Brendan Cauldwell
Encyclopedia
Brendan Cauldwell was an Irish
radio, film and television actor.
, North 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
. His interest in acting was encouraged by his uncle, who taught him different dialects in an attempt to solve a bad stammer.
In 1955, he joined the RTÉ Repertory Company
(Rep). While with the Rep 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 coveted Prix Italia
for Radio Drama.
His performance as Hennessy in the RTÉ Television production of Strumpet City
is regarded as particularly memorable, alongside an earlier performance as Rashers in the RTÉ Radio 1 production.
He acted in a number of stage, screen and radio productions over the years, including Far and Away
and Angela's Ashes
. In 1996, he joined the cast of Fair City
where he worked until 2005.
Cauldwell died in his sleep on 12 January 2006, aged 83.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
radio, film and television actor.
Career
Brendan Cauldwell was born in FairviewFairview, Dublin
Fairview is a coastal district on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland, in the jurisdiction of Dublin City Council. Part of the area forms Fairview Park, on land reclaimed from the sea.-Location and access:...
, North 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
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. His interest in acting was encouraged by his uncle, who taught him different dialects in an attempt to solve a bad stammer.
In 1955, he joined the RTÉ Repertory Company
Radio Éireann Players
The Radio Éireann Players were a repertory company for radio in Ireland, formed in 1947, which performed in regular drama productions for Irish broadcaster, Radio Éireann. After the depredations of the war-time years and a devastating fire in the Abbey Theatre in 1951, the Radio Éireann Players'...
(Rep). While with the Rep he took part in more than 3,000 productions including the international 32-hour broadcast of Ulysses
Ulysses (broadcast)
The Ulysses broadcast occurred on Bloomsday 1982 when the Irish state broadcaster, RTÉ Radio, transmitted an uninterrupted, 30 hour, dramatised performance, by 33 actors of the RTÉ Players, of the entire text of James Joyce's epic novel, Ulysses, to commemorate the centenary of the author's birth,...
, 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 coveted Prix Italia
Prix Italia
The Prix Italia is an international Italian television, radio-broadcasting and Website award. It was established in 1948 by RAI - Radiotelevisione Italiana in Capri...
for Radio Drama.
His performance as Hennessy in the RTÉ Television production of Strumpet City
Strumpet City
Strumpet City is a historical novel by James Plunkett set in Dublin, Ireland, at the time of the Dublin Lock-out. In 1980, it was adapted into a successful TV drama by Radio Telefís Éireann, Ireland's national broadcaster...
is regarded as particularly memorable, alongside an earlier performance as Rashers in the RTÉ Radio 1 production.
He acted in a number of stage, screen and radio productions over the years, including Far and Away
Far and Away
Far and Away is a 1992 adventure-drama-romance film directed by Ron Howard from a script by Howard and Bob Dolman, and stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Cinematography by Mikael Salomon, with a music score by John Williams...
and Angela's Ashes
Angela's Ashes
Angela's Ashes is a 1996 memoir by the Irish-American author Frank McCourt. The memoir consists of various anecdotes and stories of Frank McCourt's impoverished childhood and early adulthood in Brooklyn, New York and Limerick, Ireland, as well as McCourt's struggles with poverty, his father's...
. In 1996, he joined the cast of Fair City
Fair City
Fair City is an award-winning Irish television soap opera on RTÉ One. Produced by Radio Telefís Éireann, it was first broadcast on Monday, September 18, 1989...
where he worked until 2005.
Cauldwell died in his sleep on 12 January 2006, aged 83.