Eamon Kelly (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eamon Kelly
A statue of Eamon Kelly in Gneevguilla, County Kerry
Born	(1914-03-30)30 March 1914 Sliabh Luachra, Ireland
Died	24 October 2001(2001-10-24) (aged 87) Dublin, Ireland
Occupation	Actor & Playwright

Eamon Kelly was a famous Irish actor and writer. He was born on March 30, 1914, and passed away on October 24, 2001. He was even nominated for a special award called a Tony Award in 1966 for his acting in a play called Philadelphia, Here I Come!.

Early Life and Beginnings

Eamon Kelly was born in a place called Gneeveguilla, in County Kerry, Ireland. His parents were Ned Kelly and Johanna Cashman. Eamon finished school when he was 14 years old. After school, he became an apprentice carpenter, learning the trade from his father. His father was a wheelwright, someone who built and repaired wheels. Eamon first became interested in acting after watching a play called Juno and the Paycock.

A Career in Acting and Storytelling

Eamon Kelly was a talented actor and a wonderful storyteller. In 1952, he joined the Radio Éireann Players, which was a group of actors for RTÉ radio. He became very well-known for telling stories on stage, on the radio, and on television. A director named Mícheál Ó hAodha discovered Eamon's storytelling talent. This happened after Eamon gave a casual performance at a party for the Radio Éireann Players.

As an actor, Eamon worked a lot with two famous theaters in Dublin: the Gate Theatre and the Abbey Theatre. He was nominated for a Tony Award in 1966. This was for his role in a play by Brian Friel called Philadelphia, Here I Come. He also appeared in a movie called A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man in 1977. In 1985, he recorded an album called Legends of Ireland with another actor, Rosaleen Linehan.

Eamon Kelly's Movies

Eamon Kelly acted in several films throughout his career. Here are some of them:

Learn More

• Seanchaí - This is the name for a traditional Irish storyteller. Eamon Kelly often played characters like this.