Trivia

Jack Nicholson dedicated his Best Actor Academy Award (for As Good as It Gets (1997)) to Walsh. (1998)

Before his death, he was hoping to follow the example of Gene Hackman and get away from playing the psychopaths and cowards he had been typecast as, playing more complicated and substantial character parts.

Although he acted in college at the University of Rhode Island, as well as on and off-Broadway productions, he did not act in his first film until he was nearly 42 years old.

Early jobs included social worker, encyclopedia salesman, junior high school teacher, and reporter.

Held a bachelor's degree in sociology from Rhode Island University.

In his last year, Walsh starred in the 1998 films Hidden Agenda, Pleasantville, and The Negotiator. All three movies, plus Outside Ozona (Walsh died shortly before production commenced) were dedicated to his memory.

He died of a heart attack while vacationing near San Diego, CA. Walsh fell ill while staying at a resort hotel & was taken to Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, CA, where he was pronounced dead. He lived in Encino (Los Angeles) with his son, John West, at the time of his death.

Big break in 1984 while working in David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross" on broadway.

He spoke fluent German.

In just over a decade, he appeared in more than two dozen films.

Had appeared in four movies along with Kurt Russell: Tequila Sunrise (1988), Backdraft (1991), Executive Decision (1996) and Breakdown (1997).

During his childhood, he attended a Jesuit boarding school in Ireland.

His father died of a brain tumor and his mother died of Alzheimer's disease.

Early jobs also included tending bar at some of Manhattan's best seafood restaurants.

He never had a leading role in a movie he was in.

Discovered by a director in 1974 and began working in off-broadway shows.

He was cast in Loose Cannons (1990) but was fired after only two days of work. He had co-starred in Wired (1989), a sensationalized biography about John Belushi, and his involvement in the film upset his co-star Dan Aykroyd, who was a friend of Belushi. Walsh was compensated $50,000 and replaced by Paul Koslo.

Had a strong interest in metaphysics.

He appeared in two films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and A Few Good Men (1992).

Graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where he starred as an undergraduate in many college theater productions and was president of Students for a Democratic Society, an organization that grew out of the anti-war movement of the 1960s.

Appeared in four films with William H. Macy: House of Games (1987), Things Change (1988), The Client (1994) and Pleasantville (1998).

His remains were cremated and his ashes were given to his family members.

Brother of Christopher Walsh, Patricia Walsh and Mary Walsh.

Appeared in three films with Kevin Spacey: Dad (1989), Outbreak (1995) and The Negotiator (1998). Additionally, Spacey played John Williamson in Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), based on the stage play in which Walsh had played the same role in the first U.S. production.

Father of John West.

He was a lifelong Democrat who, as an undergraduate, was a member of Students for a Democratic Society, and participated in the group's protests and sit-ins against the Vietnam War.

He was of Irish ancestry through both of his parents: his paternal grandfather, his paternal grandmother's father and all of his maternal great-grandparents were originally from Ireland.

Played a military official in 2 films with the word 'good' in the title: Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) and A Few Good Men (1992). The former was the first of 2 Robin Williams films with 'good' at the beginning of the title, with the second being Good Will Hunting (1997), which was released shortly before Walsh's death in 1998.