Gabriel Byrne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gabriel Byrne
Byrne in 2010
Born	Gabriel James Byrne (1950-05-12) 12 May 1950 (age 75) Dublin, Ireland
Alma mater	University College Dublin
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1978–present
Spouse(s)	Ellen Barkin ​ ​ (m. 1988; div. 1999)​ Hannah Beth King ​ (m. 2014)​
Children	3

Gabriel James Byrne (born 12 May 1950) is a famous Irish actor. He has won a Golden Globe Award and has been nominated for many other big awards. These include a Grammy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and two Tony Awards.

In 2018, Gabriel Byrne received a special award for his lifetime of acting from the Irish Film and Television Academy. In 2020, he was named one of Ireland's greatest film actors by The Irish Times. He is known for his roles in many popular films like Miller's Crossing (1990), Little Women (1994), The Usual Suspects (1995), and Hereditary (2018). He also helped write The Last of the High Kings (1996) and produced In the Name of the Father (1993).

On Broadway, Byrne has been nominated twice for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. These nominations were for his roles in the plays A Moon for the Misbegotten (2000) and Long Day's Journey into Night (2016). For his TV work, he won a Golden Globe Award for his role as Paul Weston in the HBO series In Treatment (2008–2010). He also starred in TV shows like Vikings (2013), Maniac (2018), and War of the Worlds (2019–2022).

Early Life and Education

Gabriel James Byrne was born on 12 May 1950 in Walkinstown, Dublin, Ireland. His parents were Dan, a soldier and barrel maker, and Eileen, a hospital nurse. He has five younger brothers and sisters.

Byrne went to Ardscoil Éanna secondary school in Crumlin. He later taught Spanish and history there. He then studied at University College Dublin, where he learned about archaeology, Spanish, and languages. He earned his degree in 1972 and became very good at speaking the Irish language.

He also spent some time studying to become a priest. However, he later realized that this path was not for him. As a young person, Byrne also played football in Dublin for a team called Stella Maris.

Acting Career Highlights

Before becoming an actor, Gabriel Byrne had many different jobs. He worked as an archaeologist, a cook, and a teacher. He started acting when he was 29 years old.

He began his acting journey on stage at the Focus Theatre and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. He became well-known on the Irish TV show The Riordans. He then starred in his own spin-off series, Bracken. His first movie role was in 1981, playing King Uther Pendragon in the film Excalibur.

Byrne holding his Herald Angel award in 2006.

In 1983, Byrne appeared in the TV miniseries Wagner with famous actors like Richard Burton. In 1985, he starred in the thriller Defence of the Realm. He also wrote the first TV drama in the Irish language, called Draíocht, which aired in 1996.

In 2008, Byrne returned to the theater to play King Arthur in Camelot with the New York Philharmonic. He also starred as Dr. Paul Weston in the HBO series In Treatment from 2008 to 2010. This role earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 2008.

More recently, Byrne has continued to act in films and plays. In 2022, his one-man show, Walking with Ghosts, opened on Broadway. This show is based on his own life story.

Personal Life and Recognition

Gabriel Byrne was in a long relationship with TV producer Aine O'Connor before moving to Manhattan. In 1988, he married actress Ellen Barkin, and they had two children together. They separated in 1993 and divorced in 1999. He later married Hannah Beth King in 2014. As of 2021, he lives with his family in Rockport, Maine.

Byrne has received several honors for his work. In 2007, he was given the first Volta award for his lifetime achievements in acting at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival. He also received an honorary degree from the National University of Ireland, Galway in 2007. This award recognized his amazing contributions to Irish and international film.

In 2008, Byrne released a documentary called Stories from Home. This film shared a personal look at his life. He has also written an autobiography called Pictures in My Head.

Byrne has spoken about his views on the Catholic Church, describing it as "repressive." He has also been critical of some tourism efforts in Ireland, like "The Gathering," saying they were mainly about getting money from visitors.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Theatre Performances

Awards and Honors

Special Honors

In 2007, NUI Galway gave Gabriel Byrne an honorary doctorate degree. This was to celebrate his amazing work in Irish and international film, theater, and the arts.

See also

In Spanish: Gabriel Byrne para niños