Jim Norton (Irish actor) facts for kids

Jim Norton, born on January 4, 1938, is a famous Irish actor. He has worked in theatre, movies, and TV shows for many years. You might know him as Bishop Brennan from the funny TV show Father Ted. He's also well-known for his roles in plays, especially The Seafarer.

Jim Norton's Early Life

Jim Norton was born in Dublin, Ireland, on January 4, 1938. He went to school at Synge Street CBS. From a young age, Jim knew he wanted to be an actor. He often went to see plays at the Abbey Theatre.

His mother, Frances, played the violin, and his father, Eugene, was a singer. Eugene worked as a bakery manager. Jim had one sister, Betty Ann Norton, who later became a well-known acting teacher.

Jim Norton's Acting Career

Jim Norton has been acting for over fifty years! He has appeared in many plays, TV shows, and films. He often plays characters who are clergymen, like Bishop Brennan in the popular sitcom Father Ted.

He also had roles in TV shows like The Sweeney (1975) and Peak Practice (1993). In movies, he appeared in Sunset Heights (1997) and Jimmy's Hall (2014).

In 2009, Jim starred as Finian McLonergan in a play called Finian's Rainbow in New York City. He later played the same role on Broadway. He acted alongside Cheyenne Jackson and Kate Baldwin.

Television Roles

Besides playing Bishop Brennan in Father Ted, Jim Norton has had many other TV roles. He played Albert Einstein in two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. These episodes were "The Nth Degree" and "Descent".

He was also Lieutenant James Porteous in the British drama series Colditz. In The Sweeney, he played Phil Harrister, a criminal. He was O'Brady in the Minder episode "National Pelmet". Jim also played Rory, an Irishman with a liver condition, in The Royal episode "Beggars and Choosers".

Jim appeared in two episodes of Van der Valk. On Babylon 5, he played several characters. These included Ombuds Wellington in 1994 and a Narn in 1996. He also played Dr. Lazarenn, a Markab doctor, in 1995. In Fall of Eagles, he played Alexander Kerensky.

Other TV shows Jim has been in include Agatha Christie's Poirot and Midsomer Murders. He played Stan Laurel in the BBC drama Stan (2006). He was also the shy Gardener in the children's series T-Bag (1985).

Film Roles

1960s Films

Jim Norton's first movie role was a small part in the 1965 thriller The Face of Fu Manchu. This film starred Christopher Lee. Later, in 1969, he appeared in the epic movie Alfred the Great as Thanet.

1970s Films

In 1971, Jim played Chris Cawsey, also known as "The Rat Man," in the film Straw Dogs. This movie starred Dustin Hoffman. His character had a very annoying laugh that made the film more tense.

1990s Films

Jim Norton appeared in the movie Memoirs of an Invisible Man with Chevy Chase in 1992. In the same year, he was also in the Irish film Into the West.

2000s Films

In 2001, Jim appeared in the comedy On the Nose as Patrick Cassidy. He acted alongside Dan Aykroyd and Robbie Coltrane. In 2002, he had a small role as Mr. Mason in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

He played an Irish immigrant in the 2005 movie The Oyster Farmer. In 2006, he played Stan Laurel in the TV movie Stan. He also played Herr Liszt in the 2008 film The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

2010s Films

In 2011, Jim Norton played Old Mr Black in the film Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. He also appeared in Water for Elephants (2011). In this movie, he played a circus worker named "Camel" who became friends with a character played by Robert Pattinson.

He was in the Ken Loach film Jimmy's Hall in 2014. In 2016, he played Mr. Heelshire in The Boy. He also appeared as Mr. Binnacle in Mary Poppins Returns in 2018. In 2019, he played Padraig in The Last Right.

Theatre Performances

Jim Norton has worked a lot with playwright Conor McPherson. He has acted in six of McPherson's plays in Dublin, London, and New York. For these roles, he has won both the Tony and Olivier Awards.

He played Jack in The Weir (1997) and Richard in The Seafarer (2006–7). He also played Maurice in The Night Alive (2013).

In 1990, he was in the play The Bread Man at the Gate Theatre. In 2004, he toured with the play The Pillowman. He played The Chairman in a Broadway version of The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 2012.

In 2014, Jim starred as Candy in the Broadway play Of Mice and Men. He acted alongside James Franco and Chris O'Dowd. In 2016, he played Giles Corey in The Crucible. More recently, in 2022 and 2023, he played Judge Taylor in To Kill A Mockingbird in London.

Audio Work

Jim Norton has also lent his voice to many audio projects. He was the voice of Major Kennet in the 2003 Doctor Who animated series, Scream of the Shalka.

He has recorded many famous books by James Joyce for Naxos Records. These include Ulysses, Dubliners, and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. He also recorded The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien in 2009.

Jim has been part of several BBC Radio productions. He played Death in the 2014 BBC Radio 4 production of Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

Awards and Honors