Eamon Morrissey (actor)
Encyclopedia
Eamon Morrissey is an Irish
actor, best known for his comic performances on stage and television.
. His parents encouraged his early interest in stage performance and he won several medals for his recitations at the Feis Ceoil
. While still in his teens and a pupil at Synge Street CBS
, Morrissey worked part-time as a stage manager in various Dublin theatres. He left school before sitting the Leaving Certificate
in order to try his hand at acting in London
. After spending several years there doing odd jobs, he was chosen for the part of Ned, the emigrant, in the 1964 world première of Brian Friel
's Philadelphia, Here I Come!.
and Morrissey enjoyed a lengthy sojourn in the United States
as a member of the cast. In July 1967, another Friel play, Lovers
, opened at the Gate Theatre
in Dublin with Morrissey in the leading role of Joe.
In 1974, Morrissey adapted the satirical writings of Brian O'Nolan into a successful one-man show entitled The Brother. In his two-hour solo performance, Morrissey portrays a "porter-swilling, nose-picking pub philosopher with ingenious solutions to the world's problems". The Brother continues to be an enduring hit with audiences throughout the world. Morrissey went on to create two more one-man shows, Patrick Gulliver, drawn from the works of Jonathan Swift
, and Joycemen, which features various characters from James Joyce
's Ulysses
.
In 1977, Morrissey won a Jacob's Award for his performances in Frank Hall
's long-running satirical TV series, Hall's Pictorial Weekly
. Each week he appeared as a variety of grotesque characters, most notably The Minister for Hardship (based on the then-Taoiseach
, Liam Cosgrave
). Two decades later, he appeared as Father Derek Beeching in "Speed 3
", an episode of Channel 4
's sitcom Father Ted
. In 2009, Morrissey returned to prime-time Irish television as Cass Cassidy in the RTÉ
soap opera
, Fair City
. In 2011, Morrissey was among the nominees for Best Supporting Actor in the annual IFTAs
for his role in Fair City.
Morrissey's most significant movie appearance to date came in 1986 when he took the central role of Arthur in Peter Ormrod's Eat the Peach
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
actor, best known for his comic performances on stage and television.
Early life
An only child, Morrissey was born in Dublin and grew up in the suburb of RanelaghRanelagh
Ranelagh is a residential area and urban village on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the postal district of Dublin 6. It is in the local government electoral area of Rathmines and the Dáil Constituency of Dublin South-East.-History:...
. His parents encouraged his early interest in stage performance and he won several medals for his recitations at the Feis Ceoil
Feis Ceoil
Feis Ceoil is an annual Irish cultural festival of music and dance. It was first organized in 1897 by Dr. Annie Patterson and Edward Martyn. It consisted of competitions for performance and composition and was supported by all musicians of the day, both national and classical...
. While still in his teens and a pupil 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:...
, Morrissey worked part-time as a stage manager in various Dublin theatres. He left school before sitting the Leaving Certificate
Leaving Certificate
The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
in order to try his hand at acting in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. After spending several years there doing odd jobs, he was chosen for the part of Ned, the emigrant, in the 1964 world première of Brian Friel
Brian Friel
Brian Friel is an Irish dramatist, author and director of the Field Day Theatre Company. He is considered to be the greatest living English-language dramatist, hailed by the English-speaking world as an "Irish Chekhov" and "the universally accented voice of Ireland"...
's Philadelphia, Here I Come!.
Career
Philadelphia, Here I Come! later became a huge success on BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
and Morrissey enjoyed a lengthy sojourn in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a member of the cast. In July 1967, another Friel play, Lovers
Lovers (play)
Lovers is a 1967 play written by Northern Irish playwright Brian Friel.Lovers is a play broken in to two parts, Winners and Losers.-Winners:...
, opened at the Gate Theatre
Gate Theatre
The Gate Theatre, in Dublin, was founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and Micheál Mac Liammóir, initially using the Abbey Theatre's Peacock studio theatre space to stage important works by European and American dramatists...
in Dublin with Morrissey in the leading role of Joe.
In 1974, Morrissey adapted the satirical writings of Brian O'Nolan into a successful one-man show entitled The Brother. In his two-hour solo performance, Morrissey portrays a "porter-swilling, nose-picking pub philosopher with ingenious solutions to the world's problems". The Brother continues to be an enduring hit with audiences throughout the world. Morrissey went on to create two more one-man shows, Patrick Gulliver, drawn from the works of Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
, and Joycemen, which features various characters from James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
's Ulysses
Ulysses (novel)
Ulysses is a novel by the Irish author James Joyce. It was first serialised in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, and then published in its entirety by Sylvia Beach on 2 February 1922, in Paris. One of the most important works of Modernist literature,...
.
In 1977, Morrissey won a Jacob's Award for his performances in Frank Hall
Frank Hall
Frank Hall was an Irish broadcaster, journalist, satirist and film censor. He is best remembered for his satirical revue programme Hall's Pictorial Weekly.-Early life:...
's long-running satirical TV series, Hall's Pictorial Weekly
Hall's Pictorial Weekly
Hall's Pictorial Weekly, Incorporating the Provincial Vindicator is an Irish satirical television series which was broadcast on Radio Telefís Éireann from 1971 to 1980....
. Each week he appeared as a variety of grotesque characters, most notably The Minister for Hardship (based on the then-Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
, Liam Cosgrave
Liam Cosgrave
Liam Cosgrave is an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach and as Leader of Fine Gael . He was a Teachta Dála from 1943 to 1981....
). Two decades later, he appeared as Father Derek Beeching in "Speed 3
Speed 3
"Speed 3" is the third episode of the third series of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and the 20th episode overall. It is a parody of the films Speed and Speed 2: Cruise Control...
", an episode of Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's sitcom Father Ted
Father Ted
Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
. In 2009, Morrissey returned to prime-time Irish television as Cass Cassidy in the RTÉ
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, 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...
. In 2011, Morrissey was among the nominees for Best Supporting Actor in the annual IFTAs
Irish Film and Television Awards
The Irish Film and Television Awards were first awarded in 2003. Its sole aim is to celebrate Ireland's notably talented film and television community...
for his role in Fair City.
Morrissey's most significant movie appearance to date came in 1986 when he took the central role of Arthur in Peter Ormrod's Eat the Peach
Eat the Peach
Eat the Peach is a 1986 British-Irish comedy film, directed by Peter Ormrod. The title derives from the T.S.Eliot poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. It was written by Peter Ormrod with John Kelleher...
.