Niall MacGinnis
| Niall MacGinnis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
29 March 1913 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died |
6 January 1977 Newport, Dyfed, Wales |
| Years active | 1935–1977 |
| Spouse(s) |
Sheila Macdonald Eleonore Mac Ginnis (1955-1977) (his death) (1 child) |
Niall MacGinnis (29 March 1913 – 6 January 1977) was an Irish actor who made 80 screen appearances.
Early life
MacGinnis was born in Dublin in 1913. He was educated at Stonyhurst College in England, and studied medicine at Dublin University. He qualified as a house surgeon. During World War II, MacGinnis served as surgeon in the Royal Navy.
Film career
In 1941, MacGinnis played a not-very-dedicated Nazi sailor in the British war film 49th Parallel with Laurence Olivier, Leslie Howard, Eric Portman and Raymond Massey. He portrayed Captain MacMorris in Olivier's 1944 version of Henry V and the title character in the 1953 film Martin Luther. In 1957, he played the villainous Julian Karswell opposite American actor Dana Andrews in the British horror film Night of the Demon (released in the United States as Curse of the Demon). He also played Zeus opposite Honor Blackman's Hera in Jason and the Argonauts (1963), Played the arch-criminal "A. J. Kent" in an episode of Danger Man (Aka Secret Agent; Destination Danger; John Drake) entitled "Battle of The Cameras" (1964); and had a supporting role in John Huston's film The Kremlin Letter (1969).
Once while returning to Holyhead, Wales from Ireland during the Second World War, MacGinnis was stopped by police and searched. They thought they had captured a German spy when they found a picture in his wallet showing him in a German uniform standing next to a U-boat. He was arrested. MacGinnis was not released until documents were produced that proved he had actually been acting in 49th Parallel.[citation needed]
Later life
MacGinnis was a qualified physician and returned to practice during the 1970s after retiring from acting. He died of cancer in Haverfordwest, Wales in 1977, aged 63.
Partial filmography
External links
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