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Tributes are paid to great Irish actor

Tributes are paid to great Irish actor

TRIBUTES have been paid to the great Irish actor Milo O’Shea who passed away aged 86.

During his long career, the Dublin-born character actor had enjoyed success on stage, in movies and on television.

One of his early films proved so controversial that it was not granted a certificate to be officially shown in his home country until 33 years after it was made. The film was Joseph Strick’s adaptation of Ulysses (1967) in which the young O’Shea had produced a fine performance as Leopold Bloom. The following year he was cast as Friar Laurence in Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet, to be followed by a role in Barbarella (1968).

One of his early television successes was the comedy series Me Mammy which ran from 1968 until 1971, but he also found time to work in the theatre, including appearing in the Broadway production of Staircase.

In the mid-1970s he moved to the United States where he took citizenship. 

Over the years, Mr. O’Shea continued to work in movies, television and the theatre. His movie credits included The Verdict (1982), in which he starred with Paul Newman, while is many television appearances included Cheers (see below) and The West Wing. 

Mr. O’Shea passed away at a hospital in New York. He is survived by his second wife, the actress Kitty Sullivan, and his two sons.

To see an excerpt from Mr. O’Shea’s guest appearance in Cheers, click here.

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