Patrick Carey
British film director, screenwriter, cinematographer and film producer
About Patrick Carey
Lived 1916 – 1994 (aged 77–78). Patrick Carey was a British film director, screenwriter, cinematographer, film producer and director.
Patrick Carey (1916 – 1994) was an Irish–British filmmaker.
Early life and education Carey, known as "Paddy," was born in London in 1916 and the family relocated to Ireland in 1923 when his father, William Denis Carey, took up a government post in the Department of Finance. His mother, May Carey, was an actress. His siblings were sister, Sheila Carey, brother Denis Carey and twin brother, the actor Brian Carey.
While in Dublin, Carey attended art school and studied painting before eventually returning to London. exploring the relationship between the vision of poet W. B. Yeats and the landscape of County Sligo, and Oisin (1970) In Errigal (1970) a brilliant weave of folklore and narrative featuring Brian Carey and Niall Tóibín, is set against the stunning dominance of the Derryveagh Mountains. Of Errigal, Carey wrote "The mountains are the characters in the story, the drama is in the battle of the elements. I have tried to convey the feeling of personality in a landscape, supported only by music and natural sounds." and received two nominations at the 31st Academy Awards. He went on to work for the National Film Board of Canada; memorable is the lyrical realism of Kay Mander's The Kid from Canada (1958) and the haunting textures of John Feeney's Arctic Outpost: Pangnirtung, N.W.T. (1960). Carey's poetry is evident in the minimalist title of Feeney's wonderful Sky (1963), which was shot in Canada. Perhaps most outstanding was his work on multiple award-winning The Living Stone (1959), also directed by John Feeney.
Carey returned to Britain where he made the magnificent Wild Wings (1965), in the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Reserve, which won the 1967 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. His last documentary short was Beara (1979), depicting the rich desolation of the barren West Cork peninsula.
Much of the dramatic cinematography in the film Ryan's Daughter (1970), directed by David Lean, is due to Carey's work on the film.
Personal life In the early 1970s, Patrick Carey returned to live in Canada. He was married to Vivian Marie Medland on 23 July 1942.
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Important facts
People in Patrick Carey's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Patrick Carey's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Patrick Carey?
British film director, screenwriter, cinematographer and film producer (1916–1994)
When was Patrick Carey born?
Patrick Carey was born in 1916 in London.
When did Patrick Carey die?
Patrick Carey died in 1994.
What was Patrick Carey's occupation?
Patrick Carey was a film director, screenwriter, cinematographer, film producer and director.
What nationality was Patrick Carey?
Patrick Carey was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Patrick Carey (cinematographer)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Patrick Carey. https://biography.guide/patrick-carey/
MLA: "Patrick Carey." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/patrick-carey/.
Chicago: "Patrick Carey." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/patrick-carey/.
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