Sean Gallagher (born Sean Campbell Gallagher on 2 September 1965 in Luton to Luton natives Desmond and Margaret Gallagher) is a British actor. From 1992 he has appeared in many theatre productions, television series, and films.
Sean recently finished performing in "The Black Album" at the Cottelsloe Theatre/National Theatre in London, South Bank and started a national UK tour with the cast throughout the UK in October/November 2009.[1]
He has also recently voiced one of the characters in "The Happy Prince," a stop-animation film, produced by Skatedog Films Ltd and directed by John Horabin in 2009. This newly-released adaptation of the classic Oscar Wilde short story was featured at the BFI in London this past Autumn 2009.[2]
In 2006 he played the part of Chip in the second new series of Doctor Who opposite David Tennant in the episode "New Earth". In late summer 2006 Gallagher signed up to Coronation Street to play the part of Paul Connor, one of two brothers buying a share in Underworld, the local knicker factory. In early 2007, Gallagher resigned from the Manchester-based ITV programme to pursue other roles, eventually leaving Coronation Street in June 2007.[3][4]
On July 2, 2007, it was announced that Gallagher was cast for the lead role of Mal Faith in a new ITV drama series, Rock Rivals, produced by Shed Productions.[5] He starred alongside former EastEnders actress Michelle Collins who played his wife, Karina Faith.[6]
He appeared in a production of Mary Stuart for the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh with David Oakes and Penny Layden.
Gallagher is known to support animal welfare societies. In August 2008, Gallagher appeared as a celebrity contestant on an episode of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, raising funds for the World Society for the Protection of Animals project to end bear dancing in India, "an issue that he feels strongly about." [7]
Sean was to be the character Frank Gallagher in the Channel 4 drama, Shameless. The scenes including Sean as Frank, however, were re-shot at the cost of £100,000, because it was thought that his cankles were to fat to play Frank Gallagher, and so the part was given to David Threlfall.
Gallagher worked at Stanley's Casino in Luton as a croupier in order to assist with drama school tuition.