Brendan Cauldwell (25 October 1922 – 12 January 2006) was an Irish radio, film and television actor.
Early life and education
editCauldwell was born in Fairview, Dublin. He was educated at O'Connell's Irish Christian Brothers School and went on to work in the insurance industry before becoming a full-time actor.
Career
editHis interest in acting was encouraged by his uncle, who taught him different dialects in an attempt to manage his stammer.[1]
In 1955, he joined the RTÉ Repertory Company.[2] While with the company, he took part in more than 3,000 productions including the international 32-hour broadcast of Ulysses, the longest ever radio drama. In 1961, he performed in The Weaver's Grave. Adapted and produced by Mícheál Ó hAodha, it was written by Galway author Seamus O'Kelly, and won the Prix Italia for Radio Drama.[3] He played another Joycean role when he acted as Father Michael in Joseph Strick's film, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1977).
His performance as Hennessy in the RTÉ Television production of Strumpet City is regarded as particularly memorable, alongside an earlier performance as Rashers Tierney in the RTÉ Radio 1 production.
He acted in a number of stage, film, and radio productions, including Far and Away and Angela's Ashes. In 1996, he joined the cast of television programme Fair City , playing war veteran Paschal Mulvey, where he worked until 2005.[1]
Personal life
editCauldwell died in his sleep in 2006, aged 83.[4]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | The Playboy of the Western World | Jimmy Farrell | |
| 1962 | The Quare Fellow | Shamrock Attendant | |
| 1967 | Ulysses | Bob Doran | |
| 1971 | Flight of the Doves | Club Manager | Uncredited |
| 1973 | Italian Graffiti | The Chemist | |
| 1977 | A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man | Father Michael | |
| 1980 | It's Handy When People Don't Die | The Seanchai | |
| 1981 | Tristan & Isolde | 1st Baron | |
| 1986 | The Fantasist | Hotel Bar Drinker | |
| 1992 | Far and Away | Tavern Keeper | |
| 1994 | War of the Buttons | War of the Buttons | |
| 1994 | Ailsa | Moloney | |
| 1996 | Moll Flanders | Mr. 100 Guineas | |
| 1996 | Messaggi quasi segreti | Night Porter | |
| 1999 | Angela's Ashes | Mr. O'Halloran | |
| 2004 | The Halo Effect | Old Man Willie |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Siopa | Stan Adams | Series |
| 1966 | Insurrection | Drunk | Episode: "Tuesday, 25 April 1916: Law and Self-Restraint" |
| 1978 | The Heart's a Wonder | Jimmy Farrell | Television film |
| 1980 | Strumpet City | Hennessy | 7 episodes |
| 1981 | Manions of America | Editor | Episode: "Part II" |
| 1981 | Die Rosen von Dublin | Seamus | 6 episodes |
| 1983 | The Irish R.M. | Con Brickley | Episode: "The Boat's Share" |
| 1990 | Who Bombed Birmingham? | Callaghan | Television film |
| 1994 | Screen Two | Fisherman | Episode: "All Things Bright and Beautiful" |
| 1996 | Draiocht | Grandfather | Television film |
| 1997 | EastEnders | Priest | Episode dated 25 September 1997 |
| 1997 | Fair City | Pascal Mulvey | Episode dated 24 December 1997 |
| 1998 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Isaac Levy | Episode: "Miracle at Midnight" |
| 1999 | Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog | Grudye | Episode: "The Trial of Angus" |
| 2004 | Stew | Various characters | Episode #1.6 |
References
edit- ^ a b "60 years an actor, best loved for 'Fair City' role". The Irish Times. 14 January 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ Eileen Morgan: Radio Éireann Players Archived May 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Trinity College Dublin Film Research
- ^ "Brendan Cauldwell dies aged 83", RTE News Archived November 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine