"Lawrence Tierney's life reflects the axiom that truth is stranger than fiction, yet inexplicably, no biographer had ever tackled the actor's decades of accomplishments and mistakes until now. With this impeccably researched work, Burt Kearns has proved himself more than capable of capturing his deeply flawed yet enormously talented and complicated subject. You'll turn the pages at a breakneck pace, wondering what scrape Tierney will get into next, only to race toward a powerful, unexpectedly poignant conclusion."—Dr. Jason A. Ney, Professor of Literature and Film,
Noir City magazine Staff Writer
"Lawrence Tierney is not only a look into the life of the extraordinary real-life tough guy actor, but a ringside seat to the Hollywood studio system from the 1940s right up until his death in 2002. Buckle up, boys. It's going to be a bumpy ride..."—Danno Hanks, legendary Hollywood private eye
"Lawrence Tierney was intelligent, handsome, and an excellent actor: he was also a human hand grenade. This is a fast-moving and fascinating portrait of a talented, sad, wildly self-destructive actor who made Errol Flynn and John Barrymore look like choir boys."—Eve Golden, author of Jayne Mansfield: The Girl Couldn't Help It
"There is finally a 'soup to nuts' biography of actor Lawrence Tierney who justifiably earned his reputation as Tinseltown's most combustible hellion. Although the actor's infamous temperament overshadowed his considerable talent, Burt Kearns' captivating book reveals there was a lot more to Larry Tierney than his police blotter and recycled Hollywood anecdotes."—Alan K. Rode, author of Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film
"I have admired Kearns since he tried with some success to convert a sleepy Connecticut weekly into a suburban punk New York Post. Kearns is truly a tabloid baby, and this brilliant Hollywood bio noir is right in his wheelhouse. Rip it open with two fists and devour it in large caffeinated gulps."—Peter de Jonge, author of Shadows Still Remain and Buried on Avenue B
"Lawrence Tierney was his own worst enemy and, if you had the misfortune to work with or anger him, he was yours, too. He was like some perpetually pugnacious character out of showbiz mythology who couldn't possibly be real. But Burt Kearns masterfully uncovers the man inside the legend, bringing Tierney to vivid, disturbing life with a richly detailed portrait of the boozing brute that's at once fascinating and often downright Shakespearean. Kearns skillfully explains why an industry that couldn't work with Tierney still found him irresistible—which tells you all you need to know about Hollywood."—Ray Richmond, author, Syndicated Entertainment writer/crtic, and University lecturer
"With intense research, an insider's knowledge of the down-and-dirty tabloid press, and a real empathy for his subject, Kearns has delivered a great book on the underside of Hollywood: a nonstop, no-holds-barred journey through the seedy back alleys of show business and the darkest recesses of fame. Lawrence Tierney has been maligned as a drunken, brawling monster, but in this clear-eyed appraisal, he's the ultimate antihero, making the most unlikely comeback in Hollywood history—still raising unholy Hell while inspiring a new generation of actors and filmmakers along the way."—Legs McNeil, co-author of Please Kill Me, editor of Legsville.com
"Lawrence Tierney was an alchoholic who must have been carrying a horseshoe that even he didn't know about! His story takes you to every glitzy Hollywood spot, along with every dank jail up and down the coast. The arrest records and bail amounts? Astonishing! To read that he spent time locked up in the Wayside Jail and Hollywood Wilcox Station—places I work today—is bewitching! Professionally, I would have thoroughly appreciated Tierney, a bread-and-butter client with no chance of skipping."—Raquel Vazquez, Hollywood's Queen of Bail
"Lawrence Tierney barges into a bar. What could possibly go wrong? Burt Kearns' rollicking, relentless tour de force about the legendary tough-guy actor grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. On any given page you'll find the words drunk, fight, judge, blonde...One-quarter in and Tierney's already been arrested a dirty dozen times. Still there's compassion in this jaw-dropping, jaw-breaking tale and Kearns' depth of research and deft storytelling make it a don't miss. And as for the ending? There wasn't a dry eye in my house."—Susan Compo, author of Warren Oates: A Wild Life and Earthbound: David Bowie and The Man Who Fell to the Earth
"You can learn a lot by reading the lines on Lawrence Tierney's face or the dents in his head, but better to read Burt Kearns' fantastic book and not risk the pugnacious actor smashing your face in for getting too personal. Of all the controversial and complicated souls Kearns expertly chased down during his Tabloid TV days, Tierney is—without question—the most dangerous and menacing of the bunch. He was a man of many busted parts, but Kearns puts him back together again for a fascinating read."—AJ Benza, author, '74 and Sunny; host, Fame is a Bitch podcast
"Journalist Kearns delivers a hard-boiled if somewhat off-balance biography of movie tough guy Lawrence Tierney (1919–2002). Kearns tracks Tierney's long and tumultuous career, which was bookended by his 1945 breakout role starring in Dillinger (a film so successful that it "machine-gunned box office records") and a role in Quentin Tarantino's directorial debut, Reservoir Dogs. Tierney had a few successes after Dillinger, among them the Oscar-winning The Greatest Show on Earth, but more notable were the roles he was considered for but ultimately lost (as Moses in a biblical epic and a spot in On the Waterfront). Kearns mostly focuses on his subject's rough-and-tumble lifestyle, in which he played "the hard-drinking tough guy in real life" and was once stabbed in the stomach during a fight. Kearns outlines his reputation in the industry for alcoholism and brushes with the law, making for a moving look at a figure whose anger, temper, and mental illness got in the way of his talent. This portrait of a man who "could have been a star" is a nice departure from the traditional Hollywood rags to riches story."—Publisher's Weekly
