Dennehy urges Camden kids to pursue their dreams

They told him he did not look like an actor. He should be a cop. There wasn't anything special about him.

But Brian Dennehy, 73, persevered, and is now a two-time Tony Award winner who has acted in more than two dozen movies, including First Blood, Tommy Boy, and Romeo + Juliet. After decades in the industry, he is still a sought-after actor. This spring he will have a lead role in The Iceman Cometh at Chicago's Goodman Theater.

"If a fat, aging, Irish American can have this life, why can't [they]?" he said Tuesday of the students at Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy before going on stage to help with their fund-raising concert.

While the students and teachers were thrilled to host him, Dennehy insisted that he probably got more out of the day trip.

"Every time I come here, I go home more inspired," he said. "They have the youth, they have the energy . . . and they are extremely talented."

It was Dennehy's fourth visit to Camden. He came this year as part of a wider fund-raising effort spearheaded by Msgr. Michael Mannion, director of community relations for the Diocese of Camden.

The actor made several stops, including at the South Camden Theatre Co., and ended the day at St. Vincent Pallotti Church in Haddonfield.

The Creative Arts show was a fund-raiser for the school's Choir Boosters - the award-winning concert choir will be traveling to Prague, Czech Republic, to perform in late March - and jazz band.

The Haddonfield fund-raiser was to aid Discovery House, a retreat for special-needs families being built by Westmont-based Discovery Ministries, in which Mannion also is involved.

Though Dennehy was the star of the day, he had another TV star by his side - U.S. Marshal Lenny DePaul, who commands the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Force, including offices in Camden, Atlantic City, Newark, and Trenton, and is a protagonist on A&E's reality television show Manhunters.

DePaul had introduced Dennehy to Mannion a few years ago when the Center for Family Services in Camden started a mentoring program. DePaul thought it would be cool to bring his friend to speak to the kids.

Early Tuesday morning, DePaul picked up Dennehy and the pair drove down to Camden.

The last time Dennehy was in town, a year ago, he visited the former Creative Arts School, which was so decrepit it shut down last summer and merged with the brand new Morgan Village Middle School.

"It was like walking into Berlin in 1947," Dennehy said of his visit to the former school. Seeing the potential of students working in such difficult conditions was inspirational to him, he said.

Dennehy ate Primo's hoagies for lunch in a school conference room, where he signed autographs and had pictures taken with everyone who came up to him. Even the youngest students, all born after most of his major movies were made, were excited to see him.

"I saw him in Rambo and Cocoon. . . . I thought he was going to look like this," said 11-year-old Michael Jones, holding a flier promoting Dennehy's appearance that showed the actor at a younger age. Nevertheless, the young fan was excited to get a personalized autograph, though not addressed to "Michael" as he had requested.

"You're getting Mike because Michael is my brother," Dennehy quipped with the youngster after writing "Mike" on the flier.

Being from Camden should not stop them from pursuing their dreams, Dennehy told the youths. They should appreciate the lessons they learn growing up in a struggling city, he said. It will better prepare them for the future.

If they choose acting as a career, they will quickly run into actors who grew up with more privileges.

"What you can get by being tough and working hard . . . you will have an advantage over them," he said. And once they succeed: "You will know how valuable it is in a way they will never know."

His message struck a chord with students in the audience, including soloist Anthony Warren, who performed at Tuesday's event.

"I'm happy he's here and what he's doing for our community," Warren, 18, said. "I think what will resonate with my peers is his message that you can fulfill your dreams if you try hard."