Arthur Shields

Arthur Shields (15 February 1896 – 27 April 1970) was an Irish actor on television, stage and film.

Early years Born in Portobello, Dublin into a family who were members of the Church of Ireland, Shields started acting in the Abbey Theatre when he was 17 years old.

Irish nationalist activity Along with six others of the Abbey Players, Shields fought in the Easter Rising of 1916. He was interned for six months His obituary in The Times of San Mateo, California, reported, "... upon his release he was decorated by the Republic of Eire." (more than 300 roles in 350 plays). Temporal Powers, and Katie Roche. Three times he brought the Abbey Company to the United States. Some of his memorable roles were in Ford films. Shields portrayed the Reverend Playfair in Ford's The Quiet Man, opposite John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara and his brother, Barry Fitzgerald. He played Dr. Laughlin in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon with Wayne and Joanne Dru, and appeared yet again with Wayne and Barry Fitzgerald in Ford's Long Voyage Home. His other films include: Little Nellie Kelly, The Keys of the Kingdom, The Fabulous Dorseys, Gallant Journey, The Shocking Miss Pilgrim, Drums Along the Mohawk, Apache Drums, Lady Godiva, National Velvet and The River. He also made television appearances including a 1958 role on Perry Mason as Dr. George Barnes in "The Case of the Screaming Woman" as well as a 1960 episode of Maverick starring Roger Moore titled "The Bold Fenian Men."

Personal life and death Shields married Bazie Magee in 1920, and their son Adam was born in 1927. The couple divorced in 1943, and Shields subsequently married Aideen O'Connor. Their daughter, Christine, was born in 1946. Aideen died in 1950. Shields' third marriage, to Laurie Bailey in 1955, lasted until his death.

Shields died of complications related to emphysema on 27 April 1970 in Santa Barbara, California. He was cremated, and his ashes were taken to his native Dublin and buried with military honours in Deans Grange Cemetery.

Filmography

Knocknagow (1918) – Phil Lahy The Sign of the Cross (1932) – Chaplain Costello (1944 Re-Release Prologue) (uncredited) The Plough and the Stars (1936) – Irish Leader Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) – Reverend Rosenkrantz The Long Voyage Home (1940) – Donkeyman Little Nellie Kelly (1940) – Timothy Fogarty Lady Scarface (1941) – Matt Willis The Gay Falcon (1941) – Inspector Mike Waldeck How Green Was My Valley (1941) – Mr. Parry, deacon Confirm or Deny (1941) – Jeff, Blind Typist Broadway (1942) – Pete Dailey This Above All (1942) – Chaplain Pacific Rendezvous (1942) – Prof. Harvey Lessmore The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe (1942) – Griswald – Broadway Journal (uncredited) Dr. Renault's Secret (1942) – Inspector Duval (uncredited) Nightmare (1942) – Sergeant Gentleman Jim (1942) – Father Burke Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant (1942) – Mr. Kipp (uncredited) The Black Swan (1942) – The Bishop (uncredited) Random Harvest (1942) – Liverpool Chemist (uncredited) Above Suspicion (1943) – Walmer Hotel Porter (uncredited) The Man from Down Under (1943) – Father Polycarp Lassie Come Home (1943) – Andrew Madame Curie (1943) – Businessman (uncredited) The White Cliffs of Dover (1944) – Benson (uncredited) Youth Runs Wild (1944) – Mr. Dunlop National Velvet (1944) – Mr. Hallam The Keys of the Kingdom (1944) – Father Fitzgerald – Dean at Holywell Roughly Speaking (1945) – Minister (uncredited) The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) – Street Preacher (uncredited) The Corn Is Green (1945) – Glyn Thomas The Valley of Decision (1945) – Callahan Too Young to Know (1945) – Mr. Enright Three Strangers (1946) – Prosecutor Gallant Journey (1946) – Father Kenton The Verdict (1946) – Rev. Holbrook Never Say Goodbye (1946) – McCarthy (uncredited) The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947) – Michael Easy Come, Easy Go (1947) – Timothy Mike Donovan The Fabulous Dorseys (1947) – Mr. Dorsey Seven Keys to Baldpate (1947) – Prof. Bolton Fighting Father Dunne (1948) – Mr. Michael O'Donnell My Own True Love (1948) – Iverson Tap Roots (1948) – Reverend Kirkland The Fighting O'Flynn (1949) – Dooley She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) – Dr. O'Laughlin Red Light (1949) – Father Redmond Challenge to Lassie (1949) – Dr. Lee Tarzan and the Slave Girl (1950) – Dr. E.E. Campbell A Wonderful Life (1951) – Pastor Blue Blood (1951) – Tim Donovan Apache Drums (1951) – Rev. Griffin Sealed Cargo (1951) – Kevin Dolan The River (1951) – Mr. John The People Against O'Hara (1951) – Mr. O'Hara The Barefoot Mailman (1951) – Ben Titus Jack and the Beanstalk (1952) – Patrick the Harp (voice) The Quiet Man (1952) – Reverend Mr. Cyril Playfair Scandal at Scourie (1953) – Father Reilly South Sea Woman (1953) – 'Jimmy-legs' Donovan Main Street to Broadway (1953) – Actor in Fantasy Sequence World for Ransom (1954) – Sean O'Connor Pride of the Blue Grass (1954) – Wilson River of No Return (1954) – Minister at Tent City (uncredited) Lady Godiva of Coventry (1955) – Innkeeper The King and Four Queens (1956) – Padre The Daughter of Dr. Jekyll (1957) – Dr. Lomas Enchanted Island (1958) – James 'Jimmy' Dooley Night of the Quarter Moon (1959) – Captain Tom O'Sullivan For the Love of Mike (1960) – Father Walsh The Pigeon That Took Rome (1962) – Monsignor O'Toole (final film role)

Television Your Show Time – 26 episodes – The Bookshop Man (1949) The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure – 8 episodes – Boles (1956) Perry Mason – episode – The Case of the Screaming Woman – Dr. George Barnes (1958) Captain David Grief – episode – The Return of Blackbeard – Angus Macmor (1959) Bat Masterson – episode – The Conspiracy: Parts 1 & 2 – Dana Ruggles (1959) Maverick – episode – The Bold Fenian Men – Terence Fogarty (1960) Wagon Train – episode – The Amos Gibbon Story – Judge Tremayne (1960) Rawhide – episode – Incident of the Dust Flower – Sam Cartwright (1960) Bonanza – episode – The Stranger – Dennis (1960) Death Valley Days – episode – Loophole – Jebal McSween (1961)

Playography The Reapers (1930) Temporal Powers (1932) Katie Roche (1936)