Niall O'Brien

Biography

Niall O'Brien was an Irish actor who spent much of his career with the Abbey Theatre company, appearing in 130 of its productions, among them 27 world premieres. Born in Dalkey, County Dublin, and raised in nearby Glasthule, he trained at the Abbey School of acting after leaving a building apprenticeship in the mid-1960s, and his first part came in the play Galileo in 1965. He toured with the Abbey across Europe, Russia and the United States. On screen he played Bernard in Ryan's Daughter (1970), Kay in Excalibur (1981), Agent Rurik in Gorky Park (1983) and Detective Inspector Isaac Gissing in Rawhead Rex (1986), and he took roles in television series such as Lovejoy, Boon, A Touch of Frost, Bachelors Walk and The Royal. He died in 2009.

63years old at death

Born February 8, 1946Dalkey
Died February 25, 2009Bray
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18

Movie Career

Films: 7
Career span: 33 years1970 to 2003

Genres

Drama71%, 5 films
Romance43%, 3 films
Crime29%, 2 films
Fantasy29%, 2 films
Mystery29%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
During his career as an Abbey actor, O'Brien took part in 130 theater productions, and 27 of those were world premiers.

Niall O'Brien movies on Netflix

Conspiracy of Silence2003IMDb rating 6.5as John
The Legend of 19001998IMDb rating 8.0as Harbor Master
King Ralph1991IMDb rating 5.4as Inspector Tommy McGuire
Rawhead Rex1986IMDb rating 5.2as Det. Insp. Isaac Gissing
Gorky Park1983IMDb rating 6.7as KGB Agent Rurik
Excalibur1981IMDb rating 7.3as Kay
Ryan's Daughter1970IMDb rating 7.4as Bernard

Best known for

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

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The Legend of 19001998 Drama, Music, Romanceas Harbor Master
IMDb rating 8.074K votes
Excalibur1981 Adventure, Drama, Fantasyas Kay
IMDb rating 7.375K votes
Rawhead Rex1986as Det. Insp. Isaac Gissing
IMDb rating 5.27.6K votes
King Ralph1991as Inspector Tommy McGuire
IMDb rating 5.418K votes
Gorky Park1983as KGB Agent Rurik
IMDb rating 6.719K votes
Ryan's Daughter1970as Bernard
IMDb rating 7.412K votes
Conspiracy of Silence2003as John
IMDb rating 6.5490 votes

Worked with

Niall O'Brien shares two films with Richard Griffiths, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Richard Griffiths

Niall Toibin

John Goodman

Liam Neeson

John Hurt

Robert Mitchum

John BoormanDirector, 1 film

Giuseppe TornatoreDirector, 1 film

Michael AptedDirector, 1 film

Films together

Richard Griffiths2 films together, 1983 to 1991
Richard Griffiths's page
- King Ralph1991IMDb rating 5.4O'Brien as Inspector Tommy McGuireGriffiths as Duncan Phipps
- Gorky Park1983IMDb rating 6.7O'Brien as KGB Agent RurikGriffiths as Anton
Niall Toibin2 films together, 1970 to 1986
Niall Toibin's page
- Rawhead Rex1986IMDb rating 5.2O'Brien as Det. Insp. Isaac GissingToibin as Reverend Coot
- Ryan's Daughter1970IMDb rating 7.4O'Brien as BernardToibin as O'Keefe
John Goodman1 film together, 1991
John Goodman's page
- King Ralph1991IMDb rating 5.4O'Brien as Inspector Tommy McGuireGoodman as Ralph Hampton Gainesworth Jones
Liam Neeson1 film together, 1981
Liam Neeson's page
- Excalibur1981IMDb rating 7.3O'Brien as KayNeeson as Gawain
John Hurt1 film together, 1991
John Hurt's page
- King Ralph1991IMDb rating 5.4O'Brien as Inspector Tommy McGuireHurt as Lord Percival Graves
Robert Mitchum1 film together, 1970
Robert Mitchum's page
- Ryan's Daughter1970IMDb rating 7.4O'Brien as BernardMitchum as Charles Shaughnessy
John BoormanDirector, 1 film, 1981
All films by John Boorman
- Excalibur1981IMDb rating 7.3O'Brien as Kay
Giuseppe TornatoreDirector, 1 film, 1998
- The Legend of 19001998IMDb rating 8.0O'Brien as Harbor Master
Michael AptedDirector, 1 film, 1983
All films by Michael Apted
- Gorky Park1983IMDb rating 6.7O'Brien as KGB Agent Rurik

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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