Enda Oates
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Enda Oates (born 1962), occasionally credited as Enda Oats, is an Irish stage, film, and television
actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...
. He has received attention for his stagework, but is best known to Irish television audiences as the Reverend George Black in the long-running series ''
Glenroe ''Glenroe'' is an Irish television soap opera broadcast on RTÉ One for 18 years between September 1983 and May 2001. ''Glenroe was'' centred on the lives of the people living in the fictional rural village of the same name in County Wicklow. ...
'' for
RTÉ (; ; RTÉThe É in RTÉ is pronounced as an English E () and not an Irish É ()) is an Irish public service broadcaster. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on television, radio and online. The radio service began on 1 January 1926, ...
, and as Barreller Casey in the sitcom ''
Upwardly Mobile Social mobility is the movement of individuals, families, households or other categories of people within or between social strata in a society. It is a change in social status relative to one's current social location within a given socie ...
''.


Background

Oates was born in
County Roscommon County Roscommon () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is part of the province of Connacht and the Northern and Western Region. It is the List of Irish counties by area, 11th largest Irish county by area and Li ...
in 1962 and moved to
Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
in 1981 where he currently resides. He studied at Roscommon CBS, and earned a Leaving Certificate in 1980. The following year he attended Athlone Regional Technical College before becoming a
civil servant The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil service personnel hired rather than elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leadership. A civil service offic ...
for five years before becoming a
thespian Thespian may refer to: * A citizen of the Ancient Greek city of Thespiae * An actor or actress ** Thespis, the first credited actor * A member of the International Thespian Society The International Thespian Society (ITS) is an honor society ...
. His wife is named Louise and the couple have one son. Oates is also a noted horse enthusiast and has appeared on several television programmes about horses.


Career


Film and television

Referred to as one of "Ireland’s foremost acting talents" by the ''
Roscommon Herald Below is a list of newspapers published in Ireland. National titles – currently published – English language Daily national newspapers : Sunday national newspapers : Regional titles – currently published – English language Carlow ...
'', Oates' career has spanned over twenty years onstage, in radio, television and film. Although he made a 1984 appearance in ''
Remington Steele ''Remington Steele'' is an American television series co-created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason. The series, starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, was produced by MTM Enterprises and first broadcast on NBC from October 1, 1982, ...
'', he turned professional in 1986 after sharing the ''
Evening Herald ''The Herald'' is a nationwide mid-market tabloid newspaper headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and published by Independent News & Media who are a subsidiary of Mediahuis. It is published Monday–Saturday. The newspaper was known as the ''Ev ...
'' "Newcomer of the Year Award", along with
Aidan Gillen Aidan Murphy (born 1967 or 1968), better known as Aidan Gillen (), is an Irish actor. He is known for his roles as Stuart Alan Jones in ''Queer as Folk (British TV series), Queer as Folk'' (1999–2000); Tommy Carcetti in ''The Wire'' (2004–20 ...
(''
The Wire ''The Wire'' is an American Crime fiction, crime Drama (film and television), drama television series created and primarily written by the American author and former police reporter David Simon for the cable network HBO. The series premiered o ...
''). The official opening of the Strokestown International Poetry Festival was performed by Oates. In 1989, his theatrical connections with actor/producer John Lynch saw him awarded the part of the Rev. George Black in the series ''
Glenroe ''Glenroe'' is an Irish television soap opera broadcast on RTÉ One for 18 years between September 1983 and May 2001. ''Glenroe was'' centred on the lives of the people living in the fictional rural village of the same name in County Wicklow. ...
''. Oates played Rev. George from 1989 to 1997 and was the role which made him widely recognizable to the general Irish public. In 1990, he had a minor role in the Pat O'Connor-directed film '' Fools of Fortune'', about a Protestant family caught up in a conflict between Irish republicans and the British Army during
the Troubles The Troubles () were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted for about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it began in the late 1960s and is usually deemed t ...
. In 1994, Oates played the role of "The Garda" opposite
Albert Finney Albert Finney (9 May 1936 – 7 February 2019) was an English actor. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and worked in the theatre before attaining fame for movie acting during the early 1960s, debuting with '' The Entertainer'' ( ...
and
Michael Gambon Sir Michael John Gambon (; 19 October 1940 – 27 September 2023) was an Irish-English actor. Gambon started his acting career with Laurence Olivier as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre. Over his six-decade-long career ...
in '' A Man of No Importance'', a film which dealt with themes of
homosexuality Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or Human sexual activity, sexual behavior between people of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexu ...
. Between 1995 and 1998 he played Barreller Casey in the Irish sitcom series ''
Upwardly Mobile Social mobility is the movement of individuals, families, households or other categories of people within or between social strata in a society. It is a change in social status relative to one's current social location within a given socie ...
''. In 1998 he had a small role the film '' St. Ives'' (televised in the UK as All for Love), based on the unfinished
Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll ...
novel. Oates also appeared in an episode of '' The Ambassador'' that same year. In 2000, Oates starred in three episodes of '' Trí Scéal'' and played "Brian" in ''
Ordinary Decent Criminal ''Ordinary Decent Criminal'' is a 2000 crime comedy film, directed by Thaddeus O'Sullivan, written by Gerard Stembridge, and stars Kevin Spacey and Linda Fiorentino. The film is loosely based on the story of Martin Cahill, a famous Irish crim ...
''. Directed by
Thaddeus O'Sullivan Thaddeus O'Sullivan (born 2 May 1947) is an Irish director, cinematographer, and screenwriter. Early career In the early 1980s, O'Sullivan was among a group of filmmakers who co-founded Spectre Productions, a collective that included John Elli ...
, the film is loosely based on the story of
Martin Cahill Martin Cahill (23 May 1949 – 18 August 1994) was an Irish crime boss from Dublin. He masterminded a series of burglaries and armed robberies. He was shot and killed while out on bail for kidnapping charges. The Provisional Irish Republican Ar ...
, a famous Irish crime boss and featured Oates; the cast included
Kevin Spacey Kevin Spacey Fowler (born July 26, 1959) is an American actor. Known for Kevin Spacey on screen and stage, his work on stage and screen, he List of awards and nominations received by Kevin Spacey, has received numerous accolades, including two ...
,
Helen Baxendale Helen Victoria Baxendale (born 7 June 1970) is an English actress of stage and television. She is known for her roles as Rachel Bradley in the British comedy drama ''Cold Feet'' (1997–2003) and Emily Waltham in the American sitcom ''Friends'' ...
and
Colin Farrell Colin James Farrell (; born 31 May 1976) is an Irish actor. A Leading actor, leading man in blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters and independent films since the 2000s, he has received various List of awards and nominations received by Col ...
. In 2000, Oates had a small role in ''
An Everlasting Piece ''An Everlasting Piece'' is a 2000 American comedy film directed by Barry Levinson, written by and starring Barry McEvoy. The plot involves two wig salesmen, one Catholic and one Protestant, who live in war-torn Belfast, Northern Ireland, in t ...
'', a comedic film set in 1980s Northern Ireland, also with a subplot about
the Troubles The Troubles () were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted for about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it began in the late 1960s and is usually deemed t ...
. In 2003, Oates had a minor role in the
Joel Schumacher Joel T. Schumacher (; August 29, 1939 – June 22, 2020) was an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Raised in New York City by his mother, Schumacher graduated from Parsons School of Design and originally became a fashion designe ...
film, ''
Veronica Guerin Veronica Guerin Turley (5 July 1959 – 26 June 1996) was an Irish investigative journalist focusing on organised crime in Ireland, who was murdered in a contract killing believed to have been ordered by a South Dublin-based drug cartel. Bor ...
'', about Irish journalist Veronica Guerin, murdered in 1996, which starred
Cate Blanchett Catherine Élise Blanchett ( ; born 14 May 1969) is an Australian actor and producer. Regarded as one of the best performers of her generation, she is recognised for Cate Blanchett on screen and stage, her versatile work across stage and scre ...
in the title role.


Theatrical work and recognition

Enda won a Best Male Performance Irish Film and Television Award (IFTA) in 2015 for his Role as Pete in RTE's Television Drama Fair City. Other nominees in the category included Brendan O Carroll for Mrs Browns Boys and fellow Roscommon colleague Chris O Dowd for Moone Boy. . In 1988, Oates appeared at the
Gate Theatre The Gate Theatre is a theatre on Cavendish Row in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1928. History Beginnings The Gate Theatre was founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir with Daisy Bannard Cogley and Gearóid Ó Lochla ...
in the
Seán O'Casey Seán O'Casey ( ; born John Casey; 30 March 1880 – 18 September 1964) was an Irish dramatist and memoirist. A committed socialist, he was the first Irish playwright of note to write about the Dublin working classes. Early life O'Casey was ...
play ''
Juno and the Paycock ''Juno and the Paycock'' is a play by Seán O'Casey. Highly regarded and often performed in Ireland, it was first staged at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1924. It is set in the working-class tenements of Dublin in the early 1920s, during the I ...
'', playing a furniture removal man. It was also performed at the
John Golden Theatre The John Golden Theatre, formerly the Theatre Masque and Masque Theater, is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater at 252 West 45th Street (George Abbott Way) in the Theater District, Manhattan, Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York ...
on
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...
between 21 June–2 July 1988. Then in 1989, Oates appeared in the play ''Big Maggie'' at the
Abbey Theatre The Abbey Theatre (), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland () is a theatre in Dublin, Ireland. First opening to the public on 27 December 1904, and moved from its original building after a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the p ...
, performed between 25 July–26 September 1989. In 1991 he appeared in a production of ''Plough and the Stars'' in London. ." Reporting on Oates' performance in Alan Stanford's production of ''
MacBeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...
'' in 2006, the ''
Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It was launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is Ireland's leading n ...
'' critic opined that Oates' work as MacDuff was "thoroughly impressive". Also in 2006, the production of ''Little Green Men'' reports that "Well known Irish actor Enda Oates who takes one of the lead roles as Michael Greene in the new play said that he was 'hooked' on the idea after the success of the first production." In their review of Alan Stanford's 2007 production of the
Brian Friel Brian Patrick Friel (c. 9 January 1929 – 2 October 2015) was an Irish dramatist, short story writer and founder of the Field Day Theatre Company. He had been considered one of the greatest living English-language dramatists. (subscription requ ...
play '' Philadelphia, Here I Come!'', The ''
Irish Independent The ''Irish Independent'' is an Irish daily newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray backgrou ...
'' wrote "Among the theatrical high points is the poignant visit and awkward embrace of Gar from old schoolteacher, Master Boyle (Enda Oates)..." In 2008, Oates played
Shylock Shylock () is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's play '' The Merchant of Venice'' ( 1600). A Venetian Jewish moneylender, Shylock is the play's principal villain. His defeat and forced conversion to Christianity form the climax ...
in the ''
Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...
'' in the Helix Theatre. The ''
Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It was launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is Ireland's leading n ...
review of the 2008 production of ''The Merchant of Venice'' offered, "...That leaves Shylock with Enda Oates putting his individual stamp on him. He shrugs aside servility to present a strong character in revolt against a lifetime..." As reported in ''
Roscommon Herald Below is a list of newspapers published in Ireland. National titles – currently published – English language Daily national newspapers : Sunday national newspapers : Regional titles – currently published – English language Carlow ...
'', "An Irish Times theatre critic described his performance as riveting and one which was maintained to the end." Of his work in Zinnie Harris's ''
Further than the Furthest Thing ''Further than the Furthest Thing'' is a play in two acts by the Scottish playwright Zinnie Harris, set in 1961 on a remote island based loosely on Tristan da Cunha, and in the English city of Southampton. It was inspired by Harris' mother's me ...
'' (2008), Sophie Gorman of ''The
Irish Independent The ''Irish Independent'' is an Irish daily newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray backgrou ...
'' wrote, "Enda Oates as the laconic island patriarch radiates suppressed force of character". ''
Donegal News The ''Donegal News'' (also known as ''Derry People/Donegal News'' and formerly ''Derry People'') is a twice-weekly local newspaper in the northwest of the island of Ireland, first published in 1902. Originally covering Derry, Northern Ireland, i ...
'' reported Alan Stanford producing ''Macbeth'' again in 2008, with "a large cast of sixteen, some of whom are returning to their original parts, most notably Enda Oates, as MacDuff..." ''The
Irish Independent The ''Irish Independent'' is an Irish daily newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray backgrou ...
'', while noting the violence of gore inherent in the Shakespeare play, found "the production is nonetheless strangely bloodless and passionless" due to a "very odd interpretation of the central role by hespianDavid Shannon". Even with its flaws, it was noted that Oates was "a powerful Macduff".


Theatre highlights

* ''Studs'' (Paul Mercier) 1986 * 1987- Jacques Brel is ... (Noel Pearson) 1987 * ''
Juno and the Paycock ''Juno and the Paycock'' is a play by Seán O'Casey. Highly regarded and often performed in Ireland, it was first staged at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1924. It is set in the working-class tenements of Dublin in the early 1920s, during the I ...
'' 1988 * ''Big Maggie'' (Abbey Theatre) 1989 * ''Plough and the Stars'' (Young Vic) 1991 * ''The Field'' (Gaiety Theatre) 1994 * ''Uncle Vanya'' (as Astrov) Field Day, Tricycle London, 1995 * ''True Believers'' (Tricycle Irish Tour) Fishamble 1999 * ''Gulliver’s Travels'' – Gulliver (Ireland and Wales) 2001 * ''En Suite'', 2002 * ''The Chastitute'', 2003 * ''Pilgrims in the Park'', 2004 * ''The Tempest'' (as Prospero) Corcadorca Theatre Co 2005 * ''The Ha’penny Bridge'', The Point Theatre Dublin, 2005 * ''Little Green Men'', 2006 * ''Macbeth'' – Macduff – Second Age Theatre Company 2006/2007/2008 * '' Philadelphia, Here I Come!'' Second Age Theatre Company 2007 * ''
The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...
'' 2008 * ''Further Than the Furthest Thing'' 2008 * ''The Dead School'' 2008


Partial filmography


Television

* ''
Remington Steele ''Remington Steele'' is an American television series co-created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason. The series, starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, was produced by MTM Enterprises and first broadcast on NBC from October 1, 1982, ...
'' (1 episode, 1984) * ''City Limits'' (1986) * ''Errors and Omissions'' (1987) * ''Small World'' (1 episode, 1987) * ''
Glenroe ''Glenroe'' is an Irish television soap opera broadcast on RTÉ One for 18 years between September 1983 and May 2001. ''Glenroe was'' centred on the lives of the people living in the fictional rural village of the same name in County Wicklow. ...
'' (1989–1997) * ''
Upwardly Mobile Social mobility is the movement of individuals, families, households or other categories of people within or between social strata in a society. It is a change in social status relative to one's current social location within a given socie ...
'' (1995–1998) * '' The Ambassador'' (1 episode, 1998) * '' Trí Scéal'' (3 episodes, 2000) * ''
Ballykissangel ''Ballykissangel'' is a BBC television drama created by Kieran Prendiville and 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 comm ...
'' (1 episode, 2001) * '' Bachelors Walk'' (2001-2003) * '' Showbands'' (2005) * '' Aifric'' (1 episode, 2006) * ''
The Stardust The Stardust Resort and Casino was a casino resort located on along the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada. The Stardust was conceived by Tony Cornero, and construction began in 1954. Cornero died in 1955, and the project was taken over by h ...
'' (2006) (Mini-series) * ''
Killinaskully ''Killinaskully'' is an Irish television comedy series which details the bizarre goings-on in a fictitious Irish village called Killinaskully located in the hills of Ireland. It was actually filmed on location in the villages of Killoscully an ...
'' (1 episode, 2007) * '' The Clinic'' (2 episodes, 2005–2008) * '' Val Falvey TD'' (2008) * ''
Fair City ''Fair City'' is an Irish television soap opera which has been broadcast on RTÉ One since 1989. Produced by the public service broadcaster RTE, it first aired on Monday, 18 September 1989. It has won several awards and is both the most po ...
'' * '' The Bailout'' (2017)


Film

* '' Fools of Fortune'' (1990) * '' A Man of No Importance'' (1994) * '' Crossmaheart'' (1998) * '' St. Ives'' (1998) * ''
Ordinary Decent Criminal ''Ordinary Decent Criminal'' is a 2000 crime comedy film, directed by Thaddeus O'Sullivan, written by Gerard Stembridge, and stars Kevin Spacey and Linda Fiorentino. The film is loosely based on the story of Martin Cahill, a famous Irish crim ...
'' (2000) * ''
An Everlasting Piece ''An Everlasting Piece'' is a 2000 American comedy film directed by Barry Levinson, written by and starring Barry McEvoy. The plot involves two wig salesmen, one Catholic and one Protestant, who live in war-torn Belfast, Northern Ireland, in t ...
'' (2000) * ''Chaos'' (2002) (I) * ''
Veronica Guerin Veronica Guerin Turley (5 July 1959 – 26 June 1996) was an Irish investigative journalist focusing on organised crime in Ireland, who was murdered in a contract killing believed to have been ordered by a South Dublin-based drug cartel. Bor ...
'' (2003) * ''The Return of Gelert'' (2003) * '' The Longest Ditch'' (An Diog is Faide) (2004) * '' Rógairí'' (2005) * ''Eden'' (2008)


See also

* List of longest-serving soap opera actors#Ireland


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Oates, Enda 1962 births Living people Irish male film actors Irish male soap opera actors Irish male stage actors Irish male television actors Actors from County Roscommon Date of birth missing (living people) 20th-century Irish male actors 21st-century Irish male actors