John Kavanagh (actor)
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John Kavanagh (born 1946) is an Irish actor who has acted on the stage, in over twenty films including ''Cal'' (1984), ''
Braveheart ''Braveheart'' is a 1995 American epic film, epic historical drama, historical war drama film directed and produced by Mel Gibson, who portrays Scottish warrior William Wallace in the First War of Scottish Independence against Edward I of Engl ...
'' (1995) and ''Alexander'' (2004), and on television. Most recently, he is known for his portrayal of The Seer in the History Channel series ''
Vikings Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9β ...
''. He has received a number of accolades, including a
Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Awards are among the most esteemed honors in New York theater, recognizing outstanding achievements across Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway productions within the same categories. The awards are considered a signific ...
nomination in 1989 for his role in a revival of '' Juno and the Paycock''.


Education

Kavanagh attended the Brendan Smyth Academy from the age of 19 and then trained 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 ...
. In 1967, he joined the Abbey company and stayed with them for 10 years before becoming a freelancer.


Career

Kavanagh began his career with the Irish comedy '' Paddy'' (1970), where he played the small role of Willie Egan. That same year, he played another small role in the World War II film '' The McKenzie Break'' (1970), about a
POW camp A prisoner-of-war camp (often abbreviated as POW camp) is a site for the containment of enemy fighters captured as prisoners of war by a belligerent power in time of war. There are significant differences among POW camps, internment camps, an ...
in Scotland whose prisoners are preparing an escape. A singer as well as an actor, Kavanagh played the lead in the Irish stage production of '' Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris'' in the 1970s (alongside his sister Anne Bushnell). He also starred in the subsequent television production, which aired in December 1978. The next twelve years brought Kavanagh no new films, though he continued to act on stage. Finally, he decided to return to screen acting with the theatrical film '' The Ballroom of Romance'' (1982), which put him in a romance with actress Brenda Fricker. The film was followed up with the small film '' Attracta'' (1983), and the made-for-television movie ''The Country Girls'' (1984), starring
Sam Neill Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. His career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he is regarded as one of the most versatile acto ...
. Kavanagh's next theatrical film was one of the most famous films of his career: the Irish film ''
Cal Cal or CAL may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Cal'' (novel), a 1983 novel by Bernard MacLaverty * "Cal" (short story), a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov * ''Cal'' (1984 film), an Irish drama starring John Lynch and Helen Mir ...
'' (1984), starring
Helen Mirren Dame Helen Mirren (; born Ilyena Lydia Vasilievna Mironov; 26 July 1945) is an English actor. With a career spanning over six decades of Helen Mirren on screen and stage, screen and stage, List of awards and nominations received by Helen Mirre ...
and John Lynch. Kavanagh played Skeffington, Cal's superior in the IRA. Moving on from this film, Kavanagh acted in a number of films and television series. He participated in the thriller '' The Fantasist'' (1986), the crime drama ''
Bellman and True ''Bellman and True'' is a 1987 film based on the novel of the same name by Desmond Lowden. The film was written and directed by Richard Loncraine. It stars Bernard Hill, Derek Newark and Richard Hope. The title comes from an old Cumberland s ...
'' (1987), the action film ''Joyriders'' (1988), and the independent film ''4 Play: In the Border Country'' (1991), among others. Kavanagh's career picked up considerably in the mid-nineties. He acted alongside such classic actors as
Mia Farrow Maria de Lourdes Villiers "Mia" Farrow ( ; born February 9, 1945) is an American actress. She first gained notice for her role as Allison MacKenzie in the television soap opera ''Peyton Place (TV series), Peyton Place'' and gained further recogn ...
and
Jim Broadbent James Broadbent (born 24 May 1949) is an English actor. A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 1972, he came to prominence as a character actor for his many roles in film and television. He has received various accolades ...
in the
John Irvin John Irvin (born 7 May 1940) is an English film director. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, he began his career by directing a number of documentaries and television works, including the BBC Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (miniseries), ada ...
film ''
Widows' Peak ''Widows' Peak'' is a 1994 British-Irish mystery film directed by John Irvin and starring Mia Farrow, Joan Plowright, Natasha Richardson, Adrian Dunbar and Jim Broadbent. The film is based on an original screenplay by Hugh Leonard and Tim Ha ...
'' (1994). Kavanagh then guest-starred in the Sharpe series (starring
Sean Bean Sean Bean (born Shaun Mark Bean; 17 April 1959) is an English actor. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he made his professional debut in a production of ''Romeo and Juliet'' in 1983 at The Watermill Theatre. Retaining his ...
and Hugh Fraser), where he played the holy man Father Michael Curtis. That same year, he acted in ''
Braveheart ''Braveheart'' is a 1995 American epic film, epic historical drama, historical war drama film directed and produced by Mel Gibson, who portrays Scottish warrior William Wallace in the First War of Scottish Independence against Edward I of Engl ...
'' (1995) as one of the nobles who routinely changed sides from Scotland to England in the Scottish wars of independence. Kavanagh next acted in '' Some Mother's Son'' (1996), a prison film written by
Jim Sheridan Jim Sheridan (born 6 February 1949) is an Irish people, Irish playwright and filmmaker. Between 1989 and 1993, Sheridan directed three critically acclaimed films set in Ireland, ''My Left Foot'' (1989), ''The Field (1990 film), The Field'' (19 ...
, and reunited with Brenda Fricker in '' Pete's Meteor'' (1998). After a number of smaller films, Kavanagh acted in another historical epic: the
Oliver Stone William Oliver Stone (born ) is an American filmmaker. Stone is an acclaimed director, tackling subjects ranging from the Vietnam War and American politics to musical film, musical Biographical film, biopics and Crime film, crime dramas. He has ...
film ''
Alexander Alexander () is a male name of Greek origin. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here ar ...
'' (2004), starring
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 ...
,
Val Kilmer Val Edward Kilmer (December 31, 1959 – April 1, 2025) was an American actor. Initially a stage actor, he later found fame as a Leading actor, leading man in films in a wide variety of genres, including Comedy film, comedies, dramas, action fi ...
and
Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor. Considered one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for List of Anthony Hopkins performances, his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins ha ...
. Kavanagh played the role of
Parmenion Parmenion (also Parmenio; ; 400 – 330 BC), son of Philotas, was a Macedonian general in the service of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great. A nobleman, Parmenion rose to become Philip's chief military lieutenant and Alexander's ...
, the old general who questions Alexander's actions. After a plot to kill the young leader is foiled, Parmenion is accused of being the mastermind behind it and is murdered. While the film was a triumph overseas, its domestic box office was a fraction of the budget, and it received negative reviews for a number of reasons. After this, Kavanagh acted in
Brian De Palma Brian Russell De Palma (; born September 11, 1940) is an Americans, American film director and screenwriter. With a career spanning over 50 years, he is best known for work in the suspense, Crime film, crime, and psychological thriller genres. ...
's murder film '' The Black Dahlia'' (2006) which failed at the box office. Kavanagh rebounded with the successful television series ''
The Tudors ''The Tudors'' is a historical fiction television series set primarily in 16th-century England, created and written by Michael Hirst and produced for the American premium cable television channel Showtime. The series was a collaboration among ...
'' (2007), starring fellow ''Alexander'' cast member Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Kavanagh played Cardinal Campeggio, who presides over the court that is to rule on Henry VIII's petition for an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. In 2012 Kavanagh was cast in Michael Hirst's TV series ''Vikings''. Kavanagh collaborated as vocalist with Paul Brady on the record ''The Green Crow Caws'', a musical celebration of the words of SeΓ‘n O'Casey.


Personal life

John Kavanagh is the father of actress Rachel Kavanagh and musician Jamie Kavanagh. Kavanagh's sister, Anne Bushnell, was a jazz, blues and cabaret singer.


Filmography


Film

*1970: '' The McKenzie Break'' – The Police Inspector *1982: '' The Ballroom of Romance'' – Bowser Egan *1984: ''
Cal Cal or CAL may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Cal'' (novel), a 1983 novel by Bernard MacLaverty * "Cal" (short story), a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov * ''Cal'' (1984 film), an Irish drama starring John Lynch and Helen Mir ...
'' – Skeffington *1995: ''
Braveheart ''Braveheart'' is a 1995 American epic film, epic historical drama, historical war drama film directed and produced by Mel Gibson, who portrays Scottish warrior William Wallace in the First War of Scottish Independence against Edward I of Engl ...
'' – Craig *1997: '' The Butcher Boy'' – Doctor Boyd *1997: '' The Informant'' – IRA Chief *1998: ''
Dancing at Lughnasa ''Dancing at Lughnasa'' is a 1990 play by dramatist Brian Friel set in County Donegal, Ireland in August 1936 in the fictional town of Ballybeg. It is a memory play told from the point of view of the adult Michael Evans, the narrator. He re ...
'' – Father Carlin *1998: '' This Is My Father'' *2004: ''
Alexander Alexander () is a male name of Greek origin. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here ar ...
'' – Parmenion *2006: '' The Black Dahlia'' *2006: '' The Tiger's Tail'' – Harry *2007: '' Closing the Ring'' – Reverend Smith *2013: '' In Secret'' – Inspector Michaud *2013: '' The Bachelor Weekend'' – FionnΓ‘n's dad *2016: ''
Florence Foster Jenkins Florence Foster Jenkins (born Narcissa Florence Foster; July 19, 1868 – November 26, 1944) was an American socialite and amateur coloratura soprano who became known, and mocked, for her flamboyant performance costumes and notably poor sing ...
'' –
Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini (; ; March 25, 1867January 16, 1957) was an Italian conductor. He was one of the most acclaimed and influential musicians of the late 19th and early 20th century, renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orche ...
*2019: '' Supervized'' - Windsor *2021: '' Riverdance: The Animated Adventure''


Television

*1984: '' Caught in a Free State'' – ''Colonel Brian Dillon'' *1985: '' The Irish R.M. '' - ''Canon Crotty'' *1985: '' The Price'' – ''Kearney'' *1987: The Storyteller (A Story Short) - Beggar *1991: '' Children of the North'' – ''Seamus Reilly'' *1993: ''
Lovejoy ''Lovejoy'' is a British television comedy-drama mystery fiction, mystery series, based on the Lovejoy (novel series), novels by John Grant (Lovejoy), John Grant under the pen name Jonathan Gash. The show, which ran to 71 episodes over six ser ...
: Irish Stew'' – ''Hennessey'' *1995: ''
Sharpe's Sword ''Sharpe's Sword'' is a historical novel in the Richard Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell. It is the fourth in the series, being first published in 1983, though the fifteenth chronologically. Set in the summer of 1812 including the Battle of ...
'' – ''Father Curtis'' *1997: ''
Painted Lady ''Vanessa cardui'' is the most widespread of all butterfly species. It is commonly called the painted lady, or formerly in North America the cosmopolitan. Description File:Vanessa cardui MHNT CUT 2013 3 14 Pontfaverger-Moronvilliers Dos. ...
'' - ''Michael Longley'' *2007–2008: ''
The Tudors ''The Tudors'' is a historical fiction television series set primarily in 16th-century England, created and written by Michael Hirst and produced for the American premium cable television channel Showtime. The series was a collaboration among ...
'' – ''Cardinal Campeggio'' *2008: ''
Inspector George Gently ''Inspector George Gently'' (also known as ''George Gently'' for the pilot and first series) is a British crime drama television series produced by Company Pictures for BBC One, set in the 1960s and loosely based on some of the Inspector Gently ...
'' – ''Doyle'' *2013–2020: ''
Vikings Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9β ...
IMDb'' – ''The Seer'' & ''
Pope Leo IV Pope Leo IV (died 17 July 855) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 10 April 847 to his death in 855. He is remembered for repairing Roman churches that had been damaged during the Arab raid against Rome, and for building the ...
'' * 2022: '' Vikings: Valhalla – The Seer''


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kavanagh, John Abbey Theatre Irish male film actors Irish male television actors Place of birth missing (living people) Living people 1946 births