.

Acting career

Scott Brady Andy Griffith Destry Rides Again 1959

In 1948, Brady made his film debut as a boxer in the programmer '' In This Corner'' (1948) and took tough-guy roles in films like '' He Walked by Night'', '' Undertow'', and '' Canon City''. He was the leading man in the romantic comedy '' The Model and the Marriage Broker'' and in the cult Western drama ''

Johnny Guitar ''Johnny Guitar'' is a 1954 American independent Western film directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden, Mercedes McCambridge, Ernest Borgnine, and Scott Brady. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. ...

''. From 1953 to 1956, Brady appeared four times in different roles on ''

Lux Video Theatre ''Lux Video Theatre'' is an American television anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1957. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays. Overview The ''Lux Vi ...

'' and appeared five times on '' The Ford Television Theatre''. In 1955, he portrayed Ted Slater in "Man in the Ring" of ''

The Loretta Young Show ''The Loretta Young Show'' (originally known as ''Letter to Loretta'') is an American anthology drama television series broadcast on Sunday nights from September 2, 1953, to June 4, 1961, on NBC for a total of 165 episodes. The series was hoste ...

''. In 1955 and 1957, Brady appeared twice on '' Studio 57''. Early in 1957, he was cast in "The Barbed Wire Preacher" of '' Crossroads''. On December 26, 1957, Brady played the frontier figure

William Bent William Wells Bent (May 23, 1809 – May 19, 1869) was a merchant, frontier trader and rancher in the American West, with forts in Colorado. He also acted as a mediator among the Cheyenne Nation, other Native American tribes and the expanding U ...

in the episode "Lone Woman" on ''

Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' is an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 134 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of t ...

''. From 1955 to 1959, Brady appeared five times on '' Schlitz Playhouse'', including the roles of Reno Cromwell in "Night of the Big Swamp" and Calvin Penny in "Papa Said No". The ''Schlitz Playhouse'' episode "The Salted Mine" became the pilot for Brady's own

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

television series '' Shotgun Slade'', which aired 78 episodes in syndication from 1959 to 1961. In addition to ''Shotgun Slade'', Brady appeared in several other television Westerns, including '' Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'', '' The High Chaparral'', ''

Lancer A lancer was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used for mounted warfare in Assyria as early as and subsequently by India, Egypt, China, Persia, Greece, and Rome. The weapon was widely used throughout Eurasia during the M ...

'', '' Dirty Sally'', '' The Virginian'' (twice), and ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'' (three times). In 1958, he played the lead role of Sergeant Matt Blake in '' Ambush at Cimarron Pass''. He dated a number of actresses in Hollywood during this period, including Kipp Hamilton, Carol Ohmart, Reiko Sato, and

Shelley Winters Shelley Winters (born Shirley Schrift; August 18, 1920 – January 14, 2006) was an American film actress whose career spanned seven decades. She won Academy Awards for ''The Diary of Anne Frank (1959 film), The Diary of Anne Frank'' (1959) and ' ...

. In 1961, he played the roles of John Keller in "We're Holding Your Son" on ''

General Electric Theater ''General Electric Theater'' is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations. Radio After an audition show ...

'' and Ernie Taggart in "Voyage into Fear" on ''

Checkmate Checkmate (often shortened to mate) is any game position in chess and other chess-like games in which a player's king is in check (threatened with ) and there is no possible escape. Checkmating the opponent wins the game. In chess, the king is ...

''. In 1962, Brady was cast in the lead guest role as reporter/commentator

Floyd Gibbons Floyd Phillips Gibbons (July 16, 1887 – September 23, 1939) was the war correspondent for the ''Chicago Tribune'' during World War I. One of radio's first news reporters and commentators, he was famous for a fast-talking delivery style. Floyd ...

in "The Floyd Gibbons Story" of '' The Untouchables''. The next year, he portrayed Bill Floyd in the episode "Run for Doom" of ''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 a ...

''. In 1967, Brady guest-starred on ''

Judd, for the Defense ''Judd, for the Defense'' is an American legal drama originally broadcast on the ABC network on Friday nights from September 8, 1967, to March 21, 1969. Judd was a shortened surname from Juddinski. Synopsis The show stars Carl Betz, who had pr ...

''. During the mid-1960s, Brady starred in several of A.C. Lyles' Western films. In 1969, he portrayed Budd Blake in the episode "Panic" of '' Bracken's World''. That same year, he played John Harris in the episode "Log 102: We Can't Just Walk Away From It" of '' Adam 12''. Brady was cast as a corrupt US sergeant serving overseas in the film, '' $'' (1971). In 1973, he was cast as Davey Collier in "No Stone Unturned" of '' Banacek''. On December 5, 1974, Brady guest-starred in the season-one '' Movin' On'' TV episode "High Rollers" as a Vegas pit boss. From 1975 to 1977, Brady had the recurring role of Vinnie in 16 episodes of '' Police Story.'' On February 15, 1977, he appeared as Shirley Feeney's father, Jack Feeney, in the episode "Buddy, Can You Spare a Father?" on ABC's ''

Laverne & Shirley ''Laverne & Shirley'' is an American television sitcom that ran for eight seasons on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from January 27, 1976, to May 10, 1983. A spin-off of ''Happy Days'', ''Laverne & Shirley'' stars Penny Marshall and Cindy Wi ...

''. Though he had turned down the role of Archie Bunker on ''

All in the Family ''All in the Family'' is an American sitcoms in the United States, sitcom television series that aired on CBS for nine seasons from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979, with a total of 205 episodes. It was later produced as ''Archie Bunker's Pla ...

'', Brady appeared as Joe Foley on four episodes in 1976. He appeared five times on ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner, aired on NBC from September 13, 1974, to January 10, 1980. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investigator Jim Rockford, with Noah Beery Jr. in th ...

''. In 1977, he portrayed Lou Caruso in "Caruso's Way" of '' Welcome Back, Kotter'', and appeared as Matt Zaleski in the TV miniseries ''

Wheels A wheel is a rotating component (typically circular in shape) that is intended to turn on an axle bearing. The wheel is one of the key components of the wheel and axle which is one of the six simple machines. Wheels, in conjunction with axl ...

'' the following year. Brady portrayed Capt. Scofield, in the 1981 made-for-TV film '' McClain's Law''. In 1983, Brady portrayed Alex Kidd in "Shadow of Sam Penny" on ''

Simon and Simon ''Simon & Simon'' is an American crime drama television series that originally ran from November 24, 1981, to September 16, 1989. The series was broadcast on CBS, and starred Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker as two disparate brothers who operat ...

''. Brady's last film acting role was as Sheriff Frank Reilly in the 1984 film ''

Gremlins ''Gremlins'' is a 1984 American black comedy horror film directed by Joe Dante, written by Chris Columbus and starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday and Frances Lee McCain, with Howie Mandel providing the voic ...

''.

Death

On April 16, 1985, Brady died of respiratory failure in a West Los Angeles hospital at the age of 60.

Partial filmography

* '' The Counterfeiters'' (1948) - Jerry McGee * '' Canon City'' (1948) - Jim Sherbondy * '' In This Corner'' (1948) - Jimmy Weston * '' He Walked by Night'' (1948) - Police Sergeant Marty Brennan * '' The Gal Who Took the West'' (1949) - Lee O'Hara * '' Port of New York'' (1949) - Michael 'Mickey' Waters * '' Undertow'' (1949) - Tony Reagan * ''

I Was a Shoplifter ''I Was a Shoplifter'' is a 1950 American film noir crime film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Scott Brady and Mona Freeman. Plot A shoplifter, Faye Burton, is being watched by Herb Klaxon, a security guard at a Los Angeles department s ...

'' (1950) - Jeff Andrews * '' Undercover Girl'' (1950) - Lieutenant Michael Trent * '' Kansas Raiders'' (1950) - Bill Anderson * '' The Model and the Marriage Broker'' (1951) - Matt Hornbeck * '' Bronco Buster'' (1952) - Bart Eaton * '' Untamed Frontier'' (1952) - Glenn Denbow * '' Yankee Buccaneer'' (1952) - Lieutenant David Farragut * '' Montana Belle'' (1952) - Bob Dalton * '' Bloodhounds of Broadway'' (1952) - Robert 'Numbers' Foster * '' Three Steps to the Gallows'' (UK) / White Fire (US) (1953) - Gregor Stevens * '' A Perilous Journey'' (1953) - Shard Benton * '' El Alamein'' (1953) - Joe Banning * ''

'' (1954) - Dancin' Kid * ''

The Law vs. Billy the Kid ''The Law vs. Billy the Kid'' is a 1954 American Western (genre), western film directed by William Castle and starring Scott Brady, Betta St. John and Paul Cavanagh. It was produced by Sam Katzman for distribution by Columbia Pictures. Plot Che ...

'' (1954) - William 'Billy the Kid' Bonney * '' They Were So Young'' (1954) - Richard Lanning * '' Gentlemen Marry Brunettes'' (1955) - David Action * '' The Vanishing American'' (1955) - Blandy * '' Mohawk'' (1956) - Jonathan * '' Terror at Midnight'' (1956) - Neal 'Rick' Rickards * '' The Maverick Queen'' (1956) - Sundance * '' The Storm Rider'' (1957) - Bart Jones * '' The Restless Breed'' (1957) - Mitch * '' Ambush at Cimarron Pass'' (1958) - Sergeant Matt Blake * '' Blood Arrow'' (1958) - Dan Kree * '' Battle Flame'' (1959) - 1st Lieutenant Frank Davis * ''

'' (1963) (Season 1 episode "Run for Doom") - Bill Floyd * '' Operation Bikini'' (1963) - Captain Emmett Carey * '' Stage to Thunder Rock'' (1964) - Sam Swope * '' John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!'' (1965) - Coach Sakalakis * '' Black Spurs'' (1965) - Reverend Tanner * '' Destination Inner Space'' (1966) - Commander Wayne * '' Castle of Evil'' (1966) - Matt Granger * '' Red Tomahawk'' (1967) - Ep Wyatt * '' Fort Utah'' (1967) - Dajin * '' Journey to the Center of Time'' (1967) - Stanton * '' Arizona Bushwhackers'' (1968) - Tom Rile * '' The Road Hustlers'' (1968) - Earl Veasey * ''They Ran for Their Lives'' (1968) - Joe Seely * '' The Mighty Gorga'' (1969) - Dan Morgan * '' Nightmare in Wax'' (1969) - Detective Haskell * '' Satan's Sadists'' (1969) - Charlie Baldwin * '' The Ice House'' (1969) - Lieutenant Scott * '' The Cycle Savages'' (1969) - Vice Squad Detective (uncredited) * '' Five Bloody Graves'' (1969) - Jim Wade * '' Marooned'' (1969) - Public Affairs Officer * '' Hell's Bloody Devils'' (1970) - Brand * '' Cain's Cutthroats'' (1970) - Justice Cain * '' Doctors' Wives'' (1971) - Sergeant Malloy * '' $'' (UK title: ''The Heist'') (1971) - Sarge * '' The Loners'' (1972) - Policeman Hearn * '' Bonnie's Kids'' (1972) - Ben * ''The Leo Chronicles'' (1972) * '' Wicked, Wicked'' (1973) - Police Sergeant Ramsey * '' The Night Strangler'' (1973) - Police Captain Schubert * '' Roll, Freddy, Roll!'' (1974 TV movie) - Admiral Norton * '' When Every Day Was the Fourth of July'' (1978 TV movie) - Officer Michael Doyle * ''Women in White'' (1979 TV movie) - Bartender * '' The China Syndrome'' (1979) - Herman De Young * '' Strange Behavior'' (1981) - Shea * '' McClain's Law'' (1981) - Captain Scofield * ''

'' (1984) - Sheriff Frank (final film role)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Brady, Scott 1924 births 1985 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male television actors American people of Irish descent Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City Deaths from pulmonary fibrosis Male actors from Brooklyn Male actors from Los Angeles Male Western (genre) film actors Military personnel from New York City Military personnel from New York (state) Actors from Westchester County, New York United States Navy personnel of World War II United States Navy sailors Western (genre) television actors