Joseph O'Conor

Joseph O'Conor (14 February 1916 – 21 January 2001) was an Irish actor and playwright.

Early years O'Conor was born in Dublin on 14 February 1916, the son of Frances (née Call) and Daniel O'Conor.

Seeking a change from London he played two seasons at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow where his roles included Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (1954). and in 1968 Mr Brownlow in the film Oliver!.

In the 1990s he appeared in several cinema productions. A highlight was the role of J. C. Sullivan in The Forbidden Quest (1993), directed by Peter Delpeut, which gave O'Conor a role as a polar survivor.

Today he is remembered chiefly by younger viewers for his appearance as Mr Brownlow in Oliver!

As well as his extensive work as an actor, he also directed, and wrote six plays. He died in London on 21 January 2001.

Selected filmography Paul Temple's Triumph (1950) - Inspector Crane Stranger at My Door (1950) - Michael Foley Gorgo (1961) - Prof. Hendricks The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964) - Don Jose Margella (uncredited) Crooks in Cloisters (1964) - Father Septimus The Gorgon (1964) - Coroner The Forsyte Saga (1967) - Old Jolyon Oliver! (1968) - Mr. Brownlow A Walk with Love and Death (1969) - Pierre of St. Jean Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) - Bishop Fisher The Possessed – Stepan Verhovensky Doomwatch (1972) - Vicar Father, Dear Father (1973) - Vicar Penny Gold (1973) - Blachford Yellow Dog (1973) - Dover Lost Hearts (1973) - Mr. Abney The Black Windmill (1974) - Sir Edward Julyan The Barchester Chronicles (1982) - Bunce The Dark Crystal (1982) - Narrator / urSkeks (voice) The Forbidden Quest (1993) - J.C. Sullivan Tom & Viv (1994) - Bishop of Oxford Elizabeth (1998) - Earl of Derby The Wisdom of Crocodiles (1998) - Mr. Nancarrow The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) - Poitiers' Chief Inquisitor

Writings The Iron Harp, 1955 (published by Penguin in Three Irish Plays, 1959) Inca, 1961 (play, published by Hutchinson, 1968) The Tumble Stone, 1962 A Lion Trap, 1963 (historical adventure, based on the life of Sir Walter Raleigh, published Hutchinson 1969) The Third Picture, 1964 The Heiress, 1971 King Canoodlum and the Great Horned Cheese (children's story, published BBC 1979)