Arthur Shields facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arthur Shields
Shields in 1940
Born	(1896-02-15)15 February 1896 Dublin, Ireland
Died	27 April 1970(1970-04-27) (aged 74) Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Resting place	Cremated; ashes buried in Deans Grange Cemetery, Dublin
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1918–62
Spouse(s)	Bazie Morgan ​ ​ (m. 1920; div. 1943)​ Aideen O'Connor ​ ​ (m. 1943; died 1950)​ Laurie Bailey ​ (m. 1955)​
Children	2
Family	Barry Fitzgerald (brother)

Arthur Shields (born February 15, 1896 – died April 27, 1970) was a famous Irish actor. He performed in plays, movies, and on television. He was known for his many roles, often playing kind or wise characters.

Arthur Shields: Actor and Patriot

Arthur Shields had a long and interesting career. He was not only a talented actor but also a brave person who fought for Ireland's freedom.

Early Life and Family

Arthur Shields was born in Portobello, Dublin, Ireland. His family was Irish Protestant. He started acting at the famous Abbey Theatre when he was just 17 years old. Arthur had an older brother, Barry Fitzgerald, who also became a very famous actor and even won an Oscar! Their father, Adolphus Shields, was known for helping workers in Dublin. Their mother, Fanny Sophia Shields, was from Germany.

A Brave Stand: The Easter Rising

In 1916, when Arthur was 20, he joined a group of actors from the Abbey Theatre who fought in the Easter Rising. This was a very important event where Irish people tried to gain independence from British rule. After the fighting, Arthur was held in a special camp in Wales for six months. When he was released, he received an award from the new Irish Republic. This showed how much his country appreciated his courage.

From Stage to Screen

After his release, Arthur went back to the Abbey Theatre. He worked there from 1914 to 1939. He was not just an actor; he also helped direct plays and managed the stage. He acted in over 300 different roles! He even brought the Abbey Company to the United States three times to perform.

In 1936, a famous movie director named John Ford invited Arthur to America. He wanted Arthur to act in a movie called The Plough and the Stars. In 1939, Arthur decided to live in California permanently. The warm weather there helped with his health.

Arthur Shields became a well-known face in Hollywood. He appeared in many of John Ford's movies. One of his most famous roles was Reverend Playfair in The Quiet Man. In this movie, he acted alongside big stars like John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, and even his own brother, Barry Fitzgerald! He also played Dr. Laughlin in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and was in Long Voyage Home with John Wayne and his brother again.

Arthur was in many other movies too, like National Velvet and The River. He also appeared on television shows such as Perry Mason and Maverick. His acting career lasted until 1962.

Life Off-Screen

Arthur Shields had two children. His son, Adam, was born in 1927. His daughter, Christine, was born in 1946.

Arthur passed away on April 27, 1970, in Santa Barbara, California. He was 74 years old. His body was cremated, and his ashes were brought back to Dublin, Ireland. They were buried with military honors in Deans Grange Cemetery. This was a special tribute to his service to Ireland.

Filmography

Television

• Your Show Time – 26 episodes – The Bookshop Man (1949)
• The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure – 8 episodes – Boles (1956)
• Perry Mason – episode – The Case of the Screaming Woman – Dr. George Barnes (1958)
• Captain David Grief – episode – The Return of Blackbeard – Angus Macmor (1959)
• Bat Masterson – episode – The Conspiracy: Parts 1 & 2 – Dana Ruggles (1959)
• Maverick – episode – The Bold Fenian Men – Terence Fogarty (1960)
• Wagon Train – episode – The Amos Gibbon Story – Judge Tremayne (1960)
• Rawhide – episode – Incident of the Dust Flower – Sam Cartwright (1960)
• Bonanza – episode – The Stranger – Dennis (1960)
• Death Valley Days – episode – Loophole – Jebal McSween (1961)

Playography

• The Reapers (1930)
• Temporal Powers (1932)
• Katie Roche (1936)

Images for kids

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  Birthplace of Arthur Shields on Walworth Road, Portobello