Donal McCann facts for kids

Donal McCann (born May 7, 1943 – died July 17, 1999) was a famous actor from Ireland. He acted in plays, movies, and TV shows. He was especially known for his work with writer Brian Friel. He also played the main character in John Huston's last movie, The Dead. In 2020, he was named one of Ireland's greatest film actors.

About Donal McCann

Donal McCann's Early Life

Donal McCann was born in Terenure, a part of Dublin, Ireland. His father, John J. McCann, was a writer of plays and also a politician. His father was even the Lord Mayor of Dublin two times.

Donal acted in one of his father's plays when he was in college. Later, he studied architecture for a short time. He then worked as a trainee editor for a newspaper called the Evening Press. This job let him take acting classes at the Abbey School of Actors at the same time. He joined the Abbey Players, a famous acting group, in the late 1960s.

His Acting Career

Donal McCann had many important early roles. He played Cuchulainn in a play by W. B. Yeats called On Baile Strand in 1966. He also played Estragon in a famous play called Waiting for Godot in 1969. In that play, he acted alongside the well-known actor Peter O'Toole.

He acted in many classic Irish plays. These included Tarry Flynn and The Shaughran. He also starred in the Gate Theatre's highly praised show Juno and the Paycock in the 1980s. In this play, he was Captain Boyle, the "Paycock." He also acted in another play by the same writer, Seán O'Casey, called The Plough and the Stars.

Donal McCann worked very well with the playwright Brian Friel. He played Gar O'Donnell in a movie version of Philadelphia, Here I Come! in 1970. He gave an amazing performance as Frank Hardy in the play Faith Healer in 1980. He played this role again in 1994. He continued working with Friel in plays like Translations (1988) and Wonderful Tennessee (1993).

Brian Friel said that Donal McCann's acting was "deeply spiritual." One of Donal McCann's most famous roles was as Thomas Dunne in Sebastian Barry's play The Steward of Christendom. He won an award for best actor for this role in London in 1995. He performed this role again in Dublin and New York. Critics praised his "unarguable greatness" and called him a "world-class star."

On the London stage, Donal McCann acted in Prayer for My Daughter in 1978. He also played Jean opposite Helen Mirren in Miss Julie in 1971. This play was filmed for the BBC. Much later, he played Judge Brack in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, which was also filmed for the BBC in 1993.

Movies and TV Shows

Donal McCann started his film career in 1966 in a Disney movie called The Fighting Prince of Donegal. He had important roles in movies like Cal, where he played the main character's father. He also played one of the brothers in December Bride (1990–1994). He worked several times with director Neil Jordan in movies like Angel, The Miracle, and High Spirits.

His most famous movie role was as Gabriel Conroy in The Dead (1987). He starred alongside Anjelica Huston in this movie, which was directed by her father, John Huston. Later in his career, he appeared in Stealing Beauty (1996) and Illuminata (released in 1999, after he passed away).

Donal McCann also did a lot of television work. He played Phineas Finn in a BBC series called The Pallisers. He was also Willie Burke in an RTÉ drama called The Burke Enigma (1979). He had many other one-time parts on TV.

He acted in Irish-language films too, like Bob Quinn's Poitín (1979) and The Bishop's Story (1995). A TV documentary about Donal McCann, called It Must Be Done Right, was made for RTÉ in 1998. It aired just a week before he died.

His Personal Life

In his private life, Donal McCann was a quiet and humble person. He had many friends in the world of Irish theatre and art. He also had friends from all walks of life. His hobbies included sketching and he loved horse racing.

Donal McCann passed away at the age of 56 from pancreatic cancer.

Filmography

Books About Donal McCann

• Faith O'Grady, Pat Laffan, eds. 2000. Donal McCann Remembered. (New Island Books)
• The Fleadh Papers. 1998. Donal McCann: In Conversation with Gerry Stembridge at the Galway Film Fleadh, Sunday 12 July 1998. (Film West)