An Acting Legend Got Really Fed Up With the Director of ‘Tommy Boy’

Tommy Boy was, of course, the first project to team Chris Farley up with David Spade for a movie comedy (not counting Coneheads, because why would anyone count Coneheads?). The film also boasts a noteworthy supporting cast, including famous actors like Bo Derek, Dan Aykroyd and someone who looks just like Rob Lowe, but can’t be Rob Lowe, because he isn’t actually credited as “Rob Lowe.” 

Then there’s Brian Dennehy, the legendary character actor who appeared in ‘80s classics like First Blood, F/X and Cocoon, who plays Tommy Callahan’s father Big Tom.

As Spade revealed on the most recent episode of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Dennehy wasn’t always thrilled about how Tommy Boy was being directed. “We were all excited,” Spade said of the cast’s reaction to Dennehy’s involvement. But unbeknownst to Spade at the time, Paramount had told director Peter Segal, who had only helmed one other movie at that point, “Just make sure you get it.”

So, according to Spade, the Naked Gun 33⅓ director (who he called a “great guy”) went a tad overboard with coverage, shooting “15 masters” before moving on to extensive two-shots and close-ups, which was “taking all day.” But when Dennehy came to the set, the seasoned actor put his foot down. “After three takes of the masters, they go, ‘Alright, going again,’” Spade recalled. “(Dennehy) goes, ‘What the fuck? What are we doing? What are we doing here? We got it. Go. Move on.’”

“And I was like, ‘Are you allowed to say this? What’s going on?’” Spade thought to himself.

Spade also acknowledged that Dennehy may not have been looking after just himself, he may also have been considering his young, inexperienced co-stars, who were in danger of prematurely exhausting themselves during each scene. “Farley gives it 1,010 percent — I give it about 64 — (he was) just so burnt out, and drinking coffee,” Spade explained. “And we're like, we haven’t even pushed in for the stuff we’re gonna use. So (Dennehy) was sort of trying to protect us a little bit. In a very loud voice.”

So the next time you enjoy Tommy Boy, remember that the central performances could have been a lot worse if not for the Tony Award-winning actor, and arch-enemy to stomach acid.