Biography for
Brendan Gleeson (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

29 March 1955, Dublin, Ireland

Height

6' 2" (1.88 m)

Mini Biography

A versatile actor, who decided to become an actor at age 34 after teaching a secondary level for several years, made his debut as a quarryman in The Field (1990). He had several small roles in major Hollywood movies based in Ireland, such as Far and Away (1992) and Into the West (1992). Memorably played historical Irish figure "Michael Collins" in The Treaty (1992) (TV). Made his breakthrough in Scottish themed Braveheart (1995), which was largely filmed in Ireland, opposite Mel Gibson. He played Gibson's right-hand man "Hamish". Since then, he has appeared in numerous major films such as Mission: Impossible II (2000), Lake Placid (1999), Turbulence (1997). He has made a name for himself taking the titular role in The General (1998), based on the life of Irish criminal "Martin Cahill", for which he won the Boston Society of Film Critics Award. He appears in director John Boorman's film The Tailor of Panama (2001) as well as Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York (2002) and Steven Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001).

IMDb Mini Biography By: D'OH <dohallor@yahoo.co.uk

Mini Biography

Brendan Gleeson was born in Dublin, Ireland. From a very young age, he loved to learn, especially reading classical text in and outside the classroom. He took great attention to Irish play writers such as Samuel Beckett, which eventually led to him performing in his high school play production of "Waiting for Godot", and paying great attention to detail in his high school drama classes. Upon finishing 12th grade, he spent a couple of years with the Dublin Shakespeare Festival, and under the advice of a director there, headed across to London and auditioned for drama schools. Soon to follow, he was invited to audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon, and spent a couple of seasons back in England on the stage. He then, at the age of thirty five, decided to audition for films in the UK and began to build a very respectable resume playing many different diverse characters. His classical acting skills gained the attention of Mel Gibson and he was cast in Braveheart (1995). Ever since, he has continued to bring his huge stage presence to the screen, always delivering the character in full development to his audience. He is married to his lovely wife, Mary, since 1982. They have four sons.

IMDb Mini Biography By: dacraftman

Spouse

Mary Gleeson

(1982 - present) 4 children

Trade Mark

Frequently works with fellow Irish actor Liam Neeson

Frequently makes historical films

Trivia

Frequently plays wise, experienced men who act as mentors and father figures to the lead characters.

He is a fine fiddle player and can be seen playing it in Michael Collins (1996) and also in Cold Mountain (2003).

He has four sons from his marriage to Mary Gleeson: Domhnall Gleeson, Fergus Gleeson, Brian Gleeson and Rory Gleeson.

He was a teacher for 10 years before becoming an actor

Joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford Upon Avon, England, in the late eighties for two seasons where his credits included King Lear and King Richard II.

Participated in the Dublin Shakespeare Theatre Festival the during mid-eighties.

Plays a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010). This makes him the first, and to date, only actor to play a Hogwarts professor who has himself been employed as a teacher.

He started acting at the age of 34.

Taught Maths at St. Joseph's Secondary school in Fairview, Dublin.

He played Irish leader Michael Collins in The Treaty (1992) (TV). He later had a supporting role in the biopic Michael Collins (1996).

He taught English, Irish & Physical Education at Belcamp College Secondary School in Dublin.

He has starred in feature films with two of his sons: Studs (2006) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) with his eldest son Domhnall Gleeson, and The Tiger's Tail (2006) with his second youngest, Brian Gleeson.

Played British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in Into the Storm (2009) (TV). In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), he appears with Timothy Spall and Robert Hardy, both of whom have also played Churchill.

Personal Quotes

[on In Bruges (2008)] A real test of our acting ability.

[About In Bruges (2008) director Martin McDonagh] Yeah, similar to that, I'd kind of worked with Martin on Six Shooter (2004)... he showed me that script before we knew it was going to happen... It was kind of a notion at that time, so you just kind of think, 'how cool this would be to make'.

Salary

The Village (2004)

$1,500,000