Honestly, if you grew up browsing the aisles of a Blockbuster in the early nineties, you probably remember that gritty, blue-tinted VHS cover of four guys looking like they were ready to take on the entire world. The Last of the Finest—or Blue Heat, depending on which corner of the globe you were in—was one of those quintessential "buddy cop" movies that didn't just rely on explosions. It relied on a specific kind of chemistry.
That cast was lightning in a bottle. You had Brian Dennehy, the ultimate "man's man" of the era, leading a crew that included Joe Pantoliano, Jeff Fahey, and a young, pre-megastardom Bill Paxton.
But looking back from 2026, there’s a bittersweet layer to this movie. We’ve lost some of these titans. Others have become cult legends. Most people get it wrong when they lump this film in with the mindless action fluff of 1990. It was actually a weirdly cynical, politically charged thriller about the Iran-Contra scandal, disguised as a popcorn flick.
The Core Four: Where They Went After the Badge
The movie follows Frank Daly’s elite narcotics unit as they get suspended and eventually go rogue to uncover a massive government-sanctioned drug ring. The dynamic between the four leads felt real because, well, these guys were some of the best character actors to ever do it.
Brian Dennehy (Frank Daly)
Brian Dennehy was the anchor. He had this massive, booming presence that could flip from warm father figure to terrifying force of nature in a heartbeat. After playing the "honest cop" in this film, he didn't exactly slow down. He won two Tony Awards and eventually became the definitive Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. Sadly, we lost Brian in April 2020 at the age of 81. He worked right up until the end, leaving a hole in the "tough but soulful" archetype that nobody has quite filled.
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Bill Paxton (Howard "Hojo" Jones)
Man, it still hurts to talk about Bill Paxton. In 1990, he was just starting to transition from "that guy in Aliens" to a legitimate leading man. In The Last of the Finest, he plays Hojo, the soul of the group, whose fate basically triggers the entire third act of the movie.
Paxton went on to become a household name with Twister, Apollo 13, and Titanic. He was the only actor to be killed by a Predator, an Alien, and a Terminator. We lost him way too soon in 2017 due to complications from surgery. He was 61. Even today, you can see his influence in every "everyman" hero on screen.
Joe Pantoliano (Wayne Gross)
"Joey Pants" is the survivor. He’s still very much with us, and honestly, the guy is a legend. If you don’t recognize him from this, you definitely know him as Cypher in The Matrix or Ralph Cifaretto in The Sopranos. In The Last of the Finest, he played the brainy, bespectacled smart-ass of the group.
In recent years, he’s become a huge advocate for mental health through his organization, No Kidding? Me Too! He’s one of those actors who just gets better with age, still popping up in the Bad Boys franchise and various indie projects.
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Jeff Fahey (Ricky Rodriguez)
Jeff Fahey is the guy who should have been the biggest star in the world. He has those piercing blue eyes and a sort of rugged, old-school Hollywood vibe. While he didn't hit the Titanic levels of fame like Paxton, he became a massive cult icon. He starred in The Lawnmower Man and later had a brilliant career resurgence as Frank Lapidus on Lost. He’s still incredibly active in the industry today, often working on international projects and theater.
The Supporting Cast: A 90s Time Capsule
The movie wasn't just about the main four. The deep bench of talent in the supporting roles is kinda ridiculous when you look at it now.
- Deborra-Lee Furness: She played Linda Daly, Frank’s wife. Most people today know her as the powerhouse producer and former wife of Hugh Jackman, but back then, she was an up-and-coming Australian actress making her mark in Hollywood.
- Henry Darrow: Playing Captain Joe Torres, Darrow was a trailblazer for Latino actors in Hollywood. He passed away in 2021, leaving behind a legacy that spanned from The High Chaparral to Zorro.
- Xander Berkeley: He played "Fast Eddie." If you’ve watched 24 or The Walking Dead, you know Xander. He’s one of the most prolific "oh, it's that guy!" actors in history.
Why This Cast Still Matters in 2026
It’s easy to dismiss old action movies as dated. The hair is bigger, the suits are baggier, and the tech looks like something out of a museum. But The Last of the Finest holds up because of the performances.
These weren't "superheroes." They were middle-aged guys with mortgages and wives who were tired of seeing the system protect the bad guys. There’s a scene where they’re just sitting around a backyard, and you can feel the weight of their choices. That’s not something you get from a CGI-heavy blockbuster.
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The film also tackled the "Iran-Contra" vibes of the era—illegal government funding of foreign wars via drug money. It was angry. It was cynical. And the cast sold that cynicism perfectly.
The Legacy of the "Finest"
When people search for "the last of the finest cast" today, they’re usually looking for a bit of nostalgia. But there's a lesson in how these careers panned out.
It was a transitional moment in cinema. You had the old guard (Dennehy) meeting the new generation (Paxton, Pantoliano). It’s a snapshot of a time when Hollywood still invested in mid-budget, R-rated dramas for adults.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re looking to revisit this era or explore the work of these actors, here’s how to do it right:
- Watch the "Blue Heat" Cut: If you can find the international version, it sometimes features slightly different editing that leans harder into the thriller aspects.
- Check out "A Simple Plan": If you loved Bill Paxton’s performance here, watch this 1998 thriller. It’s arguably his best work and shows the same "ordinary men in extraordinary trouble" theme.
- Follow Joe Pantoliano’s Advocacy: If you’re a fan of Joey Pants, his work in the mental health space is genuinely inspiring and worth a look.
- Deep Dive into Brian Dennehy’s Stage Work: Many of his legendary performances were recorded. Seeing him do Arthur Miller or Eugene O’Neill will give you a whole new appreciation for his role as Frank Daly.
The "finest" might have been the last of their kind in the movie, but the actors themselves left a blueprint for what a "character actor" should be: reliable, talented, and always more than meets the eye. They didn't just play cops; they played men caught in the gears of a machine they couldn't stop, and they made us believe every second of it.