Patrick Shortt (born 12 December 1967) is an Irish actor, comedian, writer, and entertainer.[1][2] His role in the 2007 film Garage led to him receiving the IFTA for Best Actor. He is most notably remembered for his role as Tom in the television series Father Ted.

Pat Shortt
Pat Shortt
Birth namePatrick Shortt
Born (1967-12-12) 12 December 1967 (age 56)
Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland
MediumTelevision, film, stand-up
NationalityIrish
SpouseCaroline Shortt
Children2
Notable works and rolesD'Unbelievables
Father Ted
Garage
Killinascully
Websitehttp://www.patshortt.com/

Career

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Shortt toured alongside Jon Kenny as comedy duo D'Unbelievables. They released "One Hell of a Video", "D'Unbelievables", "D'Video" (a live random sketch show), "D'Telly" (featuring Shortt and Kenny playing various characters – primarily two brothers who run a shop together), "D'Mother" (in which Kenny's character oversaw the running of a public house alongside his "mother" – who was later revealed to be his father, in a role played by Shortt) and "D'collection". One character played by Shortt was Dan Clancy, known for telling "his stories". The pair were highly successful in Ireland, selling out the Vicar Street venue for 14 weeks.[2] The duo stopped touring in 2000 after Kenny was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.[3][4]

Shortt played the role of Tom, a crazy man, in the comedy series Father Ted. His character maintained a unibrow and wore a tee shirt with the slogan "I shot JR".

In 2003, RTÉ approached Shortt to create a comedy series, Killinascully.[2] Shortt elaborated on his work with D'Unbelievables, again playing Dan Clancy and a number of other characters. The programme ran for five seasons, with six Christmas specials.

In 2009, Shortt created and starred in a comedy, Mattie, for RTÉ, set in a Garda Síochána station. The series was retitled and reworked in 2011.[5] The cast included Sue Collins.[5]

He starred in the 2007 Cannes award-winning film Garage, directed by Lenny Abrahamson.[2][6] Shortt won the Best Actor award at the 2008 IFTAs for his performance in this film. In 2008, An Post issued a postage stamp featuring Pat Shortt, as Josie, in the film Garage.[7]

In 2014 Shortt appeared in Episode 3, Season 2 of the Sky 1 programme Moone Boy. In the episode the main character Martin Moone and his friend Padraig float down the River Boyle on a raft. They land on an island in Lough Key where Shortt's character, the caretaker, entertains them and helps them to return to the mainland.

Personal life

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Shortt was born in Thurles, County Tipperary, one of 11 children of Mary (née Scully) and Christy Shortt. He studied at the Limerick School of Art and Design, and began his stand-up career shortly after graduating.

Shortt and his wife Caroline have two children. In 2020, he and his daughter Faye, an actress who trained at the Gaiety School of Acting, began creating sketches for social media. Faye Shortt subsequently co-wrote and performed in a sketch for RTÉ Does Comic Relief. Between 2020 and 2021, Pat and Faye Shortt co-wrote and performed two live stream shows, before going on tour with their live comedy show, "Well".

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Director Notes
1993 In the Name of the Father Un­known Jim Sheridan Uncredited
1996 Angela Mooney Dies Again Dunner Tommy McArdle
1998 This Is My Father Garda Ben Paul Quinn
2000 The Closer You Get Ollie Doyle Aileen Ritchie
Saltwater Mr. Fanning Conor McPherson
Wild About Harry Ronnie Declan Lowney
2001 Mapmaker Patsy Johnny Gogan
2004 Man About Dog Fergie Paddy Breathnach
Inside I'm Dancing Nightclub Doorman Damien O'Donnell
2007 Garage Josie Lenny Abrahamson
Strength and Honour Wheeler McCoy Mark Mahon
2008 Spacemen Three Dr. Glen Hosey Hugh O'Conor Short film
2010 Soulboy Brendan Shimmy Marcus
2011 The Guard Colum Hennessey John Michael McDonagh
2013 Life's a Breeze Colm Lance Daly
Breakfast Wine Mr. Kelliher Ian Fitzgibbon Short film
2014 Calvary Brendan Lynch John Michael McDonagh
Queen & Country Private Redmond John Boorman
Song of the Sea Lug Tomm Moore Voice
2016 Twice Shy Pat Collins Thomas Ryan
The Flag Harry Hambridge Declan Recks
2018 The Belly of the Whale Ronald Tanner Morgan Bushe
2019 Animals Bill Sophie Hyde
Dark Lies the Island Daddy Mannion Ian Fitzgibbon
Satnav Radio Comedian Eugene O'Connor Short film
Maya Ken Sophia Tamburrini
2020 Pixie Father Daly Barnaby Thompson
2022 Give Him Time Liam Walsh Danny McCafferty Short film
Lambing John Katie McNeice
The Banshees of Inisherin Jonjo Devine Martin McDonagh
TBA Baggage John Jason Ruddy Short film; In Development
TBA Raynor TBA TBA In Development
TBA The People's Champion TBA TBA In Development

Television

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Year Title Role
1995–1996 Father Ted Tom
2000 The Fitz Bobby
2004–2008 Killinaskully Various
2009–2011 Mattie Mattie Dwyer
2014 Moone Boy Island Joe
2015 Toast of London Larry Muggins
2016 Smalltown Tom
2021 Frank of Ireland Padraig
2024 Bodkin Darragh

References

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  1. ^ "Shortt jointly wins Evening Standard gong". RTÉ Arts. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d Jarlath Regan (10 November 2014). "Pat Shortt". An Irishman Abroad (Podcast) (60 ed.). SoundCloud. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  3. ^ D'unbeaten Jon is back, Daily Mirror, 20 September 2002
  4. ^ My cancer battle by comic Jon, Daily Mirror, 30 November 2000
  5. ^ a b Drohan, Ciara (10 November 2011). "Pat Shortt's 'Sergeant Mattie' posts with EMC and Avatar". IFTN.ie. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  6. ^ "New Pat Shortt film wins at Cannes". RTÉ News. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 28 May 2007. Retrieved 24 September 2007.
  7. ^ Warren, Brian (Spring 2009). "That Was the Year That Was–2008 (part 1)". The Revealer. 58 (4). Seminole, FL: Éire Philatelic Association: 63. ISSN 0484-6125.
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