Liam Redmond(1913-1989)
- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Born in Limerick on July 27, 1913, versatile Irish actor Liam Redmond
was one of four children (the others were Thomas, Mary and Eileen),
born to Thomas, a master carpenter who also taught woodworking, and
Eileen Redmond, a homemaker. He received his early education at the
Christian Brothers junior and secondary schools in Dublin. Upon
completing secondary school, he attended UCD (University College,
Dublin -- a constituent college of the National University of Ireland
(NUI) -- and originally studied medicine before shifting his career
focus to the arts. He met his wife Barbara MacDonagh there while he was
the Director of the Dramatic Society and she was the Secretary. They
had four children.
It was William Butler Yeats, the
renowned Irish poet, dramatist, and literary figure who saw one Liam's
productions at the college and saw a bright promise in him, inviting
the young hopeful to join the Abbey Theatre in 1935 as a guest
producer. This completely ended any serious designs to return to
medicine. Yeates went on to write his play "Death of Cuchullain"
particularly for Liam. Wife Barbara's brother was Donagh MacDonagh, who
was not only a judge, but a playwright, poet and author.
Liam made his Abbey Theatre acting debut that same year in Sean
O'Casey's "The Silver Tassie." In 1939, he made his first stage
appearance in New York in "The White Steed." He left America at the
outbreak of WWII and played regularly on the London stage, returning
from time to time to the Abbey for a season or performance. Some of his
more sterling performances over time included "The Playboy of the
Western World" (in the course of his career he played every male role
in "Playboy"), "Juno and the Paycock", "The Square Ring," "The Doctor's
Dilemma," "Loot" and "The Island".
The actor joined the Dublin Verse-Speaking Society and occasionally
read poetry on radio. Redmond went back to Broadway in the 50s to play
Canon McCooey in "The Wayward Saint" and won the George Jean Nathan
Award for his performance.
Liam's easygoing nature and erudite presence proved quite suitable for
film and TV character parts, and he wound up a regular presence on such
popular British TV series fare as "Z Cars" and "The Avengers."
Flavorful roles in films include
I See a Dark Stranger (1946),
Captain Boycott (1947),
High Treason (1951),
The Cruel Sea (1953),
The Playboy of the Western World (1962),
one of Elvis Presley's better vehicles
Kid Galahad (1962),
The Luck of Ginger Coffey (1964),
Tobruk (1967) and his last
Barry Lyndon (1975).
Walt Disney himself personally requested
Liam for a couple of Disney projects, including
The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967).
Over the years he specialized in playing captains, priests, police
inspectors and professors.
In later years Liam developed a special interest and talent for
cooking. He eventually retired to a quiet life in Dublin and, following
a decade of declining health, died at age 76 in his beloved Dublin on
October 28, 1989. He was predeceased by wife Barbara.
was one of four children (the others were Thomas, Mary and Eileen),
born to Thomas, a master carpenter who also taught woodworking, and
Eileen Redmond, a homemaker. He received his early education at the
Christian Brothers junior and secondary schools in Dublin. Upon
completing secondary school, he attended UCD (University College,
Dublin -- a constituent college of the National University of Ireland
(NUI) -- and originally studied medicine before shifting his career
focus to the arts. He met his wife Barbara MacDonagh there while he was
the Director of the Dramatic Society and she was the Secretary. They
had four children.
It was William Butler Yeats, the
renowned Irish poet, dramatist, and literary figure who saw one Liam's
productions at the college and saw a bright promise in him, inviting
the young hopeful to join the Abbey Theatre in 1935 as a guest
producer. This completely ended any serious designs to return to
medicine. Yeates went on to write his play "Death of Cuchullain"
particularly for Liam. Wife Barbara's brother was Donagh MacDonagh, who
was not only a judge, but a playwright, poet and author.
Liam made his Abbey Theatre acting debut that same year in Sean
O'Casey's "The Silver Tassie." In 1939, he made his first stage
appearance in New York in "The White Steed." He left America at the
outbreak of WWII and played regularly on the London stage, returning
from time to time to the Abbey for a season or performance. Some of his
more sterling performances over time included "The Playboy of the
Western World" (in the course of his career he played every male role
in "Playboy"), "Juno and the Paycock", "The Square Ring," "The Doctor's
Dilemma," "Loot" and "The Island".
The actor joined the Dublin Verse-Speaking Society and occasionally
read poetry on radio. Redmond went back to Broadway in the 50s to play
Canon McCooey in "The Wayward Saint" and won the George Jean Nathan
Award for his performance.
Liam's easygoing nature and erudite presence proved quite suitable for
film and TV character parts, and he wound up a regular presence on such
popular British TV series fare as "Z Cars" and "The Avengers."
Flavorful roles in films include
I See a Dark Stranger (1946),
Captain Boycott (1947),
High Treason (1951),
The Cruel Sea (1953),
The Playboy of the Western World (1962),
one of Elvis Presley's better vehicles
Kid Galahad (1962),
The Luck of Ginger Coffey (1964),
Tobruk (1967) and his last
Barry Lyndon (1975).
Walt Disney himself personally requested
Liam for a couple of Disney projects, including
The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967).
Over the years he specialized in playing captains, priests, police
inspectors and professors.
In later years Liam developed a special interest and talent for
cooking. He eventually retired to a quiet life in Dublin and, following
a decade of declining health, died at age 76 in his beloved Dublin on
October 28, 1989. He was predeceased by wife Barbara.