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Colm J. Meaney (; ; born 30 May 1953) is an Irish actor. Known for his performances across screen and stage, he has received seven nominations from the Irish Film & Television Academy, winning twice for 2001's How Harry Became a Tree, and 2017's The Journey. Other film credits include Roddy Doyle's Barrytown franchise, Con Air, Layer Cake, The Damned United, Get Him to the Greek, and The Snapper, for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical, and won the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actor at the 1993 Chicago International Film Festival.
On television, Meaney is best known for his portrayal of Miles O'Brien in both (1987-1994) and (1993-1999), appearing in a total of 225 episodes. Other television credits include five seasons as Thomas C. Durant on the AMC western Hell on Wheels (2011-2016), James Burbage on the TNT historical fiction series Will (2017), and Finn Wallace on the Sky Atlantic crime series Gangs of London (2020). Meaney's numerous guest appearances include roles on Moonlighting, MacGyver, Murdoch Mysteries, Law & Order, The Simpsons, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. "Colm Meaney Credits." TV Guide. Accessed March 14, 2025.
Also a veteran of the theatre, Meaney has starred on Broadway theatre and the West End in Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh and A Moon for the Misbegotten, Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Hugh Whitemore's Breaking the Code."Colm Meaney."
In 2020, Meaney was ranked 24th on The Irish Times list of "The 50 Greatest Irish Film Actors of All Time". In 2025, he received the Irish Film & Television Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Meaney made his Off-Broadway debut in 1984, appearing as Kevin in Hugh Leonard's The Poker Sessions at Theater Off Park.Gussow, Mel. "Stage: Hugh Leonard's 'Poker Session' Revived." The New York Times
Meaney made his West End debut as Phil Hogan in the 2006 revival of Eugene O'Neill's A Moon for the Misbegotten at The Old Vic. Directed by Howard Davies, the cast also featured Kevin Spacey and Eve Best. For his performance, Meaney was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role. The following year the production transferred to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway theatre. Meaney would later return to Broadway in the 2018 revival of Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh at Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Directed by George C. Wolfe, the cast featured Denzel Washington, Bill Irwin, David Morse, Tammy Blanchard, and Austin Butler. In 2023, after more than a 40-year absence, Meaney returned to the Irish stage in Landmark Productions revival of the Enda Walsh play Bedbound at the Galway International Arts Festival. Starring opposite his daughter Brenda Meaney, the production later transferred to an additional engagement at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.Hayes, Katy. "Bedbound Review: Colm Meaney and Daughter Brenda Are Inspired Casting in Tale of Celtic Tiger Hubris." Irish Independent
Meaney first appeared on in its 1987 pilot episode, "Encounter at Farpoint", as an unnamed helm officer. His character became a frequently recurring one, and was given the name of Miles O'Brien as he became more prominent in the crew as Transporter Chief. In 1993, Meaney left The Next Generation for a main role in its spin-off and remained on that show until its final episode, in 1999. With 225 total appearances on Star Trek, he is second to Michael Dorn with the most appearances on the franchise.
Meaney played Colum O'Hara in the 1994 miniseries Scarlett, the sequel to Gone With the Wind. He has played a minor recurring role as Cowen, leader of the Genii on the series Stargate Atlantis, guest-starred on Law & Order, and appeared as Bob O'Donnell on the ABC show Men in Trees. Meaney appeared in the film Die Hard 2, playing the pilot of the plane Windsor 114 that was later crashed by Colonel Stuart.
He was the only actor to appear in all three film adaptations of Roddy Doyle's The Barrytown Trilogy, as the father of the Rabbitte family. His stage appearances include the Old Vic production of Eugene O'Neill's A Moon for the Misbegotten. Meaney starred in the British comedy film Three and Out (released in the UK on 25 April 2008). In July of the same year An Post (the Irish Post Office An Post—the Irish Post Office An Post (retrieved 28 May 2018)) issued a postage stamp showing Meaney as Joe Mullen in the film Kings.
In 2009, Meaney co-starred with Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx in Law Abiding Citizen, playing Detective Dunnigan. In March 2009, Meaney voiced an Irish bartender on the St. Patrick's Day episode of The Simpsons, "In the Name of the Grandfather". In the same month the film The Damned United was released, a mostly fictional retelling of the 44-day period in which Brian Clough was manager of Leeds United F.C. Meaney played former Leeds manager Don Revie. He co-starred in Soldiers of Fortune. In 2013, Meaney co-starred in . In 2014, he appeared as The Horse in the BBC's three-part crime story The Driver. For five seasons he portrayed railroad magnate Thomas C. Durant on AMC's drama series Hell on Wheels.
Meaney married French costume designer Ines Glorian in March 2007. Their daughter Ada was born in 2005. The family lives in the Mallorca town of Sóller, with homes in Los Angeles, California, and Dublin, Ireland.
Meaney is a supporter of Sinn Féin.
/ref> Additionally, he has appeared in numerous productions with the National Theatre of Ireland, including Sean O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock, The Silver Tassie, and The Shadow of a Gunman."Colm Meaney."
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Early life and education
Meaney was born in Glasnevin, Dublin, the son of Kathleen and Patrick Meaney, who was a van driver for Johnston, Mooney, & O'Brien.Brady, Tara. "Colm Meaney: ‘My missus doesn't like Los Angeles. She's French’."
/ref> His brothers are Liam, Padraig, and Sean Meaney.McGowan, Sharon. "Actor Colm Meaney Breaks Down in Tears at Funeral of 'Inspirational' Irish Director."
/ref> He developed a love of acting at the age of 14, and after completing his leaving cert matriculated to the Abbey Theatre School. Upon completing his studies, Meaney joined the company of the National Theatre of Ireland.
Career
Stage
In 1971, Meaney joined the company of the National Theatre of Ireland, appearing in 24 productions over the next nine years. Credits from this period include William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, W. B. Yeats' Oedipus Rex, George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan, Dion Boucicault's Arrah-na-Pogue, and Sean O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock. For much of this period, Meaney split his time between Dublin and London, touring the UK with several theatre companies, including the theatre group founded by John McGrath. Meaney made his Off-West End debut in 1975, appearing in McGrath's plays Fish in the Sea at the Half Moon Theatre"Fish in the Sea (1975)."
/ref> and Yobbo Nowt at the Shaw Theatre. The following year he appeared in a stage adaptation of Lin Biao's History of the Tenth Struggle at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. Meaney made his American stage debut in 1982 at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, where he would remain a summer company member until 1985. Credits from this period include William Shakespeare's Henry V, J. M. Synge's The Playboy of the Western World, Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales, C. P. Taylor's And a Nightingale Sang, and the American premiere of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.Christon, Lawrence. "STAGE REVIEWS : REGIONAL THEATER HAS A NEW LOOK."
/ref> The play is an 8½ hour-long stage adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ novel of the same name, performed in two parts. The production was a critical and commercial success, later transferring to Merle Reskin Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
/ref> In 1986 he relocated from New York City to Los Angeles. That same year he starred in Sławomir Mrożek's Alpha,Sullivan, Dan. "STAGE REVIEW : ‘ALPHA’: AN IRONY WITH WRINKLES." Los Angeles Times
/ref> Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party,Christon, Lawrence. "Another 'Birthday' for Director Mandell." Los Angeles Times
/ref> and Peter Sheridan's Diary of a Hunger Strike,Koehler, Robert. "Playwright of Irish Greek Tragedy."
/ref> all at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Meaney's performance in the later earned him a Drama-Logue Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play. In 1987, Meaney appeared as Mick Ross in the American premiere of Hugh Whitemore's Breaking the Code at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.Richards, David. "Code Unsolved Enigma." The Washington Post
/ref> Later that same year the production transferred to the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway theatre. From 1992 to 1993 Meaney appeared in a multi-city tour of Tom Stoppard's Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, directed by his Star Trek co-star Patrick Stewart. Tour venues included Orange County Symphony in Garden Grove, CA; The Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, and The Fox Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1999 Meaney starred in Peter Parnell's stage adaptation of John Irving's The Cider House Rules at the Atlantic Theater Company. Meaney won an Obie Award for his performance.
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Television and film
Meaney's first television appearance was in Z-Cars on BBC One, in 1978. He guest-starred on shows such as Remington Steele and Moonlighting before embarking on a successful film career; he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for his role in The Snapper.
Personal life
From 1977 to 1994, Meaney was married to fellow actress Bairbre Dowling, with whom he frequently appeared opposite on stage and screen. Together they had one daughter, actress Brenda Meaney, born in 1984.
Acting credits
Film
1981 Nailed Younger Protestant ITV, Television film 1983 Playboy of the Western World Shawn PBS, Television film 1984 The Hidden Curriculum David Dunn UTV, Television film 1986 Omega Syndrome Sean 1987 The Dead Mr. Bergin Tinkerer NBC, Television film 1989 Perfect Witness Meagher HBO, Television film 1990 Come See the Paradise Gerry McGurn Dick Tracy Cop at Tess's Die Hard 2 Pilot 1991 The Commitments Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr. 1992 Under Siege Daumer The Last of the Mohicans Maj. Ambrose Far and Away Kelly Into the West Barreller 1993 The Snapper Dessie Curley Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 1994 War of the Buttons Geronimo's father The Road to Wellville Dr. Lionel Badger 1995 The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain Morgan the Goat Ripple Nathan Short film 1996 The Van Larry The Last of the High Kings Jim Davern 1997 Con Air Agent Duncan Malloy Owd Bob Keith Moore 1998 This Is My Father Seamus, owner of the Bed and Breakfast Monument Ave. Jackie O'Hara a.k.a. Snitch October 22 Steve Claire Dolan Roland Cain Money Kings Al Sheehan Cinemax, Television film
(a.k.a. Vig)1999 Mystery, Alaska Mayor Scott Pitcher Chapter Zero Frank Lazarus Four Days Fury Most Important Dan O'Neill 2001 Backflash Gin O'Malley How Harry Became a Tree Harry Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor 2002 King of Texas Mr. Tumlinson TNT, Television film R.U.S./H. Capt. Mike Gunnison CBS, Television film 2003 The Boys from County Clare Jimmy Intermission Jerry Lynch 2004 Blueberry Jimmy McClure (a.k.a. Renegade) Bad Apple Gibbons CBS, Television film Commander Plank Disney Channel, Television film Layer Cake Gene Battle of the Brave Benjamin Franklin 2005 Turning Green Tom Briar & Graves Father Alister McSweeney Fox, TV Movie 2006 Vincent Syfy, Television film Five Fingers Gavin A Lobster Tale Cody Sixty Minute Man Charlie ABC, Television film 2007 Kings Joe Mullan Nominated - Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor The Metrosexual The Mayor Great Lakes Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actor 2008 Clean Break Trevor Jones (a.k.a. Unnatural Causes) Three and Out Tommy (a.k.a. A Deal Is a Deal) 2009 The Damned United Don Revie Frank Kensay Law Abiding Citizen Detective Dunnigan 2010 Get Him to the Greek Jonathan Snow Alleged H. L. Mencken Parked Fred Daly The Conspirator David Hunter The Flight of the Swan Giannopolus 2011 El Perfecto Desconocido Mark O'Reilly 2012 Whole Lotta Sole Detective Weller (a.k.a. Stand Off) Bel Ami Monsieur Rousset Soldiers of Fortune Carter Mason The Hot Potato Harry The Cold Light of Day CIA Agent 2013 Pat Farrell One Chance Roland Potts A Belfast Story Detective Free Birds Myles Standish Voice 2014 The Yank Fintan McGuire (a.k.a. My Not So Irish Bride) The Devil's Hand Elder Beacon 2015 A Dangerous Arrangement Leslie TVM, Television film 2016 Norm of the North Grandfather Voice George Raynor The Journey Martin McGuinness The Secrets of Emily Blair Father Avital 2017 Halal Daddy Martin Logan 2018 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Big Daddy NT Live, Television film 2019 Tolkien Father Francis Seberg Frank Ellroy The Last Right Detective Donall Crowley 2020 The Banker Patrick Barker Pixie Dermot O’Brien 2021 The Monkey MacDonell Short film Lady Betty Paddy Short film There's Always Hope Jonathan Stack 2022 Confession Father Peter Save the Cinema Martyn Marlowe Bernie Ohls Unwelcome "Daddy" Whelan Three Day Millionaire Mr. Barr 2023 In the Land of Saints and Sinners Robert McQue The Problem with People Ciáran 2024 No Way Up Brandon The Ballad of Davy Crockett Caleb Duchess Frank Monaghan Bring Them Down Ray TBA The Panic J.P. Morgan Post-production
Television
1973 Thursday Play Date Freddie Episode: "Hatchet" 1978 Z-Cars McGlin Episode: "Pressure" 1981 Les roses de Dublin Michael Kavanaugh Main role,
6 episodes1982 Play for Tomorrow Kevin Murphy Episode: "Easter 2016" Strangers Smollett Episode: "Charlie's Brother's Birthday" (Part 1) 1986 Moonlighting Katharina Suitor Episode: "Atomic Shakespeare" 1987 Remington Steele Man in Tavern Episode: "Steele Hanging in There: Part 2" Tales from the Darkside Constable Episode: "Beetles" 1987-1989 One Life to Live Alf Unknown episodes 1987-1992, 1994 Chief Miles O'Brien Main role,
52 episodes1990 Equal Justice Nucchi Episode: "The Art of the Possible" Father Dowling Mysteries Ernie Episode: "The Undercover Nun Mystery" 1991 The New Adam-12 Father Episode: "Panic in Alverez Park" MacGyver Dr. Irwin Malcolm Episode: "Good Knight MacGyver: Part 1" 1992 Jack's Place Mikey Ford Episode: "Forever" 1993 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Jake Slicker Episode: "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" Screen Two Dessie Curley Episode: "The Snapper" Brooklyn Bridge Mr. Kramer Episode: "Good as Gold" 1993-1999 Chief Miles O'Brien Main role,
173 episodes1994 Scarlett Father Colum O'Hara 2 episodes 1996 Gargoyles Mr. Dugan (voice) Episode: "The Hound of Ulster" 1999 The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns Seamus Muldoon 2 episodes 2002 Random Passage Thomas Hutchings Miniseries
Nominated - Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series2004 The Murdoch Mysteries Inspector Brackenreid 2 episodes 2004-2006 Stargate Atlantis Chief Cowen 3 episodes 2005 Judge Harold Garrett Episode: "" 2006 The Unit Charge D'Affaires Episode: "Security" Peter Howell 2 episodes 2007 Men in Trees Bob O'Donnell 2 episodes 2008 Law & Order Wyatt Landon Episode: "Lost Boys" 2009 George Titac Main role,
8 episodesThe Simpsons Tom O'Flanagan (voice) Episode: "In the Name of the Grandfather" Life on Mars Lieutenant Gene Hunt Episode: "Unaired Pilot" Mercy Dr. Parks Episode: "I Believe You Conrad" Alice King of Hearts 2 episodes 2011-2016 Hell on Wheels Thomas "Doc" Durant Main role,
52 episodes
Nominated - Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television (2013)
Nominated - Irish Film & Television Award for Best Actor TV (2013)2014 The Driver The Horse 3 episodes 2015 Childhood's End Wainwright Episode: "The Overlords" 2017 Will James Burbage Main role,
10 episodes2020 Gangs of London Finn Wallace Main role,
8 episodesThe Singapore Grip Brendan Archer Main role,
6 episodes2021 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Shelley Kelly 2 episodes 2021 Fúria Michael 2 episodes 2022 The Serpent Queen King Francis I 4 episodes 2023 Scary Tales of New York Storyteller Main role,
6 episodes2023 The Santa Stories Bill Episode: "The Note" 2025 Safe Harbor Kieran Walsh Main role,
8 episodes
Stage
1971 Today the Bullfinch Gentleman Jack White Abbey Theatre 1971 Macbeth Scottish Lord William Shakespeare Abbey Theatre 1971 Hall of Healing Red Muffler Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre 1971 The Shadow of a Gunman Donal Davoren Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre 1971 The Blue Demon Mogg / Demonaide Lin Ford Abbey Theatre 1972 Arrah-na-Pogue Soldier Dion Boucicault Abbey Theatre 1972 The Silver Tassie The Staff Wallah Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre 1972 Saint Joan Soldiers/Accessors George Bernard Shaw Abbey Theatre 1972 Picnic on a Battlefield Monsieur Tepan Fernando Arrabal Abbey Theatre 1973 The School For Scandal William Richard Brinsley Sheridan Abbey Theatre 1973 King Oedipus Greek chorus William Butler Yeats Abbey Theatre 1973 Escurial Man in Scarlet Michel De Ghelderode Abbey Theatre 1973 The Night of the Rouser Second Soldier Sean Walsh Abbey Theatre 1974 King Oedipus Greek chorus William Butler Yeats Abbey Theatre 1975 Fish in the Sea Derick / Vince John McGrath "Fish in the Sea (1975)."
/ref>1975 Yobbo Nowt Val John McGrath 1975 Lay-Off Fred W. Taylor John McGrath 1976 History of the Tenth Struggle Lin Biao John McGrath 1977 The Slave Camp Sid Harley Dave Marson "The Slave Camp."
/ref>1978 Hatchet Freddie Heno Magee Abbey Theatre 1979 Hatchet Freddie Heno Magee Abbey Theatre 1979 The Death of Humpty Dumpty Willy John Joseph Graham Reid Abbey Theatre 1979 Juno and the Paycock Jerry Devine Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre 1980 The Field Tadhg Mc Cabe John B. Keane Abbey Theatre 1980 Juno and the Paycock Jerry Devine Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre 1980 The Winter's Tale Cleomenes / Autolycus William Shakespeare Abbey Theatre 1980 The Closed Door John "Slabber" McCoy Joseph Graham Reid Abbey Theatre 1980 Nightshade Vance Stewart Parker Abbey Theatre 1980 Nightshade Vance Stewart Parker Abbey Theatre
National Tour1982 The Playboy of the Western World Shawn John Millington Synge Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival 1982 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby John Browdie / Sir Mulberry Hawk Charles Dickens & David Edgar Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival 1983 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby John Browdie / Sir Mulberry Hawk Charles Dickens & David Edgar Merle Reskin Theatre, Chicago 1983 Henry V Fluellen William Shakespeare Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival 1983 A Child's Christmas in Wales Tad Dylan Thomas Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival 1984 The Poker Sessions Kevin Hugh Leonard Theater Off Park
Off-Broadway 1985 And a Nightingale Sang Eric C. P. Taylor Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival 1986 The Birthday Party McCann Harold Pinter Los Angeles Theatre Center 1986 Diary of a Hunger Strike Patrick O'Connor Peter Sheridan Los Angeles Theatre Center 1986 Alpha The Political Prisoner Sławomir Mrożek Los Angeles Theatre Center 1987 Breaking the Code Mick Ross Hugh Whitemore Kennedy Center 1987-1988 Breaking the Code Mick Ross Hugh Whitemore Neil Simon Theatre,
Broadway theatre 1993 Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Colonel Tom Stoppard Orange County Symphony 1993 Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Colonel Tom Stoppard The Chicago Theatre 1993 Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Colonel Tom Stoppard Fox Theatre,
Atlanta 1994 Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Colonel Tom Stoppard Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis 1999 The Cider House Rules Dr. Wilbur Larch John Irving & Peter Parnell Atlantic Theater Company,
Off-Broadway 2007 A Moon for the Misbegotten Phil Hogan Eugene O'Neill Brooks Atkinson Theatre,
Broadway theatre 2007 A Moon for the Misbegotten Phil Hogan Eugene O'Neill The Old Vic,
West End 2017 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Big Daddy Tennessee Williams Apollo Theatre,
West End 2018 The Iceman Cometh Harry Hope Eugene O'Neill Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre,
Broadway theatre 2023 Bedbound Father Enda Walsh Galway International Arts Festival 2023 Bedbound Father Enda Walsh Olympia Theatre, Dublin
Awards and nominations
External links
Categories: 1953 Births, People From Glasnevin, People From Ballygall, 20th-century Irish Male Actors, 21st-century Irish Male Actors, Irish Expatriates In Spain, Irish Expatriate Male Actors In The United States, Irish Male Film Actors, Irish Male Stage Actors, Irish Male Television Actors, Abbey Theatre, Living People, People Educated At O'connell School, Male Actors From County Dublin, People From Finglas
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