David Kelly (actor)
Encyclopedia
David Kelly is an Irish actor, who has been in regular film and television work since the 1950s.
In Ireland he is perhaps most famous for his portrayal of the character "Rashers" Tierney in the highly-regarded 1980 RTE TV miniseries Strumpet City which also starred Peter O'Toole, Cyril Cusack and Bryan Murray, and Peter Ustinov.
Kelly became a familiar face on British television during the 1970s with a long running role as the one-armed dishwasher Albert Riddle in Robin's Nest
, also appearing as the inept builder Mr. O'Reilly in the second Fawlty Towers
episode "The Builders
". He went on to have starring roles in television shows such as Emmerdale Farm in the 1980s and Glenroe
in the 1990s, as well as playing the grandfather in Mike Newell's 1992 film Into The West. And further on in the years he was a Guard in the magical film 'Stardust'.
Following his notable appearance as Michael O'Sullivan in the hit 1998 film Waking Ned
(which gained him a Screen Actor's Guild nomination), Kelly found further work in small but noticeable roles in such films as Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London
; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
, The Jigsaw Man
and Stardust.
He has also acted extensively for radio, including a guest appearance on the BBC Radio 4 series Baldi
.
, Dublin 14. He was educated at Synge Street CBS
in Dublin.
Acting career
Playing everything from Beckett to Shakespeare, he has appeared in Theatre, TV and film constantly since 1959. Awards to date include, Helen Hayes for "Moon for the Misbegotten, SAG nomination for "Waking Ned", ESB lifetime achievement award for work in the Irish theatre.In Ireland he is perhaps most famous for his portrayal of the character "Rashers" Tierney in the highly-regarded 1980 RTE TV miniseries Strumpet City which also starred Peter O'Toole, Cyril Cusack and Bryan Murray, and Peter Ustinov.
Kelly became a familiar face on British television during the 1970s with a long running role as the one-armed dishwasher Albert Riddle in Robin's Nest
Robin's Nest
Robin's Nest is a British sitcom starring Richard O'Sullivan as Robin Tripp, one of the lead characters in the sitcom Man About the House, which had ended in 1976. Robin's Nest aired for six series from 1977 to 1981, and co-starred Tessa Wyatt as Robin's girlfriend and later wife and Tony Britton...
, also appearing as the inept builder Mr. O'Reilly in the second Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...
episode "The Builders
The Builders
"The Builders" is the second episode in the first series of the BBC TV sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Synopsis:Basil hires Irish builder O'Reilly to do some vital work on the hotel...
". He went on to have starring roles in television shows such as Emmerdale Farm in the 1980s and Glenroe
Glenroe
Glenroe was an Irish television drama series broadcast between September 1983 and May 2001 on RTÉ One. The programme was a spin-off from Bracken, a short-lived RTÉ drama itself spun off from The Riordans. Glenroe was broadcast on Sunday nights at 20.30, generally from September to May. The show was...
in the 1990s, as well as playing the grandfather in Mike Newell's 1992 film Into The West. And further on in the years he was a Guard in the magical film 'Stardust'.
Following his notable appearance as Michael O'Sullivan in the hit 1998 film Waking Ned
Waking Ned
Waking Ned is a 1998 comedy film by English writer and director Kirk Jones. It stars Ian Bannen, David Kelly and Fionnula Flanagan. Kelly was nominated for a Screen Actors' Guild award for his role as Michael O'Sullivan. The film is set in Ireland but was filmed on location in the Isle of Man...
(which gained him a Screen Actor's Guild nomination), Kelly found further work in small but noticeable roles in such films as Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London
Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London
Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London is an English-American action comedy film and the sequel to the 2003 film Agent Cody Banks, and was released in the United States on March 12, 2004. Frankie Muniz was the only major returning star, with Hannah Spearritt now playing the love interest and...
; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 2005 film adaptation of the 1964 book of the same name by Roald Dahl. The film was directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket and Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka...
, The Jigsaw Man
The Jigsaw Man (film)
The Jigsaw Man British espionage film starring Michael Caine, Laurence Olivier and Robert Powell. Directed by Terence Young, it was based on a novel by Dorothea Bennett and the screenplay was by Jo Eisinger.-Plot:...
and Stardust.
He has also acted extensively for radio, including a guest appearance on the BBC Radio 4 series Baldi
Baldi (radio)
Baldi is a BBC Radio 4 murder mystery series whose central character is Paolo Baldi , a Franciscan priest on sabbatical, lecturing on semiotics at a university in contemporary Dublin. After helping the police as a translator for an Italian witness, he turns sleuth...
.
Personal life
Kelly is married to actress Laurie Morton with whom he lives in GoatstownGoatstown
Goatstown is a suburb of Dublin located in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County, Ireland. To the west is Dundrum, to the east is Mount Merrion and Stillorgan, to the south is Sandyford, and to the north is Roebuck and Clonskeagh....
, Dublin 14. He was educated at Synge Street CBS
Synge Street CBS
Synge Street CBS is a Christian Brothers School in Dublin 8, Ireland. It was founded in 1864.-Primary school:The primary section caters for boys from seven to twelve years. It is called Sancta Maria CBS. It opened in 1954.-Secondary school:...
in Dublin.
Selected filmography
- Me MammyMe MammyMe Mammy is a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1968 to 1971. Starring Milo O'Shea, it was written by Hugh Leonard.-Background:Me Mammy first aired as pilot within the seventh series of the BBC's Comedy Playhouse. The pilot and first series were made in black-and-white...
(1968–71) - Cousin Enda - The Italian JobThe Italian JobThe Italian Job is a 1969 British caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Peter Collinson. Subsequent television showings and releases on video have established it as an institution in the United Kingdom....
(1969) - Vicar (funeral scene) - Fawlty TowersFawlty TowersFawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...
(1975) - Mr O'Reilly (episode "The BuildersThe Builders"The Builders" is the second episode in the first series of the BBC TV sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Synopsis:Basil hires Irish builder O'Reilly to do some vital work on the hotel...
") - Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the BronxQuackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the BronxQuackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx is a 1970 film directed by Waris Hussein and written by Gabriel Walsh. It starred Gene Wilder as the titular Quackser Fortune, an autistic Irishman who falls in love with an American exchange student after she almost runs him over.-Selected cast:*Gene...
(1970) - Tom Maguire - Philadelphia, Here I Come#Film (1975) - Canon O'Byrne
- Robin's NestRobin's NestRobin's Nest is a British sitcom starring Richard O'Sullivan as Robin Tripp, one of the lead characters in the sitcom Man About the House, which had ended in 1976. Robin's Nest aired for six series from 1977 to 1981, and co-starred Tessa Wyatt as Robin's girlfriend and later wife and Tony Britton...
(1977) - Albert Riddle - Strumpet City (1980) - Rashers Tierney
- The Jigsaw ManThe Jigsaw Man (film)The Jigsaw Man British espionage film starring Michael Caine, Laurence Olivier and Robert Powell. Directed by Terence Young, it was based on a novel by Dorothea Bennett and the screenplay was by Jo Eisinger.-Plot:...
(1983) - Red MonarchRed MonarchRed Monarch is a 1983 British TV film starring Colin Blakely as Joseph Stalin. It is directed by Jack Gold and features David Suchet as Lavrentiy Beria and David Threlfall as Stalin's son Vasily....
(1983) - Sergo - Pirates (1986) - Ship's Surgeon
- Into The WestInto the West (film)Into the West is a 1992 Irish fantasy film about Irish Travellers, directed by Mike Newell and written by Jim Sheridan.The film has received several awards for Best Film, Best European Film, and Outstanding Family Foreign Film.-Synopsis:...
(1992) - Grandfather Reilly - GlenroeGlenroeGlenroe was an Irish television drama series broadcast between September 1983 and May 2001 on RTÉ One. The programme was a spin-off from Bracken, a short-lived RTÉ drama itself spun off from The Riordans. Glenroe was broadcast on Sunday nights at 20.30, generally from September to May. The show was...
- Sylvie Dolan - The MatchmakerThe MatchMaker (1997 film)The MatchMaker is a 1997 film comedy film set in Ireland.-Plot:Marcy Tizzard is assistant to Senator John McGlory from Boston, Massachusetts...
(1997) - O'Connor - BallykissangelBallykissangelBallykissangel is a BBC television drama set in Ireland, produced in-house by BBC Northern Ireland. The original story revolved around a young English Roman Catholic priest as he became part of a rural community. It ran for six series, which were first broadcast on BBC One in the UK from 1996 to 2001...
(1998) - Mr O'Reilly - Waking NedWaking NedWaking Ned is a 1998 comedy film by English writer and director Kirk Jones. It stars Ian Bannen, David Kelly and Fionnula Flanagan. Kelly was nominated for a Screen Actors' Guild award for his role as Michael O'Sullivan. The film is set in Ireland but was filmed on location in the Isle of Man...
(1998) - Michael O'Sullivan - GreenfingersGreenfingersGreenfingers is a 2000 British comedy film directed and written by Joel Hershman. It is loosely based on a true story about the award-winning prisoners of HMP Leyhill, a minimum-security prison in the Cotswolds, England.-Cast:...
(2000) - Fergus Wilks - Mean Machine (2001) - Doc
- Mystics (2003) - Dave
- The Calcium KidThe Calcium KidThe Calcium Kid is a British mockumentary comedy film which was released in 2004. This film is presented in the style of a fictional documentary or a "Mockumentary". It stars Orlando Bloom as a milkman and amateur boxer. Billie Piper and Michael Peña are also featured...
(2003) - Paddy O'Flannagan - Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination LondonAgent Cody Banks 2: Destination LondonAgent Cody Banks 2: Destination London is an English-American action comedy film and the sequel to the 2003 film Agent Cody Banks, and was released in the United States on March 12, 2004. Frankie Muniz was the only major returning star, with Hannah Spearritt now playing the love interest and...
(2004) - Trival - Laws of AttractionLaws of AttractionLaws of Attraction is a 2004 romantic comedy film directed by Peter Howitt, based on a story by Aline Brosh McKenna and screenplay by Robert Harling, Howitt and McKenna. It stars Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore. It grossed $17.8 million in the United States, on a budget of $32 million...
(2004) - Priest/Michael - Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryCharlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 2005 film adaptation of the 1964 book of the same name by Roald Dahl. The film was directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket and Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka...
(2005) - Grandpa Joe - The Kovak BoxThe Kovak BoxThe Kovak Box is a 2006 British-Spanish thriller film, directed by Daniel Monzón and starring Timothy Hutton, Lucía Jiménez, Annette Badland and David Kelly.It is set on the island of Mallorca.-Plot:David Norton is used to being in control...
(2006) - Frank Kovak - Stardust (2007) - Guard