Milo O'Shea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Milo O'Shea | |
|---|---|
 Milo O'Shea as Friar Laurence in the 1968 film version of Romeo and Juliet |
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| Born | June 2, 1926 Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation | actor |
Milo O'Shea (born 2 June 1926, in Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish character actor, recognisable for his bushy eyebrows, resounding voice and impish smile.
He was raised in Dublin, Ireland and educated by the Christian Brothers at Synge Street, along with his friend Donal Donnelly, who was born in England but raised in Ireland.
He was discovered in the 1950s by Harry Dillon, who ran the "37 Theatre Club" on the top floor of his shop The Swiss Gem Company, 51 Lower O'Connell Street Dublin.
O'Shea was once married to Maureen Toal, an Irish actress.
He began acting on the stage, then moved into film in the 1960s. He became popular in the UK as a result of starring in the BBC sitcom Me Mammy alongside Yootha Joyce. In 1967-68 he appeared in the drama Staircase, co-starring Eli Wallach and directed by Barry Morse, which stands as Broadway’s first depiction of homosexual men in a serious way.
O'Shea starred as Leopold Bloom in Joseph Strick's 1967 film version of Ulysses. Among his other memorable film roles in the 1960s were as the well-intentioned Friar Laurence in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet and as the villainous Dr. Durand Durand in Roger Vadim's counterculture classic Barbarella (both films were released in 1968). He played Inspector Boot in the 1973 Vincent Price horror film Theatre of Blood.
He has been active in American films and TV, such as his memorable supporting role as the trial judge in the Sidney Lumet directed movie The Verdict with Paul Newman and the TV series The West Wing.
He is currently married to the Irish actress Kitty Sullivan, with whom he has occasionally acted, most notably in a 1981 Broadway revival of My Fair Lady. He has two sons, Colm and Steven, but they have no children together. O'Shea and his wife have both adopted United States citizenship.
Other notable stage appearances include Mass Appeal (1981) in which he originated the role of "Father Tim Farley" (for which he was nominated for a Tony Award as "Best Actor"), Corpse! (1986) and a 1994 Broadway revival of Philadelphia, Here I Come.
[edit] Selected filmography
- Ulysses (1967)
- Romeo and Juliet (1968)
- Barbarella (1968)
- The Adding Machine (1969)
- Me Mammy (1968–70)
- Theatre of Blood (1973)
- Percy's Progress (1974)
- Arabian Adventure (1979)
- The Verdict (1982)
- The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
- The Dream Team (1989)
- Opportunity Knocks (1990)
- Only the Lonely (1991)
- The Playboys (1992)
- Murder in the Heartland (1993)
- The Matchmaker (1997)
