Peter McDonald

Peter McDonald (born 28 January 1972) is an Irish stage and screen actor and director. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for his short film Pentecost. He is also known for his appearances as William Kenzie in The Batman and The Penguin.

Early life and education McDonald grew up in Mount Merrion, County Dublin. He was educated at St. Michael's College, Dublin and graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Arts, English and a Master of Fine Arts, English in 1994. He got his start in theatre as part of UCD's Drama Society and was a member of the Fly by Night Theatre Company.

Career

Acting McDonald has appeared in films including Felicia's Journey (written and directed by Atom Egoyan, 1999) and When Brendan Met Trudy (written by Roddy Doyle and directed by Kieron J. Walsh, 2000); television series (the BBC's Sea of Souls and Channel 4's Green Wing); and theatre productions both in Dublin and London, including The Lieutenant of Inishmore and Days of Wine and Roses.

He made his debut in 1997 as the character Git Hynes in the Irish comedy I Went Down, co-starring with Brendan Gleeson. He co-starred with Jonathan Pryce and Aidan Gillen in Glengarry Glen Ross at the Apollo Theatre in 2007. He features prominently in RTÉ's 2010 comedy show Your Bad Self which he also co-wrote.

In 2014, he starred in the BBC Drama This Town. In March 2026, he played DI Craig Stanhope, the husband of DS Annie Cassidy (played by Eve Myles) in ITV's Gone. He appears in Power Ballad (2026), which he co-wrote with John Carney.

Writing McDonald wrote and directed Pentecost, a live action short film which was nominated for the 2012 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. He co-wrote and acted in the full-length movie, The Stag, which was nominated for six Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) awards in 2014. he co-wrote Power Ballad with John Carney.

Filmography Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Result Work 2000 Irish Film and Television Awards Best Actor Saltwater 2011 Tribeca Film Festival Best Narrative Short Pentecost 2012 Academy Awards Best Short Film, Live Action shared with: Eimear O'Kane Pentecost 2014 Irish Film and Television Awards Best Supporting Actor – Film The Stag