Jack Nicholson dedicated his Best Actor Academy Award (for As Good as It Gets ) to Walsh.
Discovered by a director in 1974 and began working in off-broadway shows.
Big break in 1984 while working in David Mamets "Glengarry Glen Ross" on broadway.
In just over a decade, he appeared in more than two dozen films.
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.
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.
Early jobs included social worker, encyclopedia salesman, junior high school teacher, and reporter.
Father of John West.
Brother of Christopher Walsh, Patricia Walsh and Mary Walsh.
During his childhood, he attended a Jesuit boarding school in Ireland.
He spoke fluent German.
Early jobs also included tending bar at some of Manhattans best seafood restaurants.
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.
Had appeared in four movies along with Kurt Russell : Tequila Sunrise , Backdraft , Executive Decision and Breakdown (1997/I) .
Held a bachelors degree in sociology from Rhode Island University.
His father died of brain cancer and his mother died of Alzheimers disease.
Had a strong interest in metaphysics.
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.
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 appeared in two films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Hannah and Her Sisters and A Few Good Men .
Appeared in four films with William H. Macy : House of Games , Things Change , The Client and Pleasantville .
Appeared in three films with Kevin Spacey : Dad , Outbreak and The Negotiator .
He remains were cremated and his ashes were given to his family members.
