It was of natural causes, and peacefully. So there’s some solace in that. Little that we can find nowadays.
Despite her character’s name, she was the head of the all female pilots that made up the Flying Circus, so a businesswoman and role model to others. Perhaps the first feminist Bond heroine. A precursor to Octopussy and very similar, when you think about the two characters.
She also threw Bond around with judo, chopped Bond’s feet from under him and generally took only as much bs from him as fitted in the muzzle of her 45. revolver - a part of modern audiences would howl with hurt male feelings…
I watched Goldfinger just last night. I was asking to my ladylove how a confident, capable, independent woman could put up with being called ‘Pussy’. She suggested that it could be a two-finger salute to all maledom.
I think it was in his contract that he had to appear in Every movie in the 1980’s. By comparison to his ever presence, the word prolific seems a bit shy and retiring.
I actually met Brian Dennehy outside a movie theater in Los Angeles in the late 80s early 90s. Very nice man. Told him I liked his work, but did not bother him for an autograph. He was very gracious. Glad it was of natural causes instead of something else.
I was fortunate enough to see Brian Dennehy on stage in three O’Neill plays: “The Iceman Cometh”; “Desire Under the Elms”; and “Long Day’s Journey into Night.” He was wonderful in all three. He was also gracious at the stagedoor to those of us waiting for him (as was Vanessa Redgrave who gave a mini-performance as memorable and elegant as the one she had just given on stage).