J. J. Murphy (actor) facts for kids

J.J. Murphy was a talented actor from Northern Ireland. His full name was James Joseph Murphy. He was born on May 7, 1928, and passed away on August 8, 2014. He acted in many movies and TV shows, and was also well-known for his work in theatre.

Some of the films he appeared in include Cal (1984), Angela's Ashes (1999), Mickybo and Me (2004), and Dracula Untold (2014). He also played a character called "The Keeper" in the TV series The Sparticle Mystery. Later in his career, he had a role in the popular TV show Game of Thrones.

Becoming an Actor

J.J. Murphy started his acting journey in 1948. He trained at the Ulster Group Theatre School. This was a great place for him to learn how to act.

He also worked for many years at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. While there, he acted alongside other famous actors like Liam Neeson and Ciarán Hinds.

His Final Role and Passing

J.J. Murphy passed away on August 8, 2014, in Belfast. He was 86 years old. Sadly, he died just four days after filming a part for the fifth season of the HBO TV series Game of Thrones.

In Game of Thrones, he played a character named Denys Mallister. This character was an important member of the Night's Watch, a group of protectors in the show. He was supposed to appear in more episodes.

The creators of Game of Thrones, D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, decided not to find another actor for the role. They said, "We will not be recasting J.J. Murphy. He was a lovely man, and the best Denys Mallister we could have hoped for. And now his watch is ended."

The episode he appeared in was called "The House of Black and White". It was shown on April 19, 2015. J.J. Murphy's funeral was held in St Brigid's Church in Belfast on August 14, 2014. He is remembered by his wife Mary, their two children Joseph and Jane, and his granddaughter Sarah-Jane.