Walter Brennan
ActingAbout Walter Brennan
Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in Come and Get It (1936), Kentucky (1938), and The Westerner (1940), making him one of only three male actors to win three Academy Awards. Brennan was also nominated for his performance in Sergeant York (1941). Other noteworthy performances were in To Have and Have Not (1944), My Darling Clementine (1946), Red River (1948), and Rio Bravo (1959). Description above from the Wikipedia article Walter Brennan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Walter Brennan reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Walter Brennan's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 84% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Walter Brennan remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Walter Brennan Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Walter Brennan's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Walter Brennan.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | La Classe américaine | 'Stumpy' (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Men Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Young Country | Sheriff Matt Fenley | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | Support Your Local Sheriff! | Pa Danby | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Movie Orgy | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | Who's Minding the Mint? | Pop Gillis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Those Calloways | Alf Simes | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | How the West Was Won | Jeb Hawkins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Rio Bravo | Stumpy | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Tammy and the Bachelor | John Dinwitty | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Proud Ones | Jake | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | Good-bye, My Lady | Uncle Jesse Jackson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Bad Day at Black Rock | Doc T.R. Velie Jr. | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Far Country | Ben Tatum | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Best of the Badmen | 'Doc' Butcher | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Along the Great Divide | Timothy 'Pop' Keith | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Task Force | Pete Richard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Red River | 'Groot' Nadine | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | My Darling Clementine | Old Man Clanton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | A Stolen Life | Eben Folger | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | To Have and Have Not | Eddie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Princess and the Pirate | Featherhead | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith | George, Mailman | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Hangmen Also Die! | Prof. Stephen Novotny | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Stand by for Action | Chief Yeoman Henry Johnson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Pride of the Yankees | Sam Blake | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Breakdowns of 1941 | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Sergeant York | Pastor Rosier Pile | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Meet John Doe | The Colonel | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Westerner | Judge Roy Bean | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Northwest Passage | 'Hunk' Marriner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle | Walter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Adventures of Tom Sawyer | Muff Potter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Buccaneer | Ezra Peavey | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Come and Get It | Swan Bostrom | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Fury | Bugs Meyers | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | The Moon's Our Home | Lem | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | These Three | Taxi Driver | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Three Godfathers | Samuel 'Gus' Barton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Seven Keys to Baldpate | Station Agent | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Barbary Coast | Old Atrocity | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Party Wire | Paul - Railroad Telegrapher (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Bride of Frankenstein | Peasant (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | There's Always Tomorrow | Auto mechanic | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Death on the Diamond | Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | The Invisible Man | Bicycle Owner (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Once in a Lifetime | Lighting Technician (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Scandal for Sale | Newspaperman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1929 | Flight | Marine Pilot | Average | Similar → |
| 1927 | Sensation Seekers | Below Deck Yacht Crewman | Average | Similar → |
Walter Brennan - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Walter Brennan?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Walter Brennan is "The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Walter Brennan acted in?
Walter Brennan has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Walter Brennan?
Other notable films include "There's Always Tomorrow", "The Young Country", and "Party Wire".