Patrick Niall MacGinnis (29 March 1913 – 6 January 1977) was an Irish actor and physician. On screen, he was well-known for his character roles with a "poetic

timbre In music, timbre (), also known as tone color or tone quality (from psychoacoustics), is the perceived sound of a musical note, sound or tone. Timbre distinguishes sounds according to their source, such as choir voices and musical instrument ...

", though he occasionally played leading parts like the

title character The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piëce. The title o ...

in ''Martin Luther'' (1953) and the occultist antagonist of the classic horror film '' Night of the Demon'' (1957). In theatre, he was an accomplished Shakespearean, and a member of the Old Vic Company.

Early life and education

MacGinnis was born in the Ranelagh area of

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 1913,"Niall MacGinnis"
''BFI''. Retrieved 9 October 2020. the son of Mary Josephine (née Kelly) and Patrick F. MacGinnis. He was educated at Stonyhurst College, a

Jesuit The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

public school in

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...

in the North of England, where he won prizes for

elocution Elocution is the study of formal speaking in pronunciation, grammar, style, and tone as well as the idea and practice of effective speech and its forms. It stems from the idea that while communication is symbolic, sounds are final and compel ...

and played rugby and

cricket Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...

. He studied medicine at

Trinity College Dublin Trinity College Dublin (), officially titled The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, and legally incorporated as Trinity College, the University of Dublin (TCD), is the sole constituent college of the Unive ...

(TCD), qualifying as a house surgeon. He practiced medicine in Dublin and

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, before deciding to pursue an acting career, and enrolling in the classes at the

Peacock Theatre The Peacock Theatre (previously the Royalty Theatre) is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located in Portugal Street, near Aldwych. The 999-seat house is owned by, and comprises part of the London School of Economics and Political ...

, Dublin and the Sheffield Playgoers Society. He furthered his dramatic education at The Old Vic, under John Gielgud, and became well-versed in

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

Career

Theatre

MacGinnis made his professional debut with the Sheffield Repertory Theatre, on a tour of Ireland during the summer of 1932. He was a member of the Gate Theatre company between 1933 and 1934, and played the Ghost in Micheál Mac Liammóir's production of ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

'', and reprised his role when the production moved to London. He made his West End debut in September 1934. His breakthrough as a stage actor came when he was cast as Mat Burke in '' Anna Christie'' with Flora Robson and Alexander Knox. On the West End, he appeared in '' Volpone'' with Donald Wolfit, at the Westminster Theatre, and played Malcolm in Michel Saint-Denis'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 ...

'' at the Old Vic, with

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...

in the title role. In 1938, he played the lead role in the hit comedy play '' Spring Meeting'', directed by John Gielgud. He appeared regularly in Old Vic productions, especially Shakespearean plays, and also performed with the Longford players during their 1937–8 London season.

Film

MacGinnis made his 1935 film debut in ''Turn of the Tide''. His breakthrough role was in the 1937

Michael Powell Michael Latham Powell (30 September 1905 – 19 February 1990) was an English filmmaker, celebrated for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger. Through their production company Powell and Pressburger, The Archers, they together wrote, produced ...

film '' The Edge of the World''. In 1941, he worked with Powell and Laurence Olivier again on the war film '' 49th Parallel,'' playing a German U-boat crew member. In 1944, he played Captain MacMorris opposite Olivier in ''Henry V''. However, that same year he put his acting career on hiatus to join the British

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

as a

surgeon In medicine, a surgeon is a medical doctor who performs surgery. Even though there are different traditions in different times and places, a modern surgeon is a licensed physician and received the same medical training as physicians before spec ...

.McFarlane, Brian (28 February 2014). ''The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition''. Oxford University Press. p. 479; He served through the end of

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, until 1947, when he returned to acting in the film ''Captain Boycott''. In 1953, MacGinnis played the

in the biographical film ''

Martin Luther Martin Luther ( ; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, Theology, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Reformation, Pr ...

''. The film was critically acclaimed and a large commercial success, earning multiple

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

nominations and appearing on the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films of 1953. One critic called MacGinnis' performance "magnificent... given reverential, straightforward, honest, sincere treatment, as well as eschewing anything savoring of sensationalism." In 1957, MacGinnis played the villain Dr. Julian Karswell opposite American actor Dana Andrews in the classic British horror film '' Night of the Demon'' (initially released in the United States as ''Curse of the Demon''). His role as a sinister-yet-charismatic occultist remains one of his most well-remembered among film fans. Another notable role was as

Zeus Zeus (, ) is the chief deity of the List of Greek deities, Greek pantheon. He is a sky father, sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. Zeus is the child ...

in the 1963 fantasy film '' Jason and the Argonauts''.

Television

On television, he played the arch-criminal A. J. Kent in the ''

Danger Man ''Danger Man'' (retitled ''Secret Agent'' in the United States for the revived series, and ''Destination Danger'' and ''John Drake'' in other overseas markets) is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again ...

'' episode "Battle of The Cameras" and Colonel Probst in '' The Saint'' episode "The Paper Chase".

Personal life

During the late 1930's, MacGinnis lived on the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, s ...

on a houseboat converted out of a commercial sailer, the ''Hermoine''. In 1942, MacGinnis married Sheila Mcdonald; the couple later divorced. In 1955, he married his second wife Eleanor, with whom he had a daughter. In the mid-1970s, he gave up acting, moved back to his native Ireland, and returned to the medical profession. He lived in Ashford,

County Wicklow County Wicklow ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The last of the traditional 32 counties, having been formed as late as 1606 in Ireland, 1606, it is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the Provinces ...

Death

MacGinnis died of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

Haverfordwest Haverfordwest ( , ; ) is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales, and the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire with a population of 14,596 in 2011. It is also a Community (Wales), community consisting of 12,042 people, making it the secon ...

Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and otherwise by the sea. Haverfordwest is the largest town and ...

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

, in January 1977, aged 63, where he had been working in a local clinic. At the time of his death, he was considering coming out of retirement to appear to narrate his old friend Michael Powell's film ''Return to the Edge of the World'' (1978). His wife Eleanor remained in Ashford until her death in 2013. Their daughter and family still reside on the family property.

Filmography

* '' Turn of the Tide'' (1935) – John Lunn * '' The Crimson Circle'' (1936) – Jack Beardmore * '' Debt of Honour'' (1936) – Lt. Peter Stretton * '' Ourselves Alone'' (1936) – Terence Elliott * '' The Luck of the Irish'' (1936) – Derek O'Neill * '' The Edge of the World'' (1937) – The Gray Family: Andrew, His Son * '' The Last Adventurers'' (1937) – Jeremy Bowker * ''Spring Meeting'' (1938 TV movie) – Michael Byrne * '' Mountains O'Mourne'' (1938) – Paddy Kelly * '' East of Piccadilly'' (1941) – Joe * '' 49th Parallel'' (1941) – Vogel * '' The Day Will Dawn'' (1942) – Olaf * '' We Dive at Dawn'' (1943) – Torpedo Gunner's Mate – C/P.O. Mike Corrigan * '' Undercover'' (1943) – Dr. Jordon * '' The Demi-Paradise'' (1943) – Man on ship-dedication stand (uncredited) * ''

The Hundred Pound Window ''The Hundred Pound Window'' is a 1944 British Comedy film, comedy crime film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst and starring Anne Crawford, David Farrar (actor), David Farrar, Frederick Leister and Richard Attenborough. An accountant has to take a ...

'' (1944) – Chick Slater * '' Tawny Pipit'' (1944) – Jimmy Bancroft * '' Henry V'' (1944) – Macmorris – Irish Captain in the English Army * '' Captain Boycott'' (1947) – Mark Killain * ''Death at Newtownstewart'' (1948 TV movie) – District Inspector Montgomery * '' Anna Karenina'' (1948) – Levin * ''

'' (1948) – Sea Captain * '' No Room at the Inn'' (1948) – O'Rane * ''

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus (; between 25 August and 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506) was an Italians, Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed Voyages of Christopher Columbus, four Spanish-based voyages across the At ...

'' (1949) – Juan de la Cosa * '' Diamond City'' (1949) – Hans Muller * ''Which Will Ye Have?'' (1949 short) – Barabbas * '' Chance of a Lifetime'' (1950) – Baxter * '' Talk of a Million'' (1951) – Tom Cassidy * '' No Highway in the Sky'' (1951) – Captain Samuelson, Pilot (uncredited) * '' Murder in the Cathedral'' (1951) – Herald * ''

'' (1953) – Martin Luther * ''

Knights of the Round Table The Knights of the Round Table (, , ) are the legendary knights of the fellowship of King Arthur that first appeared in the Matter of Britain literature in the mid-12th century. The Knights are a chivalric order dedicated to ensuring the peace ...

'' (1953) – Green Knight * '' Hell Below Zero'' (1954) – Dr. Howe * '' Conflict of Wings'' (1954) – Harry Tilney * '' Betrayed'' (1954) – "Blackie" * '' Special Delivery'' (1955) – Sidney * ''

Helen of Troy Helen (), also known as Helen of Troy, or Helen of Sparta, and in Latin as Helena, was a figure in Greek mythology said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. She was believed to have been the daughter of Zeus and Leda (mythology), ...

'' (1956) – Menelaus * ''

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...

'' (1956) –

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 ...

* '' Lust for Life'' (1956) – Roulin * '' The Shiralee'' (1957) – Beauty Kelly * '' Night of the Demon'' (1957) – Doctor Karswell * '' She Didn't Say No!'' (1958) – James Casey * '' Behind the Mask'' (1958) – Neil Isherwood * ''

The Nun's Story ''The Nun's Story'' is a 1956 novel by Kathryn Hulme. It was a Book of the Month selection and reached No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list, ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list. Premise The lead character of the book, Sister Luk ...

'' (1959) – Father Vermeuhlen (Leprosarium) * '' Shake Hands with the Devil'' (1959) – Michael O'Leary * '' Tarzan's Greatest Adventure'' (1959) – Kruger * '' This Other Eden'' (1959) – Devereaux * '' Kidnapped'' (1960) – Mr. Shuan * '' Never Take Sweets from a Stranger'' (1960) – Defense Counsel * '' A Terrible Beauty'' (1960) – Ned O'Neill * '' In the Nick'' (1960) – Prison Governor * '' Foxhole in Cairo'' (1960) – Radek * '' Sword of Sherwood Forest'' (1960) – Friar Tuck * '' Johnny Nobody'' (1961) – Defending Counsel Sullivan * ''

The Webster Boy ''The Webster Boy'' is a 1962 Irish film directed by Don Chaffey and written by Ted Allan and Leo Marks. Cast *Richard O'Sullivan as Jimmy Webster *John Cassavetes as Vance Miller *Elizabeth Sellars as Margaret Webster *David Farrar (actor), Da ...

'' (1962) – Headmaster * '' Billy Budd'' (1962) – Nathaniel Graveling – Ship's Master, Rights of Man * '' The Devil's Agent'' (1962) – Paul Vass * '' The Playboy of the Western World'' (1963) – Old Mahon * '' Jason and the Argonauts'' (1963) –

* '' The Man Who Finally Died'' (1963) – Brenner * '' Face in the Rain'' (1963) – Klaus * '' Becket'' (1964) – Baron * '' The Truth About Spring'' (1965) – Cleary * '' The Spy Who Came in from the Cold'' (1965) – Checkpoint Charlie Guard * '' The War Lord'' (1965) – Odins * ''

A Man Could Get Killed ''A Man Could Get Killed'' is a 1966 American Adventure film, adventure comedy film directed by Ronald Neame and Cliff Owen, shot on various locations in Portugal and starring James Garner, Melina Mercouri, Sandra Dee, Anthony Franciosa, and Rob ...

'' (1966) – Ship's Captain * '' Island of Terror'' (1966) – Mr. Roger Campbell * '' The Viking Queen'' (1967) – Tiberian * '' Torture Garden'' (1967) – Dr. Silversmith * '' The Shoes of the Fisherman'' (1968) – Capuchin friar * '' Krakatoa, East of Java'' (1969) – Harbor Master * '' Sinful Davey'' (1969) – Boots Simpson * '' The Kremlin Letter'' (1970) – Erector Set * '' Darling Lili'' (1970) – Von Hindenburg (uncredited) * '' River of Mystery'' (1971 TV movie) – Garwood Drum * '' The Mackintosh Man'' (1973) – Warder * ''Crisis in Sun Valley'' (1978 TV movie) – James (final film role)

References

External links

*
Niall MacGinnis
Aveleyman) {{DEFAULTSORT:Macginnis, Niall 1913 births 1977 deaths Deaths from cancer in Wales Irish male film actors Irish military doctors Irish male stage actors Irish expatriates in England People educated at Stonyhurst College Alumni of Trinity College Dublin Royal Navy personnel of World War II Male actors from Dublin (city) 20th-century Irish male actors 20th-century Irish medical doctors 20th-century Irish surgeons Medical doctors from County Dublin Military personnel from County Dublin