Niall O'Brien (actor)

Niall O'Brien (actor)

Niall O'Brien (1946–2009) was an Irish-born actor and member of the Abbey Theatre company. He was born in Dalkey village, Co. Dublin, and grew up in nearby Glasthule. He was educated at Presentation College at Westland Row, Dublin, before going on to join the Abbey School of acting.

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Personal life

O'Brien was born to Maureen (née Wright) and Michael O'Brien on February 8, 1946. He was the youngest of five children. He went on to marry Brigid Sinnott and they had four children, residing from 1984 in Bray, Co. Wicklow. Niall died at home on February 25, 2009 from cancer, after a 20-month-long illness.

Career

After completing his leaving cert O'Brien started a building apprenticeship. Upon being accepted to the Abbey School of acting in the mid-1960s however, he took a year out of his apprenticeship to try a career as an actor, and never went back to the construction industry. In his career as an Abbey actor he took part in 130 theater productions, including 27 world premieres. His first part was in the play Galileo in 1965. His last Abbey performance was appearing as Tom Mooney in Drama at Inis-Is Life Worth Living (2005). Niall toured internationally with the Abbey in Europe, Russia and much of the US.

O'Brien also appeared in numerous television and film appearances throughout his career. These include the parts of Bernard in Ryan's Daughter (1971), Kay in Excalibur (1981), Owen McCarthy in The Year of the French (1982), Agent Rurik in Gorky Park (1983), Captain Twilley in Half Moon St (1986), Det. Insp. Isaac Gissing in Rawhead Rex (1986), Police Superintendent in The Playboys (1992), Josie McCarthy in Broken Harvest (1995) and Mr Moss in Vanity Fair (2004). He also appeared in single episodes of TV series Lovejoy, Boon, A Touch of Frost, Bachelors Walk and The Royal. In 2007 he was directed in the short film Teeth by his son, Ruairí O'Brien. This film went on to win awards at the Galway Film Fleadh and Brest European Short Film Festival.

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External links


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