Brian Dennehy: To make directing debut

Brian Dennehy: To make directing debut

Brian Dennehy, the great actor of film, TV and stage, will make his big-screen directing debut with "Redemption". It's a fact-based drama.

The story centres on Joyce Ann Brown. She spent over nine years in prison for robbing a fur store in 1980. A murder happened during the robbery but Brown claims she didn't do either crime. Her case was taken up by Jim McCloskey.

The 71 year old Dennehy wrote the screenplay with Joe Seldner, and hopes to start filming in the Spring. No word on any casting yet.

As an actor, Dennehy's first film was "First Blood" (1982) opposite Sylvester Stallone as Rambo. He acted many films and TV series.

Dennehy began his professional acting career in small guest roles in such 1970s and 1980s series as Kojak, Lou Grant, Dallas and Dynasty. He also appeared in an episode of "Miami Vice" during the 1987-88 season.

Dennehy was also a stage actor. He has won two Tony Awards, both times for Best Lead Actor in a Play.

The first win was for "Death of a Salesman" and second was for "Long Day's Journey Into Night".

Dennehy has recently appeared in the films "Righteous Kill" and has directed and written TV movies.