Cyril Cusack
Biography
Cyril Cusack was an Irish actor of stage and screen whose career spanned more than 70 years, and he was regarded as one of his country's finest performers, especially in classical theater. Born in South Africa and raised in County Tipperary, he left law studies to join Dublin's Abbey Theatre in 1932, acting in over 60 productions there, and he also acted with the Gate Theatre. He later appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre, and in 1947 he founded his own company, which staged work in Dublin, Paris and New York. His breakthrough came in Carol Reed's Odd Man Out (1947), playing an IRA driver opposite James Mason, and he later took the gunsmith's part in The Day of the Jackal (1973). He won a Jacob's Award in 1963 and played the title role in Galileo (1968). One of his last appearances was in Danny the Champion of the World (1989).
82years old at death
- Born Durban
- Died London
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
- Cyril James Cusack (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 23
- Career span
- 45 years1947 to 1992
First and latest
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First role
Cusack first appeared on film in Knocknagow (1918) at just 8 years old. He later landed his breakthrough part as a wiry IRA getaway driver alongside James Mason in Carol Reed's Odd Man Out (1947).
Behind the camera
Cusack started his own company, Cyril Cusack Productions, in 1947. Under that banner he staged productions in Dublin, Paris and New York.
Languages
Cusack spoke both English and Irish. He took a leading role in Poitín, a controversial Irish language film released in 1977.
Languages
Cusack went back to Italy many times during his career, especially in the 1970s, where he both appeared on camera and lent his voice to English-language dubs of Italian films.
Cyril Cusack movies on Netflix
Far and Awayas Danty Duff
Danny the Champion of the Worldas Doc Spencer
My Left Footas Lord Castlewelland
The Tenth Manas The Priest
Nineteen Eighty-Fouras Charrington
True Confessionsas Cardinal Danaher
Les Misérablesas Fauchlevent
The Day of the Jackalas The Gunsmith
All the Way Boysas Matto
The Italian Connectionas Corso
Harold and Maudeas Glaucus
The Taming of the Shrewas Grumio
Fahrenheit 451as Captain Beatty
The Spy Who Came in from the Coldas Control
Shake Hands with the Devilas Chris Noonan
Gideon's Dayas Herbert 'Birdie' Sparrow
Ill Met by Moonlightas Sandy
The Rising of the Moonas Inspector Michael Dillon (segment 'The Majesty of the Law')
The Man Who Never Wasas Taxi Driver
The Secret of Convict Lakeas Edward "Limey" Cockerell
Gone to Earthas Edward Marston
The Small Back Roomas Cpl. Taylor
Odd Man Outas Pat
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell directed three of these films together. Michael Hordern appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.










Films together
Michael Hordern4 films together, 1956 to 1989
Michael Hordern's page Danny the Champion of the World1989IMDb rating 6.7Cusack as Doc SpencerHordern as Lord Claybury
The Taming of the Shrew1967IMDb rating 7.0Cusack as GrumioHordern as Baptista
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold1965IMDb rating 7.5Cusack as ControlHordern as Ashe
The Man Who Never Was1956IMDb rating 7.4Cusack as Taxi DriverHordern as Gen. Coburn
Richard Burton3 films together, 1965 to 1984
Richard Burton's page Nineteen Eighty-Four1984IMDb rating 7.0Cusack as CharringtonBurton as O'Brien
The Taming of the Shrew1967IMDb rating 7.0Cusack as GrumioBurton as Petruchio
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold1965IMDb rating 7.5Cusack as ControlBurton as Alec Leamas
Michael Gough2 films together, 1949 to 1957
Michael Gough's page Ill Met by Moonlight1957IMDb rating 6.5Cusack as SandyGough as Andoni Zoidakis
The Small Back Room1949IMDb rating 7.1Cusack as Cpl. TaylorGough as Capt. Dick Stuart
Vernon Dobtcheff2 films together, 1967 to 1973
Vernon Dobtcheff's page The Day of the Jackal1973IMDb rating 7.8Cusack as The GunsmithDobtcheff as The Interrogator
The Taming of the Shrew1967IMDb rating 7.0Cusack as GrumioDobtcheff as Pedant
Derek Jacobi2 films together, 1973 to 1988
Derek Jacobi's page The Tenth Man1988IMDb rating 6.8Cusack as The PriestJacobi as The Imposter
The Day of the Jackal1973IMDb rating 7.8Cusack as The GunsmithJacobi as Caron
Geoffrey Keen2 films together, 1949 to 1956
Geoffrey Keen's page The Man Who Never Was1956IMDb rating 7.4Cusack as Taxi DriverKeen as Gen. Nye
The Small Back Room1949IMDb rating 7.1Cusack as Cpl. TaylorKeen as Pinker
Emeric PressburgerDirector, 3 films, 1949 to 1957
All films by Emeric Pressburger Ill Met by Moonlight1957IMDb rating 6.5Cusack as Sandy
Gone to Earth1950IMDb rating 6.9Cusack as Edward Marston
The Small Back Room1949IMDb rating 7.1Cusack as Cpl. Taylor
Michael PowellDirector, 3 films, 1949 to 1957
All films by Michael Powell Ill Met by Moonlight1957IMDb rating 6.5Cusack as Sandy
Gone to Earth1950IMDb rating 6.9Cusack as Edward Marston
The Small Back Room1949IMDb rating 7.1Cusack as Cpl. Taylor
John FordDirector, 2 films, 1957 to 1958
All films by John Ford Gideon's Day1958IMDb rating 6.6Cusack as Herbert 'Birdie' Sparrow
The Rising of the Moon1957IMDb rating 6.7Cusack as Inspector Michael Dillon (segment 'The Majesty of the Law')
Also two films together16 more actors
- Niall MacGinnisThe Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965) and Shake Hands with the Devil (1959)
- Jack HawkinsGideon's Day (1958) and The Small Back Room (1949)
- Ronald PickupDanny the Champion of the World (1989) and The Day of the Jackal (1973)
- Jeanette NolanTrue Confessions (1981) and The Secret of Convict Lake (1951)
- Esmond KnightThe Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965) and Gone to Earth (1950)
- William HartnellShake Hands with the Devil (1959) and Odd Man Out (1947)
- Denis O'DeaThe Rising of the Moon (1957) and Odd Man Out (1947)
- Ray McAnallyMy Left Foot (1989) and Shake Hands with the Devil (1959)
- David FarrarGone to Earth (1950) and The Small Back Room (1949)
- Frank LawtonGideon's Day (1958) and The Rising of the Moon (1957)
- Michael TrubshaweGideon's Day (1958) and The Rising of the Moon (1957)
- Richard MarnerThe Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965) and Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
- William SquireLes Misérables (1978) and The Man Who Never Was (1956)
- Oskar WernerFahrenheit 451 (1966) and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)
- Sybil ThorndikeShake Hands with the Devil (1959) and Gone to Earth (1950)
- James WalkerDanny the Champion of the World (1989) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Cyril Cusack's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$208 million
10 of the 23 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 23 films: 10 worldwide figure; 3 never in cinemas; 10 figure not found.
- 10Worldwide figure
- 3Never in cinemas
- 10Figure not found
Top grosser

Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$138M66.3% of the total
- 2$16M7.7% of the total
- 3$15M7.1% of the total
- 4$13M6.2% of the total
- 5$8.4M4.1% of the total
- 6$8.0M3.9% of the total
- 7$7.6M3.7% of the total
- 8$2.0M1.0% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.













