Gerard McSorley

Gerard McSorley (Irish: Gearóid Mac Somhairle; born 1 January 1950) is an Irish theatre, television and film actor.
Early life
He was born in the County Tyrone town of Omagh and, after attending a Christian Brothers school in his hometown, he attended St. Columb's College in Derry. He then attended Queen's University, Belfast, where he was taught by Seamus Heaney. He resides in Gweedore, County Donegal. He is a descendant of John McSorley, who opened McSorley's Old Ale House, the oldest operating pub in New York City.
Career
He spent much of his early career working in theatre, notably at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. After playing Michael Evans in the original West End and Broadway productions of Brian Friel's play Dancing at Lughnasa in the early 1990s, McSorley started to attract more TV and movie roles. He has appeared in many Hollywood movies including Braveheart (in which his character "Cheltham" was decapitated by William Wallace at the battle of Stirling) and In the Name of the Father. One of his most celebrated performances was his lead role in Omagh, a feature-length television drama depicting the effect of the Omagh bombing on the residents of the town. He is also known for playing the mysterious "Father Todd Unctious" in the Christmas special episode ("A Christmassy Ted") of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. His film credits include The Constant Gardener, and he was also cast as Queenan in The Departed but had to pull out (Martin Sheen took over the role). McSorley most recently played the role of Robert Aske in the Showtime historical drama The Tudors. He appeared in the 2010 movie Robin Hood, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe.
Legal issues
In November 2019, McSorley was arrested for a breach of the peace. He was also charged with damaging property in a cell at Letterkenny Garda Station. A warrant was issued for his arrest the following month after he failed to appear in court.
Filmography
Film
SOS Titanic (1979, TV Movie) – Martin Gallagher
Angel (1982) – Assistant
Withdrawal (1982, Short) – Gerry
Taffin (1988) – Ed
In the Name of the Father (1993) – Detective Pavis
Widows' Peak (1994) – Gaffney, Lawyer
Moondance (1994) – Fr. McGrath
Words Upon the Window Pane (1994) – Abraham Johnson
An Awfully Big Adventure (1995) – George
Braveheart (1995) – Cheltham
Nothing Personal (1995) – Cecil
Michael Collins (1996) – Cathal Brugha
Some Mother's Son (1996) – Fr. Daly
The Serpent's Kiss (1997) – Mr. Galmoy
The Butcher Boy (1997) – Psychiatrist #2
The Boxer (1997) – Harry
Dancing at Lughnasa (1998) – Narrator (voice)
Felicia's Journey (1999) – Felicia's Father
Agnes Browne (1999) – Mr. Aherne
Angela's Ashes (1999) – Father Gregory
Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000) – Harrison
On The Edge (2001) – Rachel's Father
Do Armed Robbers Have Love Affairs? (2001, Short) – Eddy
Bloody Sunday (2002) – Chief Supt. Lagan
The Wayfarer (2003, Short) – Nat
Dead Bodies (2003) – Gordon Ellis
Veronica Guerin (2003, Nominated for a 2003 Irish Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor) – John Gilligan
The Halo Effect (2004) – O'Grady
Omagh (2004, TV Movie, Won a 2004 Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor) – Michael Gallagher
Inside I'm Dancing (2004) – Fergus Connolly
The Constant Gardener (2005) – Sir Kenneth Curtiss
Middletown (2006, Nominated for a 2007 Irish Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor) – Bill Hunter
The Front Line (2006) – Detective Insp. Harbison
Tell It to the Fishes (2006, Short) – Jack
The Tudors (2007) – Robert Aske
Hesitation (2007, Short) – Paul
Anton (2008, Nominated for a 2009 Irish Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor) – Detective Lynch
Mr Crocodile in the Cupboard (2008, Short) – Harry Dunn
Rip & the Preacher (2008) – Preacher
Wide Open Spaces (2009) – Hingerty
Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne (2009) – Michael Byrne
Town Creek (2009) – Mr. Marshall
Robin Hood (2010) – Baron Fitzrobert
War Horse (2011) – Market Auctioneer
Bayonet (2012, Short) – Sean O'Brennan
In View (2016)
Lift (2016) – Granddad Eddy
Penance (2018) – Murray
TV roles
Play for Tomorrow (1982) – John Bingham
The Irish R.M. (1984) – Thomay Foley
Bergerac (1985) – Doctor
Lapsed Catholics (1987) – Mal Nevin
The Rockingham Shoot (1987) – Garda Casey
Act of Betrayal (1988) – Brendon
The Investigation: Inside a Terrorist Bombing (1990) – Paddy Mcllkenny
Shakespeare: The Animated Tales (1994) – Iago
The Hanging Gale (1995) – Coulter
The Governor (1995) – Harry Reynolds
Kidnapped (1995) – Shuan
Runway One (1995) – Manning
A Christmassy Ted (1996) – Father Todd Unctious
Making the Cut (1998)
Vicious Circle (1999) – Crowley
Teenage Cics (2006) – Principal Scannel
Damage (2007) – Defence Counsel
Striapacha (2008)
The Tudors (2009) – Robert Aske
The Savage Eye (2009) – Various
References
External links
1950 births
Alumni of Queen's University Belfast
Living people
Irish male film actors
Irish male television actors
Male film actors from Northern Ireland
Male television actors from Northern Ireland
People from Omagh
People educated at St Columb's College
People educated at Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh
Actors from County Tyrone