Michael O'Shea (actor)

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Michael O'Shea
from the film Lady of Burlesque (1943)
Born	March 17, 1906 Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Died	December 4, 1973 Dallas, Texas, USA

Michael O'Shea is an Irish-American character actor whose career spanned from the 1940s-1960s.

He was born on March 17, 1906 in Hartford, Connecticut. Unlike his five brothers who became policemen, O'Shea dropped out of school at 12 and began his acting career in vaudevile by touring with boxing idol Jack Johnson's show.

Much like his character from Lady of Burlesque, Biff Brannigan, O'Shea was a comedian and emcee at speakeasies. He put together his own dance band, "Michael O'Shea and His Stationary Gypsies", and later broke into radio and the "legitimate" stage, where he was billed for a time as "Eddie O'Shea". His performance in the 1942 play, "The Eve of St. Mark" led to a string of film roles in the 40s, which of course included a memorable performance as Barbara Stanwyck's boyfriend comic in the 1943 film Lady of Burlesque. He also received great reviews in 1944 when he reprised his stage role of Private Thomas Mulveray in the film version of "The Eve of St. Mark".

After his career in film waned (he was largely out of films by 1952), he took many roles in television. He acted on such television programs as "Ethel Barrymore Theater," "Damon Runyon Theater," "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars," "The Revlon Mirror Theater" and "Daktari"

He also starred in the television series "It's a Great Life" from 1954-1956 as Denny Davis, a former GI trying to find a civilian job.

In the 1960s, O'Shea became a plainclothes operative for the CIA after retiring from show business.

He was married twice. His first wife was Grace Watts, by whom he had two children. They divorced in 1947.

His second wife was actress Virginia Mayo, whom he married in 1947. He met Virginia Mayo during the filming of Jack London in 1943. They subsequently appeared on the stock stage together in such productions as "George Washington Slept Here", "Tunnel of Love" and "Fiorello!". They had one child, Mary Catherine O'Shea, who was born in 1953.

They remained married until December 4, 1973, when O'Shea died from a heart attack.