Gabriel Byrne

Gabriel James Byrne (born 12 May 1950) is an Irish actor. He has received a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for a Grammy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Tony Awards. Byrne was awarded the Irish Film and Television Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and was listed at number 17 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors in 2020. In 2009, The Guardian named him one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.

Byrne's acting career began at the Focus Theatre in Dublin before he joined London's Royal Court Theatre in 1974. His screen debut came in the Irish drama serial The Riordans and the spin-off show Bracken. He went on to star in such films as Defence of the Realm (1986), Lionheart (1987), Miller's Crossing (1990), Little Women (1994), Dead Man (1995), The Usual Suspects (1995), The Man in the Iron Mask (1998), Enemy of the State (1998), End of Days (1999), Stigmata (1999), Vanity Fair (2004), The 33 (2015), and Hereditary (2018). He co-wrote The Last of the High Kings (1996) and also produced In the Name of the Father (1993).

For his Broadway work, Byrne has received two nominations for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his roles in the Eugene O'Neill plays A Moon for the Misbegotten (2000), and Long Day's Journey into Night (2016). For his television work, Byrne has received two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Paul Weston in the HBO drama series In Treatment (2008–2010), he also received a Golden Globe Award. His other notable television roles include Vikings (2013), Maniac (2018), and War of the Worlds (2019–2022).

Early life Gabriel James Byrne was born on 12 May 1950 in Walkinstown, Dublin, Ireland, the son of Roman Catholic parents. His father Dan was a soldier and cooper, while his mother Eileen (née Gannon), from Elphin, County Roscommon, was a hospital nurse. He has five younger siblings: Donal, Thomas, Breda, Margaret, and a sister who died at an early age, Marian. He attended University College Dublin, where he studied archaeology, Spanish and linguistics, and graduated with a BA in 1972, becoming proficient in the Irish language. He went on to complete a Higher Diploma in Education (HDipEd) in 1973.

About his early training to become a priest, Byrne said in an interview, "I spent five years in the seminary and I suppose it was assumed that one had a vocation. I realised subsequently that I didn't."

Byrne played football in Dublin with Stella Maris.

In January 2011, Byrne spoke in an interview on The Meaning of Life about being sexually abused by priests during his childhood.

Before becoming an actor, Byrne had many jobs, including archaeologist, cook, Spanish and history school teacher at Ardscoil Éanna in Crumlin and even a spell as a bullfighter in Spain. He started acting at age 29,

In 1990, Byrne starred as the protagonist Tom Reagan in the Coen Brothers 1929-set film Miller's Crossing, in which his character serves as an advisor to a crime boss while trying to keep the peace between the Irish and Italian mobs in Philadelphia. Despite the character being a member of the Irish mob, the Coens originally wanted Byrne to speak in an American accent rather than his native Irish. Byrne argued that his accent was a good fit for the dialogue, and the Coens eventually agreed, though they are known for rarely deviating from their original vision.

In 1995, Byrne starred as one of the main characters, Dean Keaton, in the crime thriller The Usual Suspects, written by Christopher McQuarrie and directed by Bryan Singer. When Byrne was initially approached with the script, he turned the offer down, thinking the filmmakers couldn't pull it off. When he met with McQuarrie and Singer in person, he was convinced of their abilities, then backed out again due to personal reasons. Finally, the production team agreed to shoot the picture in Los Angeles, and Byrne signed on for good.

In the 90s, his production company Plurabelle Films received a first look deal with Phoenix Pictures.

Byrne holding his Herald Angel, an award given to him at the 2006 Edinburgh International Film Festival.

In 2007, Byrne led the jury of the Kerry Film Festival.

Upon his return to theatre in 2008, Byrne appeared as King Arthur in Camelot with the New York Philharmonic from 7 to 10 May, following the footsteps of veteran actors Richard Burton and Richard Harris. Byrne was cast in a film adaptation of Flann O'Brien's metafictional novel At Swim-Two-Birds, alongside Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy. Actor Brendan Gleeson was set to direct the film. an adaptation of Stéphane Osmont's novel of the same name.

In 2017, Byrne appeared in Mad to Be Normal (previously titled Metanoia), a biopic of the Scottish psychiatrist R. D. Laing, produced by Gizmo Films.

In 2018, Byrne starred in filmmaker Ari Aster's feature debut Hereditary as Steve, the husband and father in a family experiencing occult disturbances following the death of his mother-in-law. It ranked 83rd on Rolling Stone 's list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century" and 10th on The Hollywood Reporter 's list of the "25 Best Horror Movies of the 21st Century." It was Byrne's second time working with Alex Wolff, who played his son, after In Treatment, and Wolff said, “He’s the person that I’ve worked with who has probably inspired me the most,” about Byrne in a profile by DuJour.

Walking with Ghosts, Byrne's one-man show based on his memoir of the same title (published by Grove Press in January 2021), premiered at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin on 1 February 2022, before playing at the Edinburgh International Festival. It opened on 6 September 2022 at the Apollo Theatre in London, marking Byrne's West End debut at the age of 72, in 'a career-best performance', and opened on 26 October 2022 at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway.

Personal life Byrne had a 12-year relationship with television producer and presenter Aine O'Connor, from 1974 to 1986. He began a relationship with actress Ellen Barkin, and relocated to Manhattan to be with her. A year later, in 1988, he married Barkin, with whom he has two children. The couple separated amicably in 1993 and divorced in 1999. He later married Hannah Beth King on 4 August 2014 at Ballymaloe House in County Cork. , Byrne lives with his family in Rockport, Maine.

At the fifth Jameson Dublin International Film Festival in 2007, Byrne was presented with the first of the new Volta awards, for lifetime achievement in acting. He received the Honorary Patronage of the University Philosophical Society, of Trinity College Dublin on 20 February 2007. In November 2007, he was awarded an honorary degree by the National University of Ireland, Galway; the president of the university, Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, said that the award was in recognition of the actor's "outstanding contribution to Irish and international film".

Byrne mentioned in interviews and his 1994 autobiography, Pictures in My Head that he hates being called "brooding". He has been listed by People as one of the "Sexiest Men Alive". Entertainment Weekly has also dubbed Byrne as one of the hottest celebrities over the age of 50.

Byrne was cultural ambassador for Ireland until he criticised The Gathering, a tourism initiative to encourage people of Irish heritage to visit the country, describing it as "a scam" and adding that the majority of Irish people "don't give a shit about the diaspora except to shake them down for a few quid". Byrne also criticised the marketing strategy employed by Guinness known as Arthur's Day as "a cynical piece of exercise in a country which has a huge drinking problem".

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1978 On a Paving Stone Mounted Unknown 1981 Love Is ... Larry Excalibur Uther Pendragon 1983 Hanna K. Joshua Herzog The Keep Sturmbannführer Erich Kämpffer 1984 Reflections William Masters 1985 Defence of the Realm Nick Mullen 1986 Gothic Lord Byron 1987 Lionheart The Black Prince Hello Again Dr. Kevin Scanlon Julia and Julia Paolo Vinci Siesta Augustine 1988 The Courier Val 1989 A Soldier's Tale Saul Diamond Skulls Lord Hugo Bruckton 1990 Miller's Crossing Tom Reagan Shipwrecked Lieutenant John Merrick 1992 Into the West Papa Reilly Also associate producer Cool World Jack Deebs 1993 Point of No Return Bobaka The Assassin A Dangerous Woman Colin Mackey In the Name of the Father Executive producer 1994 A Simple Twist of Fate John Newland Trial by Jury Daniel Graham Little Women Professor Friedrich Bhaer Prince of Jutland Fenge 1995 The Usual Suspects Dean Keaton Dead Man Charlie Dickinson Frankie Starlight Jack Kelly 1996 Mad Dog Time Ben London The Last of the High Kings Jack Griffin Also writer and executive producer Somebody Is Waiting Roger Ellis Also executive producer Dr. Hagard's Disease Unknown Unreleased; also executive producer 1997 Smilla's Sense of Snow The Mechanic The End of Violence Ray Bering This Is the Sea Rohan 1998 Polish Wedding Bolek The Man in the Iron Mask D'Artagnan The Brylcreem Boys Sean O'Brien Also co-producer Quest for Camelot Sir Lionel (voice) Enemy of the State NSA Agent Fake Brill 1999 Stigmata Father Andrew Kiernan End of Days The Man / Satan 2000Canone inverso The Violinist ('Jeno Varga') Mad About Mambo Executive producer 2002 Virginia's Run Ford Lofton Spider Bill Cleg Emmett's Mark Jack Marlow / Stephen Bracken Horses: The Story of Equus Narrator (voice) Ghost Ship Captain Sean Murphy 2003 Shade Charlie Miller Flight from Death Narrator (voice) 2004 Vanity Fair The Marquess of Steyne P.S. Peter Harrington The Bridge of San Luis Rey Brother Juniper 2005 Assault on Precinct 13 Captain Marcus Duvall Wah-Wah Harry Compton 2006 Played Eddie Jindabyne Stewart Kane 2007 Emotional Arithmetic Christopher Lewis 2008 2:22 Detective Swain Uncredited 2009 Butte, America Narrator (voice) Perrier's Bounty The Reaper (voice) Leningrad Phillip Parker 2012 Le Capital Dittmar Rigule I, Anna Detective Bernie Reid 2013 Just a Sigh (Le Temps de l'aventure) Doug All Things to All Men Joseph Corsco 2014 Vampire Academy Victor Dashkov 2015The 33 André Sougarret Louder Than Bombs Gene Reed Nobody Wants the Night Bram Trevor 2016 Carrie Pilby Mr. Daniel Pilby No Pay, Nudity Lawrence Rose 2017 Mad to Be Normal Jim Lies We Tell Donald 2018 In the Cloud Doc Wolff An L.A. Minute Ted Gold Hereditary Steve Graham Also executive producer Atlantic Salmon: Lost at Sea Narrator (voice) 2020 Lost Girls Richard Dormer Death of a Ladies' Man Samuel O'Shea 2022 Murder at Yellowstone City Sheriff James Ambrose Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend Enzo Ferrari The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse The Horse (voice) Short film 2023 Dance First Samuel Beckett 2024 Four Letters of Love Muiris Gore 2025 Ballerina The Chancellor +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television Year Title Role Notes 1978–1979 The Riordans Pat Barry Drama series 1980–1982 Bracken Pat Barry Drama series 1981 Strangers Johnny Maguire Episode: "The Flowers of Edinburgh" The Search for Alexander the Great Ptolemy 4 episodes 1982 Joyce in June Keogh / Blazes Boylan Television film 1983 Wagner Karl Ritter 3 episodes 1985 Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus 4 episodes Mussolini: The Untold Story Vittorio Mussolini 6 episodes 1993 Intimate Portrait Narrator (voice) Episode: "Kim Cattrall" 1994 Screen Two The Good Thief Episode: "All Things Bright and Beautiful" 1995 Buffalo Girls Teddy Blue Television film Saturday Night Live Himself / Various Characters Episode: "Gabriel Byrne/Alanis Morissette" 1996 Draíocht Father Television film 1997 Glenroe Pat Barry Episode: "Miley's New Bullock" Weapons of Mass Distraction Lionel Powers Television film 2000 Madigan Men Ben Madigan 12 episodes; also co-executive producer 2008–2010 In Treatment Dr. Paul Weston 106 episodes 2012 Secret State Tom Dawkins 4 episodes 2013 Vikings Earl Haraldson 6 episodes 2014 Quirke Quirke 3 episodes 2016 Marco Polo Pope Gregory X Episode: "Let God's Work Begin" 2018 Maniac Porter Milgrim 5 episodes 2019–2022 The War of the Worlds Bill Ward 24 episodes 2020 ZeroZeroZero Edward Lynwood 2 episodes

Theatre Year Title Role Theatre Ref. 2000 A Moon for the Misbegotten James 'Jim' Tyrone, Jr. Walter Kerr Theatre (Broadway) 2002 The Exonerated Kerry Max Cook (replacement) Bleecker Street Theatre (Off-Broadway) 2005 A Touch of the Poet Cornelius Melody Studio 54 (Broadway) 2008 Camelot King Arthur Avery Fisher Hall 2016 Long Day's Journey into Night James Tyrone American Airlines Theatre (Broadway) 2022 Walking with Ghosts Performer Music Box Theatre (Broadway) 2026 45 Years Geoff Mercer Minerva Theatre, Chichester

Accolades Year Award Category Title Result Ref. 1979 Jacob's Awards Best Actor in a TV Series (Drama) Bracken 1987 Fantasporto Best Actor Gothic / Defence of the Realm 1995 National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Best Acting by an Ensemble The Usual Suspects 1998 Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie Weapons of Mass Distraction Grammy Awards Best Spoken Word for Children The Star-Child / The Nightingale and the Rose 1999 Cinequest Film Festival Maverick Tribute Award 2000 Theatre World Awards Best Acting A Moon for the Misbegotten Tony Awards Best Leading Actor in a Play Razzie Awards Worst Supporting Actor End of Days / Stigmata Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Actor (Horror) Stigmata 2005 Irish Film and Television Awards Best Lead Actor in a Feature Film Wah-Wah 2006 Inside Film Awards Best Actor Jindabyne Australian Film Institute Awards Best Lead Actor Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actor in a Play A Touch of the Poet 2007 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival Lifetime Achievement in Acting 2008 Irish Film and Television Awards Best Lead Actor in a Feature Film Jindabyne Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series In Treatment Dingle International Film FestivalGregory Peck Excellence in the Art of Film Award Golden Globe Awards Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama In Treatment Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama 2009 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series 2016 Tony Awards Best Leading Actor in a Play Long Day's Journey into Night 2018 Irish Film and Television Awards Lifetime Achievement Award For his contribution to cinema 2021 Best Actor in a Leading Role - Film Death of a Ladies' Man

Honours In 2007, NUI Galway awarded him an honorary doctorate for his outstanding contribution to Irish and international film, theatre and the arts.