Liam Dunn

Who was Liam Dunn?

Liam Dunn 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 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., 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.