Jim Norton (Irish actor) facts for kids

Jim Norton is an Irish actor who has worked in plays, movies, and TV shows for many years. He was born on January 4, 1938. He is well-known for his roles in plays like The Seafarer and for playing Bishop Brennan in the funny TV show Father Ted.

About 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, he really 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. Jim's father worked as a bakery manager. Jim also had an older sister, Betty Ann Norton, who became a famous acting teacher.

Jim Norton's Acting Career

Jim Norton has been acting for over fifty years! He has appeared in theatre, television, and films. He often plays characters like clergymen. One of his most famous roles is Bishop Brennan in the TV comedy Father Ted. He has also been in shows like The Sweeney (1975) and Peak Practice (1993).

In 2009, Jim Norton starred in a musical called Finian's Rainbow in New York City. He played the character Finian McLonergan. He later played the same role on Broadway.

Jim Norton on Television

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. He was also Lieutenant James Porteous in the British TV show Colditz.

He appeared in an episode of The Sweeney called "Contact Breaker." He also played O'Brady in the Minder episode "National Pelmet". In The Royal, he played Rory, an Irish character who was quite charming. Jim Norton also appeared in two episodes of Van der Valk.

On the show Babylon 5, he played different characters. These included Ombudsman Wellington and a Narn alien. He also played Dr. Lazarenn, a doctor from the Markab species. Other TV shows he has been in include Agatha Christie's Poirot, Waking the Dead, Cheers, and Frasier. He also appeared in Midsomer Murders and Maigret. Jim Norton played Stan Laurel in the BBC drama Stan (2006). He was also the quiet Gardener in the children's TV series T-Bag in 1985.

Jim Norton in Movies

Jim Norton has been in many movies over the years.

Movies in the 1960s

His first movie role was a small part in the 1965 thriller The Face of Fu Manchu. Later, in 1969, he appeared in the big historical film Alfred the Great.

Movies in the 1970s

In 1971, he played Chris Cawsey, also known as "The Rat Man," in the film Straw Dogs. His character had a very annoying laugh that helped make the movie tense.

Movies in the 1990s

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

Movies in the 2000s

In 2001, he was in the comedy On the Nose. He also had a small role in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in 2002, playing Mr. Mason. In 2005, he played an Irish immigrant in The Oyster Farmer. He played the main role of Stan Laurel in the 2006 TV movie Stan. In 2008, he played Herr Liszt in the film The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

Movies in the 2010s

In 2011, Jim Norton appeared as Old Mr Black in the film Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. He was also in Water for Elephants (2011), where he played a circus worker named "Camel." In 2014, he was in the film Jimmy's Hall. He played Mr. Heelshire in the 2016 film The Boy. In 2018, he was Mr. Binnacle in Mary Poppins Returns. In 2019, he played a plane passenger named Padraig in The Last Right.

Jim Norton in Theatre

Jim Norton has worked a lot with the playwright Conor McPherson. He has been in six of McPherson's plays in Dublin, London, and New York. For these roles, he has won important awards like the Tony Award and the Olivier Award. He played Jack in The Weir (1997) and Richard in The Seafarer (2006–2007).

In 2004, he was part of a touring play called The Pillowman. In 2008, he played his role from The Seafarer again on Broadway. In 2012, he was The Chairman in a Broadway play called The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

In 2014, Jim Norton played Candy in the Broadway play Of Mice and Men. In 2016, he played Giles Corey in The Crucible. More recently, in 2022 and 2023, he played Judge Taylor in the play To Kill A Mockingbird in London.

Jim Norton's Voice Work

Jim Norton has also done voice acting. He was the voice of Major Kennet in the animated Doctor Who series, Scream of the Shalka, in 2003.

He has recorded many audiobooks, including famous books by James Joyce like Ulysses and Dubliners. He also recorded The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien. He has also been in radio plays for BBC Radio 4 Extra and BBC Radio 4.

Awards and Honors

Jim Norton has won several awards for his acting: