Blood Simple, 1984

3 days shy of 89. I enjoyed his work. One of those actors that never looked like he was acting.

I had a “brush with greatness” with him in Vancouver about 20 years ago. I was in town, working with the Vancouver airport.

I was sitting in a restaurant bar having lunch, watching a Big Ten basketball game when M. Emmett Walsh came in and sat down next to me. I recognized him at once.

We talked about basketball, shooting movies in Canada vs. California, French Onion soup as an entree and other topics. The game over, my lunch consumed, I got up to leave.

“Oh, here take this,” Mr. Walsh said. He handed me a folded-up piece of paper. I started to unfold it…

“No, no… don’t open that here. Wait until you get back to your hotel.”

I thought to myself “Wow, I must be giving off the wrong vibe here… holy crap!”

I stepped out on the street and unfolded the paper. It was a listing of his movies in very small type. It might have made a shorter list to recount the movies he HASNT been in.

I can’t think of a movie I’ve seen him in that I didn’t like. I sometimes use his line from Brubaker (as “Woody”) in these ever changing times…”Don’t f**k with tradition.”

Blood Simple was the first thing I really remember him from and remains my favorite of all his movies.

"In Russia, they make only 50 cent a day..."

One of the greats. He will be sorely missed.

This is the first movie and scene I remember him from:

As soon as I saw his name in the thread title, I had his picture in my mind. A specific role? I don’t know, I’ll watch The Milagro Beanfield War as a result of this thread; it’s been too long.

Great character actor. Amazing career. He was the guy that shot up the gas station in “ the jerk”.

When I hear his name it always reminds me of Roger Ebert's quote:

"No movie featuring either Harry Dean Stanton or M. Emmet Walsh in a supporting role can be altogether bad".

Sad to hear of his passing. I enjoyed his work.

I remember seeing him in Christmas With the Kranks back in 2004, and I didn’t think he had much time left. Great he made it another 20 years.

quote:

Originally posted by ftttu:
Sad to hear of his passing. I enjoyed his work.

I remember seeing him in Christmas With the Kranks back in 2004, and I didn’t think he had much time left. Great he made it another 20 years.

My wife loves that movie and I could have sworn that he died not long after it was made but I guess that was another cast member, maybe the minister.

One of several memorable characters in Cannery Row.

I liked him in The Mighty Quinn.

He had a small role in Raising Arizona that was great.

A truly gifted character actor.

Walsh played Dustin Hoffman's asshole parole officer in the seldom seen Straight Time, 1978.