About Sean McClory
Lived 1924 – 2003 (aged 79). Sean McClory was an Irish actor, film actor and television actor.
Séan Joseph McClory (8 March 1924 – 10 December 2003) was an Irish actor whose career spanned six decades and included well over 100 films and television series. He was sometimes billed as Shawn McGlory or Sean McGlory. but spent his early life in County Galway. He was the son of Hugh Patrick McClory, an architect and civil engineer, and Mary Margaret (née Ball), a model.
After the War McClory was drawn to acting. When out of work, he turned to other employment, including washing dishes, driving trucks, working at a gold mine on the California-Nevada border and sailing around the world. At one point, he sold his blood to obtain money for food and drinks. His acting in regional theater included Dial "M" for Murder (1955) at the Sombrero Playhouse in Arizona and Shadow of a Gunman (1984) with the California Artists Repertory Theatre. He also acted in a summer theater in La Jolla, California. after which McClory went to Hollywood in 1947 and began acting in films. His work included the role of an Irish policeman in Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome and Dick Tracy's Dilemma. He was part of the John Ford Stock Company, appearing in the Ford productions What Price Glory, The Long Gray Line, The Quiet Man, and Cheyenne Autumn. and a chauffeur in the comedy My Chauffeur (1986).
Television On television, McClory portrayed Captain Clary on the NBC adventure series Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers, Pat McShane on the CBS crime drama Kate McShane, Myles on the CBS adventure series Bring 'Em Back Alive, and Jack McGivern on NBC's Western television series, The Californians.
In 1958, McClory was cast as Ted O'Malley in the episode "Short Haul" of the CBS crime drama, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, starring David Janssen.
McClory appeared twice in the 1960 NBC Western series, Overland Trail, starring William Bendix and Doug McClure. He was a guest star in the syndicated Western series, Pony Express and in 1960 on ABC's Western drama, The Man from Blackhawk, starring Robert Rockwell as a roving insurance investigator. Another 1960 role was as Quinn in "Talent for Danger" on the ABC adventure series, The Islanders, set in the South Pacific. In 1960 and 1961, McClory appeared in the episodes, "Heads, You Lose" and "Appointment at Tara-Bi", of another ABC series, Adventures in Paradise, starring Gardner McKay. McClory was a guest star in episodes of the television Western The Rifleman, "Knight Errant" (1961) and "I Take This Woman" (S5 E6 1962), playing Dennis O'Flarrety, an Irish romantic rival opposite Chuck Connors' lead character of Lucas McCain., for the affection of Lou Mallory, played by Patricia Blair.
McClory appeared as Jaimie MacDonald in the 1963 episode "Commando" of the CBS anthology series, GE True, hosted by Jack Webb. He was cast thereafter in a second-season episode of Irwin Allen's CBS science fiction series Lost in Space called "The Astral Traveller", as a Scottish bagpiping "ghost" named Hamish. He made several guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the 1961 episode, "The Case of the Malicious Mariner", the defendant in the 1962 episode, "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle," and the title character and husband of the defendant in "The Case of the Scandalous Sculptor". McClory made two appearances on NBC's Bonanza, as Mark Connors in the 1962 episode "The Tall Stranger" and as Professor James Aloysuis McCarthy in the 1963 comedic episode "Hoss and the Leprechauns".
Sean played Scott Winters in CBS's Mannix episode "Then the Drink Takes the Man", which first aired on 30 December 1967.
In 1969 Sean appeared as NYC policeman Tim O’Sullivan in The Beverly Hillbillies episode “Manhattan Hillbillies”.
Personal life and death McClory was married four times. His third marriage, to Sue Alexander, ended with her death in 1979.
Filmography
1947 Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome as Officer Carney (uncredited) 1947 Dick Tracy's Dilemma as Officer Dillon (uncredited) 1948 Beyond Glory as Barney 1949 Roughshod as Fowler 1950 The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady as James Moore 1950 The Glass Menagerie as Richard (uncredited) 1951 Storm Warning as Shore 1951 Lorna Doone as Charleworth Doone 1951 David and Bathsheba as Aide to King David (First Scene) (uncredited) 1951 The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel as Jock (uncredited) 1951 Anne of the Indies as Hackett 1952 The Quiet Man as Owen Glynn 1952 What Price Glory as Lieutenant Austin (uncredited) 1952 Les Misérables as Bamtasbois (uncredited) 1952 Face to Face as Second Mate Robinson ('The Secret Sharer') 1952 Botany Bay as Marine Sergeant (uncredited) 1953 Niagara as Sam (uncredited) 1953 Rogue's March as McGinty 1953 Plunder of the Sun as Jefferson 1953 Island in the Sky as Frank Lovatt 1953 Man in the Attic as Constable #1 1953 Charade as Jack Stuydevant 1954 Them! as Major Kibbee 1954 Ring of Fear as Dublin O'Malley 1955 The Long Gray Line as "Dinny" Maher 1955 I Cover the Underworld as Gunner O'Hara & John O'Hara 1955 Moonfleet as Elzevir Block 1955 The King's Thief as Sheldon 1956 Diane as Count Michel Montgomery 1957 The Guns of Fort Petticoat as Emmett Kettle 1961 Valley of the Dragons as Michael Denning 1964 Mary Poppins as Hound / Reporter #4 (voice, uncredited) 1964 Cheyenne Autumn as Dr. O'Carberry 1965 Mara of the Wilderness as Dr. Frank Wade (uncredited) 1966 Follow Me, Boys! as Edward White Sr. 1967 The Gnome-Mobile as Horatio Quaxton 1967 The King's Pirate as Sparkes
1967 The Happiest Millionaire as Police Sergeant 1968 Bandolero! as Robbie O'Hare 1971 The Day of the Wolves as The Sheriff 1979 Roller Boogie as "Jammer" Delany 1986 My Chauffeur as O'Brien 1987 The Dead as Mr. Grace
Television Cavalcade of America (1953–54) (Episodes: "The Arrow and the Bow" & "Courage in Connecticut") – Andrew Johnson Broken Arrow (1956) (Episode: "Passage Deferred") – Shawn Frontier (1955) (Episode: "Tomas and the Widow") – Gavin Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1956) (Season 1 Episode 22: "Place of Shadows") - Brother Gerard The Restless Gun (1957) (Episode: "Silver Threads") – Mike O'Hara The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1957) (Episode: "The Irishman") – Walter Holleran The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1957) (Episode: "Convoy Gold") – Pat Donovan The Californians (1957–58) (37 episodes) – Jack McGivern Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1958) (Episode: "Short Haul") – Ted O'Malley Steve Canyon (1958 (Episode: "The Gift") – Bert Quillan Have Gun – Will Travel (1958) (Episode: "The Solid Gold Patrol") – Corporal Mike Callahan Colgate Theatre (1958) (Episode: "McCreedy's Woman") – Aristotle Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1959) (Season 5 Episode 3: "Appointment at Eleven") as Irish Bar Patron Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond (1959) (Episode: "The Inheritance") - Michael Barry (broadcast October 27, US) Wagon Train (1960) (Episode: "The Charlene Brenton Story") – Casey Overland Trail (1960) (Episodes: "The O'Mara's Ladies" & "All the O'Mara's Horses") – The O'Mara Wanted: Dead or Alive (1960) (Episode: "Jason") – 'Doc' Phillips Stagecoach West (1961) (Episode: "Finn McColl") – Finn McColl Bronco (1961) (Episode: "The Harrigan") – Terrence Harrigan The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1961) (Episode: "Wyatt Earp's Baby") – Edgar 'Muley' Boles Perry Mason (1961) (Episode: "The Case of the Malicious Mariner") – Fred Wenzel Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1961) (Episode: The Swamp Fox: A Woman's Courage) – Captain Myles The Rifleman (1961) (Episode: "Knight Errant") – Colonel Charles Black The Detectives (1962) (Episode: "One Lousy Wednesday") – The Swami Bonanza (1962) (Episode: "The Tall Stranger") – Mark Connors The Untouchables (1962) (Episode: "The Eddie O'Gara Story") – Vince O'Gara Checkmate (1962) (Episode: "The Heart Is a Handout") – Stamper The Rifleman (1962) (Episode: "I Take This Woman") – Dennis O'Flarrety The Untouchables (1962) (Episode: "The Whitey Steele Story") – Police Captain John Stanwood Laramie (1962) (Episode: "The Turn of the Wheel") – Gordon Perry Mason (1962) (Episode: "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle") – Harry Fothergill Tales of Wells Fargo (1962) (Episode: "Incident at Crossbow") – Con Toole Thriller (1962) (Episode: "The Hollow Watcher") – Sean O'Danagh The Great Adventure (1963) (Episode: "The Story of Nathan Hale") – Major Carlton Bonanza (1963) (Episode: "Hoss and the Leprechauns") – Professor James Aloysius McCarthy Rawhide (1964) (Episode: "Damon's Road: Parts 1 & 2") – Finn Perry Mason (1964) (Episode: "The Case of the Scandalous Sculptor") – Hannibal Harvey Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1965) (Episode: "The Adventures of Gallegher: Parts 1–3") – Officer Madden Daniel Boone (1965) (Episode: "The Devil's Four") – O'Hara The Virginian (1965) (Episode: "Day of the Scorpion") – Cobb Death Valley Days (1965) (Episode: "Magic Locket") – Joaquin Miller My Favorite Martian (1965) (Episode: "How Are Things in Glocca, Martin?") – Seamus O'Hara Iron Horse (1966) (Episode: "Right of Way Through Paradise") – Beau Sidell Family Affair (1967) (Episode: "The Other Cheek") – Mr. Michaels Mannix (1967) (Episode: "Then the Drink Takes the Man") – Scott Winters Lost in Space (1967) (Episode: "The Astral Traveller") – Hamish Lancer (1968) (Episode: "The High Riders") – Coley McHugh Daniel Boone (1968) (Episode: "Be Thankful for the Fickleness of Women") – Ephron Marsh The High Chaparral (1969) (Episode: "The Glory Soldiers") – Sandy McIntire Daniel Boone (1969) (Episode: "Jonah") – Bartender The Beverly Hillbillies (1969) (Episode: "Manhattan Hillbillies") – Police Officer The Guns of Will Sonnett (1969) (Episodes: "A Town in Terror: Parts 1 & 2") – Pat Murphy Gunsmoke (1970) (Episode: "The Judas Gun") – Clete Bolden The Virginian (1970) (Episode: "Holocaust") – Walter May Death Valley Days (1970) (Episode: "Talk to Me, Charley") – Charley Gentry "The Men From Shiloh" rebranded name of The Virginian (1971) (Episode: "The Town Killer") – Harry Post Gunsmoke (1974) (Episode: "The Town Tamers") – Sham The Blue Knight (1976) (Episode: "The Rose and the Gun") Captains and the Kings (TV Mini-Series) (1976) – Boland Little House on the Prairie (1976) (Episode: "The Runaway Caboose") – Sandy Nelson Once an Eagle (TV Mini-Series – Part 7) (1977) – Militia Colonel Battlestar Galactica (1978) (Episode: "The Long Patrol – Assault 9") Columbo (1978) (Episode: "The Conspirators") – Captain How the West Was Won (TV Mini-Series) (1978) – Ben Dodge General Hospital (1980) (aired 16 May 1980) – Judge (uncredited) Trapper John, M.D. (1981) (Episode: "'Tis the Season") – Reverend Flanagan Bring 'Em Back Alive (1982) (6 episodes) – Myles Delaney Simon & Simon (1983) (Episode: "Bon Voyage, Alonso") – Captain Cottrell Fantasy Island (1983) (Episode: "Revenge of the Forgotten/Charo") – Butler Falcon Crest (1985) (Episode: "Blood Brothers") – Frank O'Neal Murder, She Wrote (1986) (Episode: "Dead Man's Gold") – Ross Barber Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1987) (Episode: "Young Harry Houdini") – Sean O'Casey
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Important facts
People in Sean McClory's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Sean McClory's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Sean McClory?
Irish actor (1924-2003)
When was Sean McClory born?
Sean McClory was born on 8 March 1924 in Dublin.
When did Sean McClory die?
Sean McClory died on 10 December 2003 in Hollywood Hills.
What was Sean McClory's occupation?
Sean McClory was an actor, film actor and television actor.
What nationality was Sean McClory?
Sean McClory was Irish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sean McClory. https://biography.guide/sean-mcclory/
MLA: "Sean McClory." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sean-mcclory/.
Chicago: "Sean McClory." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sean-mcclory/.
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