On screen, Hallahan has played Chet Wilke in Lou Grant (1979–1982).[1] In 1982, he portrayed geologist Vance Norris in the remake of The Thing alongside Kurt Russell.[3] He starred as LAPD Captain Charlie Devane on Hunter.[1] He portrayed the nameless "Coach" in Vision Quest, opposite Matthew Modine.[1] Hallahan also co-starred as a regular cast member in two popular television series, Grace Under Fire[2] and the long-running The Paper Chase.[3]
One of his final film roles--and arguably among his best remembered--was his portrayal of volcanologist Dr. Paul Dreyfus in the 1997 disaster-thriller film Dante's Peak, which also starred Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton.[1] His final screen turn--and his lone big-screen leading role--was as corrupt Los Angeles homicide detective Jack Stillman in the 2001 independent Hitchcockian noir-thriller Mind Rage, a film eventually released, posthumously, four years after his untimely death. In 1997, Hallahan was cast as Liam Bilby for the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Honor Among Thieves", but was replaced after having passed away.
Death
On November 25, 1997, he died of an apparent heart attack while driving his car in Los Angeles.[3] He left behind his wife, Barbara; two sons, Seamus and Liam; and four brothers, Michael, Kenneth, Lawrence and Thomas.[3] His brother, Fr. Kenneth Hallahan, was a Roman Catholic priest in Camden, New Jersey. He was predeceased by his sister, Regina Macrina, an educator from Collingswood, New Jersey.[2]
