Ford Kiernan

Infobox actor


imagesize =
caption = Kiernan (Bottom Middle) in Still Game of the 1970 gang version
birthname = Ford John Kiernan
birthdate = 1962
birthplace = Glasgow, Scotland
yearsactive = 1990 - present
othername = Jack (Still Game)
occupation = Actor , producer'

Ford John Kiernan (born 1962cite web | title=Gazetter for Scotland | work=Overview of Ford Kiernan | url=http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/people/famousfirst1045.html | accessdate=December 30 | accessyear=2006] ) is a Scottish comedian. Along with his comedy partner, Greg Hemphill, he is best known in the United Kingdom for his appearances in "Still Game" and "Chewin' The Fat".

Personal life

Born in Dennistoun, Glasgow, Kiernan was educated at Alexandra Parade Primary School and Whitehill Secondary School. He then went on to train as a tailor and work as a barman at Glasgow University. In 1995, he married his current wife Lesley and they have two children together.

Career

Kiernan has appeared both on television and on stage. His play "Don't Start Me" won an award at the 1995 Edinburgh Fringe. He has also broadcast frequently on BBC Radio Four and BBC Radio Scotland. However, it is the sketch show "Chewin' The Fat" that he is best known due to his ability to play a number of characters. At first the show was only shown in Scotland but by the time of the third and fourth series, the BBC decided to show it nationwide. Likewise, spin-off "Still Game" started in Scotland but branched out to a wider audience. The latter's sixth series broadcast on BBC Two in July 2007, with a repeat on BBC1 Scotland. Also Kiernan, along with Hemphill scripted 7 episodes between 1999 and 2000 for the then popular children's TV series Hububb. These episodes were, Lullabubb, Top Of The Bubbs, Conquer Leserest, Casual-Tea, Bubb Goes Boo, 2010 A Space Bubbsy and No Go Pogo. Ford also guest starred alongside Hemphill in one episode called Casual-Tea which he and Hemphill scripted. He also guest starred in two other episodes, Magnetic Personality and Take Me Your Leader, but these were without Hemphill. Kiernan has also had several bit-part roles in films. In 1996, he starred alongside fellow Scot Robert Carlyle in "Carla's Song" and in 2002, he also played the role of Black Joke Chief in the Martin Scorsese film "Gangs of New York".

In 2007 Kiernan starred in "Dear Green Place", a BBC One Scotland sitcom series featuring park wardens. cite web | title=Evening Times | work=It's Still Game . . . with sideburns | url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5060092.html | accessdate=December 18 | accessyear=2006] In 2008, Kiernan will star in the movie adaptation of Irvine Welsh's best-selling novel .cite web | title=Scotsman.com News | work=Cast lines up for taste of Ecstasy | url=http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=36&id=1599422006 | accessdate=December 30 | accessyear=2006]

Controversy

In November 2005, Kiernan outraged onlookers when he proclaimed to guests in a Glasgow hotel that he had extramarital relations with newsreader Sarah Heaney. According to the "Sunday Mail", Kiernan was drunk and "seemed unconcerned by who heard the claims". Hours earlier, he had sworn several times in front of an audience at the BAFTA Scotland ceremony. Kiernan later issued an apology stating that " [he was] really, really sorry" and he admitted that " [he'd] had a few drinks".cite web | title=Sunday Mirror | work=Guess what folks .. I bedded that Sarah Heaney years ago | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20051120/ai_n15850382 | accessdate=December 18 | accessyear=2006] Sarah Heaney flatly denied any affair with Kiernan: "Not now, not ever". Kiernan was also fined that year, for assaulting a taxi driver in a road rage incident in the West End of Glasgow.cite web | title=BBC News | work=Comic 'ashamed' over assault fine | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4209179.stm | accessdate=December 30 | accessyear=2006]

Still Game

In 2002 Kiernan & Greg Hemphill starred together in the Scottish comedy Still Game. He & Hemphill wrote all episodes of the show.

Chewin' the Fat

As well as Still Game, Kiernan also starred in Chewin' The Fat another Scottish comedy show, he also plays alongside his Still Game partner Greg Hemphill where they both play various roles. Paul Riley & Mark Cox from Still Game also star in the show.

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0452576|name=Ford Kiernan
* [http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/people/famousfirst1045.html Gazetter for Scotland biography]