Liam Dunn (November 12, 1916 – April 11, 1976) was an American character actor.
Life and career The New Jersey native's early career was spent on television in series such as Bonanza, Room 222, Alias Smith and Jones, Mannix, Emergency! [S5Ep18] as "Amos", and Gunsmoke.
Dunn's breakout role was as the judge (and Barbra Streisand's character's father) in the 1972 film What's Up, Doc?, for 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, including Blazing Saddles (1974) as Rev. Johnson, Young Frankenstein (1974) as Mr. Hilltop, and as the Newsvendor in Silent Movie (1976). He also appeared in several Walt Disney productions, such as The World's Greatest Athlete (1973), Charley and the Angel (1973), Herbie Rides Again (1974) and Gus (1976).
He frequently portrayed characters who were verbally and/or physically abused in a slapstick way. Additional television credits include Twigs, All in the Family, Barney Miller, McMillan & Wife, Rhoda, Sanford and Son, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, S4Ep6. Additional film credits included roles in Catch-22 (1970), The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972), A Reflection of Fear (1972), Emperor of the North Pole (1973), Papillon (1973), Killer Bees (1974), Bank Shot (1974), At Long Last Love (1975), The Night That Panicked America (1975), Peeper (1976) and High Velocity (1976).
Dunn collapsed on the set of Disney's The Shaggy D.A. (1976) during the filming of the roller rink sequence, and as soon as he was hospitalized, died 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 the time of his death, Dunn always looked much older than he was, and he was cast accordingly.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes1947 That's My Man Reporter Uncredited1970 Catch-22 Father 1972 Sanford & Son Gus 1972 What's Up, Doc? Judge Maxwell 1972 The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid Drummer 1972 A Reflection of Fear Coroner 1973 The World's Greatest Athlete Dr. Winslow 1973 Charley and the Angel Dr. Sprague 1973 Emperor of the North Pole Smile 1973 Isn't It Shocking? Myron Flagg 1973 Papillon Old Trustee 1974 Blazing Saddles Rev. Johnson 1974 Herbie Rides Again Doctor 1974 Killer Bees Zeb Tucker 1974 Bank Shot Painter 1974 Young Frankenstein Mr. Hilltop 1975 At Long Last Love Harry 1975 The Night That Panicked America Charlie 1975 Peeper Billy Pate 1976 Silent Movie Newsvendor 1976 Gus Dr. Morgan 1976 High Velocity Bennett 1976 The Shaggy D.A. Dogcatcher Uncredited
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