Albert Sharpe Explained

Albert Sharpe
Birth Date:15 April 1885
Birth Place:Belfast, Ireland, UK
Death Place:Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

Albert Sharpe (15 April 1885 – 13 February 1970) was a Northern Irish stage and film actor.

Life and work

Albert Edward Sharpe was born at 8 Goudy's Court in Belfast on 15 April 1885, one of six children born to fishmonger John Sharpe, a Presbyterian, and Mary Collins, a Roman Catholic. He attended St. Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School.

In December 1918 he married Margaret "Madge" Waterson and they had six children, three sons and three daughters.

His most famous roles were those of Darby O'Gill in Disney's Darby O'Gill and the Little People featuring Sean Connery, and as Finian McLonergan in the Original Broadway production of the musical Finian's Rainbow.[1] (The film version, made in 1968, stars Fred Astaire in the role.)[2] On screen he played Fiona's father Andrew in the MGM musical Brigadoon.[3] He was in The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960) with Peter O'Toole.[4]

He was also a member of the Abbey Players.[5]

His last ten years were spent in retirement at Iveagh Crescent off the Falls Road.[6] He died in 1970 in Belfast at the age of 84.[7]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1946I See a Dark StrangerIrish Publicanaka "The Adventuress" (USA). Uncredited
1947Odd Man OutBus ConductorUncredited
1948Up in Central ParkTimothy Moore
The Return of OctoberVince the Toutaka "A Date with Destiny" (UK)
Portrait of JennieMooreaka "Jennie" (UK) OR "Tidal Wave"
1949Adventure in BaltimoreDan Fletcheraka "Bachelor Bait" (UK)
1951Royal WeddingJames Ashmondaka "Wedding Bells" (UK)
The HighwaymanForsythe
You Never Can TellGrandpa Hathawayaka "One Never Knows" OR "You Never Know" (UK)
1952Face to FaceFirst Mate Brown('The Secret Sharer')
1954BrigadoonAndrew Campbell
1959Darby O'Gill and the Little PeopleDarby O'Gill(with pre-James Bond era Sean Connery)
1960The Day They Robbed the Bank of EnglandTosher(final film role)

Notes and References

  1. Book: Stewart, John. Broadway Musicals, 1943–2004. November 22, 2012. McFarland. 9781476603292. Google Books.
  2. Book: Historical Dictionary of Irish Cinema. Roddy. Flynn. Tony. Tracy. August 9, 2019. Rowman & Littlefield. 9781538119587. Google Books.
  3. Web site: Brigadoon (1954) - Vincente Minnelli | Cast and Crew | AllMovie. www.allmovie.com.
  4. Filmink. Stephen. Vagg. John Guillermin: Action Man. 17 November 2020.
  5. Web site: Albert Sharpe | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos. AllMovie.
  6. Web site: Albert Sharpe (1885–1970) – Find A Grave Memorial. www.findagrave.com.
  7. Web site: Albert Sharpe. https://web.archive.org/web/20170322063810/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba392346c. dead. 22 March 2017. BFI.