Irish actor milo biography

Milo O’Shea: More than just the ‘Irishman with the Eyebrows’

The famed Irish actor Milo O’Shea has died. He was a renowned performer and had a marvellous career on both stage and screen.



Born in Dublin in 1926 his parents were both entertainers, his father a professional Singer and his mother a Harpist and Ballet Dancer. His earliest role was in a radio production of ‘Oliver Twist’ when he was just ten years old. Encouraged by his parents he pursued his dream of being an actor and left for America. Like so many aspiring actors his ‘day-job’ was a lot less glamorous than his acting turns. He worked as an Elevator operator in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City before returning to Ireland where he found fame with his performance in the 1967 film ‘Ulysses’, based on the notoriously difficult book by James Joyce. Bosley Crowther of the New York Times wrote:

Milo O’Shea is perfect as a fortyish, black-haired Bloom, bright-eyed when fun and lust are rising, flaccid and pathetic when rebuffed

His first of two ‘Tony’ nominations was for appearing opposite Eli Wallach in the 1968 stage production of ‘Staircase’ in which the two leads portrayed a gay couple living together in what is regarded as one of the breakthrough roles depicting homosexuality on Broadway.

On the silver screen he starred in Franco Zeffirelli’s renowned production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and as the mad scientist Durand Durand in the film ‘Barbarella’ with Jane Fonda. International pop band ‘Duran Duran’ took their name from the character so famously played by Milo O’Shea.

His second Tony nomination was in 1981 for his role as the Mercedes-driving priest in ‘Mass Appeal’ and was followed in 1981 by a most memorable performance as the biased judge sparring with Paul Newman in the Sidney Lumet production of ‘The Verdict’.

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Born June 2, 1926, in Dublin, Ireland; father, a vocalist; mother, a harpistand ballet teacher; married Kitty Sullivan, 1974.

Nationality

Irish

Gender

Male

Occupation

Actor

Birth Details

June 2, 1926

Dublin, Ireland

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Stage Appearances
• (London debut) William Burke, Treasure Hunt, Apollo Theatre, 1949
• Londonderry Air, White Barn Theatre, Westport, CT, 1952
• The Tempest, White Barn Theatre, 1952
• The Skin of Our Teeth, White Barn Theatre, 1952
• The Lottery, White Barn Theatre, 1952
• Brewsie and Willie, White Barn Theatre, 1952
• Rory, "Out West, 1940"; bartender, "Paris, 1945"; and second hood, "The City Zoo," all in Which Way Is Home?, Theatre de Lys, New York City, 1953
• Member of ensemble, Dublin Pike Follies (revue), Lyric HammersmithTheatre, London, 1957
• Shawn Keogh, The Heart's a Wonder, Westminster Theatre, London, 1958
• King, Once upon a Mattress, Adelphi Theatre, London, 1960
• Piper Best, Glory Be, Theatre Royal, Stratford-upon-Avon, England,1961
• Danny Nolan, Carrie, Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, 1963
• (Broadway debut) Harry Leeds, Staircase, Biltmore Theatre, 1968
• Sewer man, Dear World, Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York City, 1969
• Eddie Waters, Comedians, Music Box Theatre, New York City, 1976
• Jamie Cregan, A Touch of the Poet, Helen Hayes Theatre, New York City, 1977
• Lucky, Waiting for Godot, Theatre at Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY, 1978
• Alfred P. Doolittle, Pygmalion, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, 1978
• Father Tim Farley, Mass Appeal, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City, 1980 , then Booth Theatre, New York City, 1981 , later Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ, 1982
• Alfred P. Doolittle, My Fair Lady, Saenger Performing Arts Center,New Orleans, LA, then Uris Theatre, New York City, both 1981
• Corpse!, Helen Hayes Theatre, 1986
• Meet Me in St. Louis, Gershwin Theatre, New York City, 1989

Milo O'Shea (2 June 1926 – 2 April 2013) was an Irish-American actor and personality. He was known for his role as Leopold Bloom in Ulysses.

Early life

O'Shea was born on 2 June 1926 in Dublin, Irish Free State. He studied at Synge Street. O'Shea was married to Maureen Toal from 1952 until they divorced in 1974. Then he was married to Kitty Sullivan until his death in 2013.

Career

O'Shea starred as Leopold Bloom in Joseph Strick's 1967 movie version of Ulysses. Among his other well-known movie roles in the 1960s were as the well-intentioned Friar Laurence in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet and as the villainous Dr. Durand Durand (who tries to kill Jane Fonda's character by making her literally die of pleasure) in Roger Vadim's classic Barbarella (both movies were released in 1968). In 1984, O'Shea reprised his role as Dr. Durand Durand (credited as Dr. Duran Duran) for the Duran Duranconcert movie Arena, since his character inspired the band's name. He played Inspector Boot in the 1973 Vincent Pricehorror movieTheatre of Blood.

Later career

He was active in American movies and TV shows, such as his memorable supporting role as the trial judge in the Sidney Lumet's The Verdict with Paul Newman, an episode of The Golde