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Dan O'Herlihy

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Dan O'Herlihy
O'Herlihy in 1955
Born
Daniel Peter O'Herlihy

(1919-05-01)1 May 1919
Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland
Died17 February 2005(2005-02-17) (aged 85)
Malibu, California, U.S.
CitizenshipIreland
United States (1983–2005)
Alma materUniversity College Dublin
OccupationActor
Years active1944–1998
Spouse
Elsa Bennett
​
(m. 1945)​
Children5, including Gavan O'Herlihy and Lorcan O'Herlihy

Daniel Peter O'Herlihy[1] (1 May 1919 – 17 February 2005) was an Irish[2] actor of film, television and radio.[3] O'Herlihy's best-known roles included his Oscar-nominated portrayal of the lead character in Luis Buñuel's Robinson Crusoe (1954),[4] Brigadier General Warren A. Black in Fail Safe (1964), Marshal Ney in Waterloo (1970), Conal Cochran in Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982), Grig in The Last Starfighter (1984), "The Old Man" in RoboCop (1987) and its 1990 sequel, and Andrew Packard in the television series Twin Peaks (1990–91).[5]

Early life and education

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O'Herlihy was born in Wexford, County Wexford in 1919, but moved with his family to Dublin when he was young. He was educated at Christian Brothers College in Dún Laoghaire and later studied at University College Dublin, graduating in 1944 with a degree in architecture, following in his father's footsteps.[4]

He developed a keen interest in acting during his university studies. He joined several amateur theatre groups and joined the Abbey Theatre as a bit player. After graduating from the university, he decided to pursue acting full-time, working at the Abbey and Gate Theatre, first as a set designer, then later as an actor.[3]

Career

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O'Herlihy's first notable acting role came in 1944, when he played the lead in the Gate's production of Red Roses For Me, written and directed by Seán O'Casey. He appeared in some fifty plays at the Gate.[6] He made his film debut in 1947 in Carol Reed's Odd Man Out,[7] which was shot on location in Belfast, and also worked extensively in radio.[3] His first American film role was as Macduff in Orson Welles' version of Macbeth (1948),[7] followed by supporting roles in films such as the Red Scare fantasy Invasion, U.S.A., the Kiplingesque Soldiers Three and a series of swashbucklers, such as The Black Shield of Falworth (1954).

His career took an upward turn in 1954 when he played the title role in Luis Buñuel's Robinson Crusoe, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.[7] O'Herlihy recalled that the producers of the film wanted Buñuel to use Orson Welles for the role, with Buñuel refusing, saying he was too big and too fat.[7] They arranged a screening of Welles' Macbeth to show how a bearded Welles would look, but O'Herlihy's performance as Macduff convinced Buñuel to cast O'Herlihy instead.[8]

O'Herlihy was later featured in 1959 in The Young Land as Judge Millard Isham and as Dave Edwards in Douglas Sirk's remake of Imitation of Life. The following year he played Sir Harry Ivers, an upper-class English drifter who joins Alan Ladd in a plot to ruin an Arizona cattle town by robbing its bank, in the western One Foot in Hell. O'Herlihy was also cast as Dr. Caligari in The Cabinet of Caligari, Robert Bloch's reimagining of the German silent classic, in 1962.

In 1964, he starred in Fail Safe in the role of General Black, or "Blackie", who nukes New York on presidential orders. In 1969, he was cast in The Big Cube and 100 Rifles. In 1970, he starred in the epic Waterloo, playing the part of Michel Ney, the marshal of France. In 1982, he starred in Halloween III: Season of the Witch as Conal Cochran and in 1984, he appeared in The Last Starfighter as Grig, Alex Rogan's reptilian co-pilot, navigator and sidekick. In 1986's The Whoopee Boys he played a judge and in 1987, he appeared in RoboCop as "The Old Man". That same year, he was cast in John Huston's The Dead. In 1990, he appeared in RoboCop 2, the sequel to the 1987 film.

O'Herlihy had a fairly extensive career in television, having appeared on Rawhide, The DuPont Show with June Allyson, Adventures in Paradise and Target: The Corruptors!. He portrayed Larry "Ace" Banner in the first season of The Untouchables in the episode titled "The Big Squeeze". He was cast as Stephen Jordan in the last season of Checkmate episode " "Referendum on Murder". He also appeared on The Americans and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in the episodes "The Fiddlesticks Affair" and "The Yo-Ho-Ho and a Bottle of Rum Affair" and on Route 66 in the episode "To Walk with the Serpent". In 1962, he was cast as Glenn Kassin in "The Earth Mover" episode of Empire. He appeared on Bonanza (episode: "The Artist" as Matthew Raine).

In 1963–1964, he was in The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters. On The Long, Hot Summer, O'Herlihy became the lead star, having replaced Edmond O'Brien in the part of Will Varner midway through the program's single-season run. In 1966, he appeared in the episode "Have You Seen the Aurora Borealis?" of The Road West, starring Barry Sullivan. In 1974, he appeared in QB VII and played the Senior American Officer, Col. Max Dodd in the second series of BBC's POW drama Colditz. In the same year he took a role in the film, The Tamarind Seed, which starred Omar Sharif and Julie Andrews.

In 1976, he guest-starred in an episode of Gibbsville. In 1978, he guest-starred in the second part of the Battlestar Galactica episode "Gun on Ice Planet Zero" as Dr. Ravishol. O'Herlihy also portrayed the ill-fated lumber tycoon Andrew Packard in the cult television program Twin Peaks (1991) and in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Deep Freeze", voicing the villainous theme park mogul Grant Walker. In 1998, O'Herlihy acted in his last film, The Rat Pack, playing Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.[8]

Personal life

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Dan O'Herlihy married Elsie Bennett in 1945.[4] He was the brother of director Michael O'Herlihy,[9] and the father of actor Gavan O'Herlihy,[10] architect Lorcan O'Herlihy,[11] and visual artist-turned-theatrical producer Olwen O'Herlihy.[12] One grandchild, Micaela O'Herlihy,[citation needed] is a filmmaker whose work has been shown at the Sundance Film Festival.[13] Another, Alana O'Herlihy,[citation needed] is a photographer and director who has collaborated with Miley Cyrus.[14]

O'Herlihy became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1983.[15]

Death

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O'Herlihy died of natural causes in Malibu, California in 2005, aged 85.[16] His personal papers are held in the University College Dublin Archives.[17]

Complete filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1947 Hungry Hill Harry Brodrick
1947 Odd Man Out Nolan
1948 Macbeth MacDuff
1948 Larceny Duke
1948 Kidnapped Alan Breck
1950 The Iroquois Trail Lieutenant Blakely
1951 Soldiers Three Sergeant Murphy
1951 The Highwayman Robin
1951 The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel Commando Captain (uncredited)
1951 The Blue Veil Hugh Williams
1951 The Last Half Hour: The Mayerling Story Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria
1952 At Sword's Point Aramis Jr.
1952 Actor's and Sin Alfred O'Shea / The Narrator (segment "Actor's Blood")
1952 Operation Secret Mike Duncan
1952 Invasion, U.S.A. Mr. Ohman
1953 Sword of Venus Danglars
1954 Robinson Crusoe Robinson Crusoe / Crusoe's father
1954 The Black Shield of Falworth Prince Hal
1954 Bengal Brigade Captain Ronald Blaine
1955 The Purple Mask Brisquet
1955 The Virgin Queen Lord Derry
1957 That Woman Opposite Dermot Kinross
1958 Home Before Dark Arnold Bronn
1959 Imitation of Life David Edward
1959 The Young Land Judge Millard Isham
1960 A Terrible Beauty Don McGinnis
1960 One Foot in Hell Sir Harry Ivers
1961 The Big Bankroll Detective Phil Butler
1962 To Walk with the Serpent John Westerbrook
1962 The Cabinet of Caligari Caligari / Paul
1962 Bonanza Matthew Raine Season 4 episode 3 : "The Artist"
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Simon Carter Season 1 Episode 17: "Forecast: Low Clouds and Coastal Fog"
1964 Fail Safe General Black
1969 How to Steal the World Professor David Garrow
1969 100 Rifles Steven Grimes
1969 The Big Cube Charles Winthrop
1970 Waterloo Marshal Michel Ney
1972 The People Sol Diemus
1972 The Carey Treatment J.D. Randall
1974 The Tamarind Seed Fergus Stephenson
1976 Banjo Hackett: Roamin' Free "Tip" Conaker
1976 The Quest: The Longest Drive Mathew Hatcher
1977 Good Against Evil Father Kemschler
1977 MacArthur President Roosevelt
1977 Deadly Game Colonel Edward Stryker
1977 Woman on the Run Crandell
1979 Mark Twain: Beneath the Laughter Mark Twain
1981 Death Ray 2000 The Director
1981 Artemis 81 Albrecht Von Drachenfels
1982 Halloween III: Season of the Witch Conal Cochran
1983 The Last Day American Ambassador
1984 The Secret Servant Professor John Tyler
1984 The Last Starfighter Grig
1986 The Whoopee Boys Judge Stenrhill
1986 Dark Mansions Alexander Drake
1987 RoboCop The Old Man
1987 The Dead Mr. Browne
1988 A Waltz Through the Hills Uncle Tom
1988 L.A. Law Vernon Kepler Season 2 Episode 20: "Chariots of Meyer"
1990 RoboCop 2 The Old Man
1990 Twin Peaks Andrew Packard
1993 Love, Cheat & Steal Hamilton Fisk
1994 Batman: The Animated Series Grant Walker Voice, Season 3 Episode 10: "Deep Freeze"
1998 The Rat Pack Joe Kennedy

References

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  1. ^ "Those We Lost; WE LOST MANY INFLUENTIAL IRISH-AMERICANS IN THE LAST YEAR. THOUGH IMPOSSIBLE TO MENTION THEM ALL, HERE IS OUR TRIBUTE TO SOME OF THOSE WHO TOUCHED OUR LIVES". Irish America. April 2006. pp. 112–115. ProQuest 211223308. The Irish-born Hollywood film actor and director Dan O'Herlihy died on February 18. 2005 at his home in Malibu, California. He was 85. [...] Daniel Peter O'Herlihy was born in Wexford, Ireland, on May 1, 1919. He qualified as an architect at the National University, but his real love was acting, and while still in college he started to take small parts with the Abbey and Gate theatres.
  2. ^ "Irish actor Dan O'Herlihy dies, 85". RTÉ. 18 February 2005.
  3. ^ a b c "Dan O'Herlihy". The Independent. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Dan O'Herlihy". ucd.ie. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  5. ^ Maurer, Mark (15 October 2014). "The 5 Actors 'Twin Peaks' Will Be Missing When It Returns in 2016". indiewire.com. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Obituary: Dan O'Herlihy". the Guardian. 21 February 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d McLellan, Dennis (19 February 2005). "Daniel O'Herlihy, 85; Irish Actor Was a Best Actor Oscar Nominee". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  8. ^ a b Vallance, Tom (21 February 2005). "Dan O'Herlihy". The Independent. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  9. ^ Gardella, Kay (March 28, 1984). "Delightful Forsyth Tales from Ireland". New York Daily News. p. 75. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  10. ^ "The O'Herlihy Dynasty". Martinsville Bulletin Entertainer. April 14, 1978. p. 13. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  11. ^ Finnerty-Pyne, Sinéad; Goldin, Greg; O'Herlihy, Lorcan (2020). Architecture Is a Social Act: Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects [LOHA]. Amsterdam: FRAME Publishers. p. 52.
  12. ^ Contrada, Fred (May 12, 1997). "Theatre Background: She's the Force Behind the Show; Olwen O'Herlihy has served as production manager, producer and director". The Republican. p.B-1. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  13. ^ "From U.S. to New Zealand, Sundance is long on shorts". The Salt Lake Tribune. April 2006. p. D4. ProQuest 211223308. Shorts on the Frontier -- "Careless Reef" by Gerard Holthuis, The Netherlands; "The Cold Ones" by Aaron Platt, U.S.; 'Fast Film' by Virgil Widrich, Austria/Luxembourg; 'Light Is Calling' by Bill Morrison, U.S.; 'N Judah 5:30' by Sam Green, U.S.; 'Out of the Ether' by Kerry Laitala, U.S.; 'Papillon d'Amour' by Nicolas Provost, Belgium; 'Pictures From Dorothy' by Kevin Jerome Everson, U.S.; 'Song of the Firefly' by Izabella Pruska-Oldenhof, Canada; and 'Thunder Perfect Mind' by Micaela O'Herlihy, U.S.
  14. ^ France, Lisa Respers (20 November 2020). "Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa team up for 'Prisoner'". CNN Wire Service. p. 1. ProQuest 2462436993. Both women shared the news of the release on social media. 'Big love to the whole gang who helped put this together directed by Alana O'Herlihy + Miley,' Lipa tweeted. The new song is part of Cyrus's upcoming release, 'Plastic Hearts,' which is due out Nov. 27.
  15. ^ Carpenter, Dick (20 June 1983). "Names and Faces". The Boston Globe. p. 1. ProQuest 294268153. Clearly not a man to act precipitously, Dan O'Herlihy has become an American citizen. The 64-year-old Irish actor, nominated for an Oscar for his lead role in 'The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe,' was one of a group naturalized Friday in Los Angeles.
  16. ^ Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2006). Screen World Film Annual. New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 394. ISBN 978-1-55783-706-6.
  17. ^ Stone, Rob; Guitierrez-Albilla, Julian (2013). A Companion To Luis Buñuel. Chicester, WS : Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 299–300. ISBN 978-1-4443-3633-7.
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