Derrick O'Connor (3 January 1941 – 29 June 2018) was an Irish theatre and character actor who trained at East 15 Acting School, London. [1]
Derrick O'Connor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 3 January 1941 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 29 June 2018 (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1968–2016 |
| Website | derrickoconnor |
Life and career
editO'Connor was best known for his performance as South African mercenary Pieter Vorstedt in Lethal Weapon 2 and for his roles in three Terry Gilliam films.[2] He also appeared as Jack Stone in the British police drama series The Professionals in the episode "You'll be Alright".[3] Another role was that of Peter Morgan in the series Crown Court (1976). In 1980, he appeared as Ray Fox, in the Thames TV series Fox
O'Connor was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.[4]
Gilliam, who directed O'Connor in three films, had noted in his audio commentaries that O'Connor seemed to have a habit of relinquishing most of his dialogue in favour of physical character humour. Notable examples include Time Bandits, in which his character's dialogue was resorted to simple grunts while the Maid Marian character "translated" for him and in Brazil, in which O'Connor scrapped all of his character's dialogue and simply repeated the dialogue of Bob Hoskins' character.[5]
O'Connor died from pneumonia in Santa Barbara, on 29 June 2018, at the age of 77.[6]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | The Blood on Satan's Claw | Member of Mob Chasing Margaret | Uncredited |
| 1973 | The Final Programme | Frank | |
| 1974 | Butley | Irishman in pub | Uncredited |
| 1977 | Jabberwocky | Flying Hogfish Peasant | |
| 1978 | Sweeney 2 | Llewelyn | |
| 1978 | On a Paving Stone Mounted | ||
| 1980 | Fox | Ray Fox | TV series |
| 1980 | Bloody Kids | Detective Ritchie | TV movie |
| 1980 | Hawk the Slayer | Ralf | |
| 1981 | Time Bandits | Robber Leader | |
| 1982 | The Bell | Noel Spens | TV series |
| 1982 | The Missionary | Gym Trainer | |
| 1984 | Pope John Paul II | Swiacki | TV movie |
| 1985 | Brazil | Dowser | |
| 1987 | Hope and Glory | Mac | |
| 1989 | Lethal Weapon 2 | Pieter Vorstedt | |
| 1989 | Dealers | Robby Barrell | |
| 1993 | Stark | Zimmerman | TV mini-series, 3 episodes |
| 1994 | Felidae | Mendel | (English dub) |
| 1995 | Ghosts | Jack Rudkin | Episode: " I'll Be Watching You" |
| 1995 | How to Make an American Quilt | Dean Reed | |
| 1998 | Deep Rising | Captain H.W. Atherton | |
| 1999 | End of Days | Thomas Aquinas | |
| 2003 | Daredevil | Father Everett | |
| 2006 | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest | Very Old Man | |
| 2006 | Unrest | Walter Blackwell | |
| 2007 | The Blue Hour | Humphrey | |
| 2014 | Man from Reno | Stephen Luft | |
| 2016 | Pushing Dead | Sidewalk Salesman |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | The Professionals | Jack Stone | Episode: "You'll Be All Right" | |
| 1996 | Tracey Takes On... | Kay's Father | Episode: "Death" | |
| 2006 | Monk | Inspector St. Clare | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Big Reward" | [7] |
| 2009 | EXIT Stage Left | Abe Baynor | Web series; 2 episodes | [8][9] |
References
edit- ^ "Obituary: Derrick O'Connor, Hollywood hard man who honed his skills on the Edinburgh stage". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ "Derrick O'Connor". BFI. Archived from the original on 22 July 2017.
- ^ "You'll Be Alright (1982)". BFI. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019.
- ^ McNary, Dave (3 July 2018). "Irish Character Actor Derrick O'Connor Dies at 77". Variety. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ Petski, Denise (3 July 2018). "Derrick O'Connor Dies: 'Lethal Weapon 2', 'End Of Days' Actor Was 77". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (3 July 2018). "Derrick O'Connor, Villain in 'Lethal Weapon 2,' Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ "Mr. Monk and the Big Reward". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ Hinojosa, Sinohui (writer and director) (10 May 2009). "A Wonderful World Act I". EXIT Stage Left. Season 1. Episode 10.
- ^ Hinojosa, Sinohui (writer and director) (25 May 2009). "A Wonderful World Act I". EXIT Stage Left. Season 1. Episode 11.
External links
edit
  | This article about an Irish actor is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |