Gerard McSorley

Gerard McSorley (born 1950) is an Irish^[1][2][3] theatre, television and film actor.

Early life

He was born in Omagh, County Tyrone, and after attending a Christian Brothers school in his hometown he attended St. Columb's College in Derry. He then attended Queen's University, Belfast, where he was taught by Seamus Heaney. He currently resides in Gweedore, County Donegal. He is a descendant of John McSorley, who opened McSorley's Old Ale House, the oldest operating pub in New York.

Career

He spent much of his early career working in theatre, notably at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. After playing Michael Evans in the original West End and Broadway productions of Brian Friel's play Dancing at Lughnasa in the early 1990s, McSorley started to attract more TV and movie roles. He has appeared in many Hollywood movies including Braveheart (in which his character "Cheltham" was decapitated by William Wallace at the battle of Stirling) and In the Name of the Father. One of his most celebrated performances was his lead role in Omagh, a feature-length television drama depicting the effect of the Omagh bombing on the residents of the town. He is also known for playing "Father Todd Unctuous" in the Christmas special episode ("A Christmassy Ted") of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. His film credits include The Constant Gardener, and he was also cast as Queenan in The Departed but had to pull out (Martin Sheen took over the role). McSorley most recently played the role of Robert Aske in the Showtime historical drama The Tudors. He appeared in the 2010 movie Robin Hood, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe.

Filmography

• Bayonet (2012)
• War Horse (2011)
• Robin Hood (2010 film) (2010)
• Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne (2009)
• Wide Open Spaces (2009)
• Town Creek (2009)
• Rip & the Preacher (2008)
• Mr Crocodile in the Cupboard (2008)
• Anton (2008) - Nominated for a 2009 Irish Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor
• Hesitation (2007)
• The Front Line (2006)
• Middletown (2006) - Nominated for a 2007 Irish Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor
• Tell It To The Fishes (2006)
• The Constant Gardener (2004)
• Inside I'm Dancing (2004)
• The Halo Effect (2004)
• Omagh (2004)- Won an 2004 Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor
• Dead Bodies (2003)
• Veronica Guerin (2003)- Nominated for a 2003 Irish Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor
• The Wayfarer (2003)
• Bloody Sunday (2002)
• On The Edge (2001)
• Do Armed Robbers Have Love Affairs? (2001)
• Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000)
• Angela's Ashes (1999)
• Agnes Browne (1999)
• Felicia's Journey (1997)
• Dancing at Lughnasa (1998)
• The Boxer (1997)
• The Butcher Boy (1997)
• The Serpent's Kiss (1997)
• Michael Collins (1996)
• Some Mother's Son (1996)
• Nothing Personal (1995)
• Braveheart (1995)
• An Awfully Big Adventure (1995)
• Moondance (1995)
• Widows' Peak (1994)
• Words Upon the Window Pane (1994)
• In the Name of the Father (1993)
• Taffin (1988)
• Angel (1982)
• Withdrawal (1982)
• SOS Titanic (1979)

TV roles

• The Tudors (2009)
• The Savage Eye (2009)
• Striapacha (2008)
• Damage (2007)
• Teenage Cics (2006)
• Vicious Circle (1999)
• Making The Cut (1998)
• A Christmassy Ted (1996)
• Kidnapped (1995)
• The Governor (1995)
• The Hanging Gale (1995)
• Runway One (1995)
• Shakespeare: The Animated Tales (1994)
• The Investigation: Inside a Terrorist Bombing (1990)
• Act of Betrayal (1988)
• Lapsed Catholics (1987)
• The Rockingham Shoot (1987)
• Bergerac (1985)
• The Irish R.M. (1984)
• Play for Tomorrow (1982)

References

External links

• Official website of Gerard McSorley
• Gerard McSorley at the Internet Movie Database