Discover

'Dan O'Herlihy' (May 1 1919 — February 17 2005) was an Irish film actor.

Contents

Biography

Career

Personal life

External links

Biography

Career

O'Herlihy first appeared in Carol Reed's ''Odd Man Out'' in 1947. His first American film was ''Macbeth'' in the following year, appearing with Orson Welles. He played the role of Macduff. In 1952 he starred in Luis Buñuel's ''Robinson Crusoe'', which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. That same year he also starred in the Red Scare movie ''Invasion U.S.A.''.
O'Herlihy later starred in ''Fail-Safe'' in 1964 (as General Black, or "Blackie"), '' in 1982, ''The Last Starfighter'' in 1984, John Huston's ''The Dead'' in 1987, in ''RoboCop'', and ''RoboCop 2''.
He also had a fairly extensive career in television, appearing in such shows as ''The Long Hot Summer'' (in which he was the lead star replacing Edmond O'Brien in the part of Will Varner mid way through its one season run), ''The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters'', and the cult television show ''Twin Peaks'' in 1991. In 1998, O'Herlihy acted in his last film, ''The Rat Pack'', playing Joseph P. Kennedy.

Personal life

O'Herlihy was born in Wexford. Married Elsie Bennett in 1945. He was the brother of director Michael O'Herlihy (born 1928) and the father of actor Gavan O'Herlihy, visual artist Olwen O'Herlihy, and architect Lorcan O'Herlihy. He was also the grandfather of Cian Dowling, Colin O'Herilhy, Micaela O'Herlihy and Eilis O'Herlihy.
O'Herlihy's personal papers are held in the University College Dublin Archives.
O'Herlihy died of natural causes in Malibu, California.

External links

★