Tom Murphy (actor)

Infobox actor
name = Tom Murphy


imagesize =
birthname =
birthdate = January 15, 1968
location = Salisbury, Rhodesia
(now Harare, Zimbabwe)
deathdate = October 6, 2007
deathplace = Dublin, Ireland
yearsactive = 1980-2007
spouse =
tonyawards = Best Featured Actor in a Play
1998 "The Beauty Queen of Leenane"

Tom Jordan Murphy (January 15, 1968 – October 6, 2007) was an Irish theater and film actor best known for his 1998 Tony Award winning performance in "The Beauty Queen of Leenane".cite news | author=Playbill | title=Broadway star Tom Murphy dead at 39 | url=http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Entertainment/2007/10/08/broadway_star_tom_murphy_dead_at_39/6071 | work United Press International | date=2007-10-08 |accessdate=2008-05-19]

Murphy won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play in 1998 for his role in the "The Beauty Queen of Leenane"cite news | author=Staff writers |title=Tributes Flood in for One of Acting's 'Brightest Stars' | url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/tributes-flood-in-for-one-of-actings-brightest-stars-1117340.html| work=The Irish Independent | date=2007-10-08 | accessdate=2008-05-19] He began playing the role at the Druid Theatre Company in Dublin before the production moved to New York City. New York Times theater critic, Ben Brantley, praised Murphy for his role in the play at the time, "Mr. Murphy offers comic relief without ever presenting it as such...His, more than any other character, must embody the provincial society beyond the women's home, and Ray's irritable restlessness is eloquent on the subject"." Murphy beat out fellow "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" castmate Brian F. O'Byrne for the Tony Award.

Murphy made his professional acting debut playing the Artful Dodger in Noel Pearson's production of Oliver! in 1980 aged 12. During his career he performed in theatres all over Ireland and the UK including the Abbey Theatre, the Gate Theatre and Royal Court Theatre in London (in Shining City by Conor McPherson). Murphy made his feature film breakthrough with 2004's "Adam and Paul", co-staring (and written by) Mark O'Halloran, in which he played a Dublin drug addict and junkie. Variety Magazine, which reviewed the movie, wrote that Murphy's performance "steals the show."

Murphy also appeared in a number of other Irish films including, "Intermission," "Michael Collins," "The General" and "Man About Dog."

Tom Murphy died of lymphatic cancer at a Dublin, Ireland, hospital on October 6, 2007. He was 39 years old. Audiences all over Dublin the same day (during the Dublin Theatre Festival) gave Murphy a standing ovation following the announcement of his death.

References

External links

*ibdb|54113|Tom Murphy
*imdb|0614755|Tom Murphy Myspace Page: http://www.myspace.com/tommurphyroisterdoister

Facebook Page:http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1303934906

Bebo Page:http://www.bebo.com/TomM4081

* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/arts/25murphy.html?pagewanted=all New York Times: Tom Murphy, Irish Actor, Dies at 39; Won Tony for ‘Beauty Queen’]
* [http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/1008/murphyt.html RTE: Pure Mule star Tom Murphy dies ]