Friday, May 1, 2009

Remembering Dan O'Herlihy

He was born Daniel O’Herlihy on May 1, 1919 in County Wexford, Ireland. The brother of director Michael O’Herlihy and the father of actor Gavin O’Herlihy. He earned an Academy Award nomination for his starring performance in Luis Buñuel’s film The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1954). O’Herlihy began his 50-year acting career at the Abbey and Gate theatres in Dublin before making his film debut in Odd Man Out (1947). He made his Hollywood debut in Larceny (1948), which led to the role of Macduff in Orson Welles’s Mercury Theatre Company’s screen production of Macbeth (1948), for which O’Herlihy also designed the sets. Other notable films included The Cabinet of Caligari (1962), Fail-Safe (1964), MacArthur (1977), and The Dead (1987). His theatre work included the role of Charles Dickens in Mervyn Nelson’s The Ivy Green (1949). O’Herlihy’s final appearance was in the 1998 television movie The Rat Pack. O’Herlihy made only one Euro-western 100 Rifles (1969) but his portrayal of railroad owner Steven Grimes is quite memorable. Dan O’Herlihy died on February 17, 2005. We remember him today on what would have been his 80th birthday.

4 comments:

  1. You forget Robocop??????

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  2. Borne in 1919 died in 2005 this author did not major in math...lol 1919 to 2005 he was 80 in 1999 looks like to me he 85 almost 86...

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  3. when an actor can act a part and the audiance gets so wraped up in the character of the story that they don't know or don't realize who the actor is, just the character, then that is the mark of a truly great actor. The date is currently Sept. 22, 2009 and I had no idea without looking on the cover of The Last Starfighter, and looking up a picture online who this guy was. I am truly humbled by this man's talent and feel blessed to have been enriched by experiencing the characters he brought to life in his acting carreer. Thank you Dan, Thank you.

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  4. He was also a wonderful Grandfather and a gentle soul.
    Happy Birthday Danny.

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