Dick O'Neill

Biography

Dick O'Neill was an American character actor who worked in theater, film and television, often cast as Irish cops, fathers, judges and army generals. Born in New York City in 1928, he studied at Syracuse University, served in the Navy and returned to the stage, becoming part of the original company at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., where he spent five years. His Broadway debut was in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, as Christmas Morgan, and his later Broadway credits included Skyscraper and Promises, Promises. Beginning in the late 1950s he appeared on many television shows, and he was probably best known as Charlie Cagney on Cagney & Lacey. His film work included Pretty Poison (1968), The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), The Front Page (1974), MacArthur (1977), The Buddy Holly Story (1978), House Calls (1978), The Jerk (1979), Prizzi's Honor (1985) and The Mosquito Coast (1986). He died in 1998.

70years old at death

Born August 29, 1928New York City
Died November 17, 1998Santa Monica
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22

Movie Career

Films: 20
Career span: 31 years1966 to 1997

Genres

Comedy45%, 9 films
Drama45%, 9 films
Crime25%, 5 films
Action20%, 4 films
Romance20%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Dick O'Neill was one of the first members of the company at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., where he got his start in acting.

Dick O'Neill movies on Netflix

Ellen Foster1997IMDb rating 6.9as Judge
It Runs in the Family1994IMDb rating 5.6as Pulaski
Loose Cannons1990IMDb rating 4.9as Captain
She's Out of Control1989IMDb rating 5.4as Mr. Pearson
The Mosquito Coast1986IMDb rating 6.6as Mr. Polski
Chiller1985IMDb rating 4.5as Clarence Beeson
Prizzi's Honor1985IMDb rating 6.7as Bluestone
Turk 182!1985IMDb rating 6.0as Powerhouse chief
Wolfen1981IMDb rating 6.3as Warren
The Comeback Kid1980IMDb rating 5.7as Phil
The Jerk1979IMDb rating 7.1as Frosty
House Calls1978IMDb rating 6.6as Irwin Owett
The Buddy Holly Story1978IMDb rating 7.2as Sol Gittler
MacArthur1977IMDb rating 6.5as Colonel Whitney
St. Ives1976IMDb rating 6.2as Hesh
Posse1975IMDb rating 6.5as Wiley
The Front Page1974IMDb rating 7.3as McHugh
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three1974IMDb rating 7.6as Frank Correll
Pretty Poison1968IMDb rating 7.0as Bud Munsch
Gammera the Invincible1966IMDb rating 5.0as Gen. O'Neill

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Taking of Pelham One Two Three1974 Action, Crime, Thrilleras Frank Correll
IMDb rating 7.642K votes
The Jerk1979 Comedyas Frosty
IMDb rating 7.169K votes
The Mosquito Coast1986as Mr. Polski
IMDb rating 6.634K votes
Wolfen1981as Warren
IMDb rating 6.313K votes
She's Out of Control1989as Mr. Pearson
IMDb rating 5.45.3K votes
Pretty Poison1968as Bud Munsch
IMDb rating 7.04.7K votes
The Buddy Holly Story1978as Sol Gittler
IMDb rating 7.211K votes
Prizzi's Honor1985as Bluestone
IMDb rating 6.729K votes

Most often with

Bob Clark directed three of these films, Joseph Sargent two. Walter Matthau appears in three 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.

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Walter Matthau

Paul Sorvino

James Tolkan

John Randolph

John McCurry

Tom PediBob ClarkDirector, 3 films Joseph SargentDirector, 2 films

Films together

Walter Matthau3 films together, 1974 to 1978
Walter Matthau's page
- House Calls1978IMDb rating 6.6O'Neill as Irwin OwettMatthau as Dr. Charley Nichols
- The Front Page1974IMDb rating 7.3O'Neill as McHughMatthau as Walter Burns
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three1974IMDb rating 7.6O'Neill as Frank CorrellMatthau as Police Lt. Zachary Garber
Paul Sorvino2 films together, 1985
Paul Sorvino's page
- Chiller1985IMDb rating 4.5O'Neill as Clarence BeesonSorvino as Reverend Penny
- Turk 182!1985IMDb rating 6.0O'Neill as Powerhouse chiefSorvino as Himself
James Tolkan2 films together, 1981 to 1985
James Tolkan's page
- Turk 182!1985IMDb rating 6.0O'Neill as Powerhouse chiefTolkan as Hanley
- Wolfen1981IMDb rating 6.3O'Neill as WarrenTolkan as Baldy
John Randolph2 films together, 1968 to 1985
John Randolph's page
- Prizzi's Honor1985IMDb rating 6.7O'Neill as BluestoneRandolph as Angelo 'Pop' Partanna
- Pretty Poison1968IMDb rating 7.0O'Neill as Bud MunschRandolph as Morton Azenauer
John McCurry2 films together, 1966 to 1981
John McCurry's page
- Wolfen1981IMDb rating 6.3O'Neill as WarrenMcCurry as Sayad Alve
- Gammera the Invincible1966IMDb rating 5.0O'Neill as Gen. O'NeillMcCurry as A1C Hopkins
Tom Pedi2 films together, 1974 to 1976
Tom Pedi's page
- St. Ives1976IMDb rating 6.2O'Neill as HeshPedi as Fat Angie Polaterra
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three1974IMDb rating 7.6O'Neill as Frank CorrellPedi as Caz Dolowicz
Bob ClarkDirector, 3 films, 1985 to 1994
All films by Bob Clark
- It Runs in the Family1994IMDb rating 5.6O'Neill as Pulaski
- Loose Cannons1990IMDb rating 4.9O'Neill as Captain
- Turk 182!1985IMDb rating 6.0O'Neill as Powerhouse chief
Joseph SargentDirector, 2 films, 1974 to 1977
All films by Joseph Sargent
- MacArthur1977IMDb rating 6.5O'Neill as Colonel Whitney
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three1974IMDb rating 7.6O'Neill as Frank Correll

Box office

What Dick O'Neill's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$266 million

14 of the 20 films have a worldwide figure.

14Worldwide figure
3Never in cinemas
3Figure not found

Top grosser

The Jerk1979Frosty$100 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 88% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
The Jerk1979as Frosty
$100M37.6% of the total
2
House Calls1978as Irwin Owett
$28M10.7% of the total
3
Prizzi's Honor1985as Bluestone
$27M10.0% of the total
4
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three1974as Frank Correll
$19M7.0% of the total
5
MacArthur1977as Colonel Whitney
$16M6.1% of the total
6
The Front Page1974as McHugh
$15M5.6% of the total
7
The Buddy Holly Story1978as Sol Gittler
$14M5.4% of the total
8
The Mosquito Coast1986as Mr. Polski
$14M5.4% of the total