Author, Lawrence Tierney, Hollywood’s Real-Life Tough Guy
This week, Ira spoke with Burt Kearns, journalist, television and film producer, and author of the new book, Lawrence Tierney, Hollywood’s Real-Life Tough Guy (Published by The University Press of Kentucky). In this noir episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Burt talks about why he decided to write a biography of Tierney; the breakout role of Dillinger; how Tierney drank and brawled away his career in the first five years (but he always kept going); his incredible comeback much later in life; why some of the best work he did was on television in the 80’s; why young filmmakers wanted to work with “The Legend”; and why he remains a fascinating part of Hollywood history.
Burt Kearns is an author, journalist, television and film producer and, as noted by Vanity Fair, a “pop culture savant.” His book, The Show Won’t Go On: The Most Shocking, Bizarre and Historic Deaths of Performers Onstage, written with Jeff Abraham, was published in 2019 and received acclaim from sources as varied as National Public Radio, the Daily Mail and Jerusalem Post. Kearns is also author of the controversial memoir, Tabloid Baby, and a regular contributor to the literary pop culture website, Legsville.com. He is executive producer and co-creator of a new non-fiction television series currently in production, and his books, Marlon Brando: Hollywood Rebel and Shemp! The Biography of The Three Stooges’ Shemp Howard, The Face of Film Comedy, will be published by Applause Theatre & Cinema Books in 2024.
https://www.lawrencetierneybook.com
Signed copies at:
https://www.larryedmunds.com/product-page/lawrence-tierney-hollywood-s-real-life-tough-guy
Leave a Reply