Bill Murphy (Irish actor) explained

Bill Murphy
Birthname:William A. Murphy
Birth Date:1963 2, df=y
Birth Place:Cork City, County Cork, Ireland
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1994–present
Spouse:Eileen O'Sullivan
Children:2

William A. Murphy (born 14 February 1963), better known as Bill Murphy, is an Irish theatre and screen actor, writer and producer. He has appeared in films such as Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000), My Brother's War (1997), Criminal Affairs (1997) and Moving Target (2000). He has also had roles in TV series such as Jack Taylor (2010), (2012), (2022) and The Gone (2023), and he portrayed Nick Barret on the RTÉ One soap opera Fair City in 2003. He has had roles in theatre and concert productions of Once (The Musical) (2015–2024), The Country Girls (2019), and Joyce's Women (2022). In 2022 he wrote, produced and starred in the short film Lily's Theme.

Early life and education

Murphy was born William A. Murphy in Cork City, County Cork.[1] He began his career in Cork while training with the Irish Opera Repertory Company before moving to Dublin to continue his training with the Focus Theatre.[2]

Career

Feature films

Murphy's feature film credits include Criminal Affairs (1997) starring Louis Mandylor and James Marshall, My Brother's War (1997) starring Josh and James Brolin, Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000) starring Kevin Spacey, Linda Fiorentino and Colin Farrell,[3] Moving Target (2000) starring Don "The Dragon" Wilson,[4] and The Cabin (2011) starring Steven Brand and Lea Thompson.

TV series

In 2003, Murphy portrayed the character Nick Barret in the RTÉ One soap opera Fair City.[5] [6] Murphy is also credited with roles in Jack Taylor (2010) starring Iain Glen and in (2012) with Kevin Zegers and Derek Jacobi. In 2022, Murphy featured as the character Øgda in Season 1 of the Netflix series , a spin-off of the popular TV Series Vikings by Michael Hirst. In 2023, Murphy appeared as Superintendent Walsh in the RTÉ and TVNZ coproduction of The Gone.[7]

Theatre

Murphy has worked in numerous Irish theatres, notably The Gate Theatre, The Gaiety Theatre, The Olympia Theatre and The Abbey Theatre. He has had roles in stage productions of Jack and the Beanstalk (2000),[8] Annie (2001),[9] , The Chastitute (2001),[10] [11] The Plough and the Stars (2003),[12] [13] Sweeney Todd (2007),[14] Beauty and the Beast (2008),[15] Macbeth (2012)[16] [17] and Threepenny Opera (2013).[18] [19] From 2015 to 2017, Murphy portrayed the character 'Da' in the Dublin and Seoul productions of Once (The Musical) directed by John Tiffany.[20] [21] [22] He later reprised this role in 2024 during the Taiwan tour of Musical: Once directed by Dean Johnson.[23] In 2019, Murphy appeared in the national theatre production of Edna O'Brien's The Country Girls.[24] In 2020, he featured in the Abbey Theatre productions Dear Ireland Continues.[25] In September 2022, Murphy portrayed the character of Zozimus in the Abbey Theatre coproduction of Joyce's Women, written by Edna O'Brien.[26]

Short films

In 2019, Murphy featured in the short film Close to Nothing at All directed by Lisa Maria Brockli. In 2022, Murphy wrote, produced and starred in the short film Lily's Theme, directed by Frank W. Kelly, which premiered at the Boyne Valley International Film Festival 2022.[27]

Personal life

Murphy is married to actress and singer Eileen O'Sullivan. They have two children.

Selected filmography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Murphy . Bill . About Bill Murphy . 2022-05-15 . www.billmurphyirishactor.com.
  2. Web site: Profile Spotlight . 2022-05-06 . www.spotlight.com.
  3. News: Duff . Gavin . 26 September 1999 . Penn's Brother desperate for 'timebomb' actor Bill . 38 . Sunday World (Dublin) .
  4. Web site: Moving Target with Colm Cahalane and Bill Murphy . 2022-05-07 . RTE Radio . en.
  5. Web site: Archives . RTÉ . 2012-07-05 . RTÉ Archives . 2022-05-07 . stillslibrary.rte.ie . en.
  6. Web site: Press Gallery Bill Murphy . 2022-06-13 . Bill Murphy . en.
  7. Web site: New Zealand Television: The Gone: episode guide . 2024-08-11 . www.australiantelevision.net.
  8. Web site: Giant performance for beanstalk fans . 2022-05-15 . independent . en.
  9. News: Clancy . Luke . 12 December 2001 . The War of the pantos . 28 . Evening Herald (Dublin .
  10. Web site: All-star cast for Keane classic on local stage . 2022-05-15 . independent . en.
  11. Web site: O'Brien . Harvey . 2002-07-17 . The Chastitute – John B. Keane . 2022-05-15 . CultureVulture . en-US.
  12. Web site: The Plough and the Stars 2003 (Abbey) Abbey Archives Abbey Theatre - Amharclann na Mainistreach . 2022-05-15 . Abbey Theatre . en.
  13. Web site: The Plough and the Stars. - Free Online Library . 2022-05-15 . www.thefreelibrary.com.
  14. Web site: Sweeney Todd . 2022-05-15 . Gate Theatre Dublin . en-US.
  15. Web site: Beauty and the Beast at the Gaiety runs to Feb 3 . 2022-05-15 . independent . en.
  16. Web site: Young and upwardly mobile - the Macbeths . 2022-05-15 . independent . en.
  17. Web site: Irish Theatre Magazine Reviews Current Macbeth . 2022-05-15 . itmarchive.ie.
  18. Web site: THE THREEPENNY OPERA . 2022-05-15 . Gate Theatre Dublin . en-US.
  19. Web site: The Threepenny Opera at Gate Theatre - 26/09/2013 - 12/10/2013 - 2013 Dublin Theatre Festival, Dublin . 2022-05-15 . archive.dublintheatrefestival.com.
  20. Web site: Bill Murphy – Da – Once Musical . 2022-05-15 . en-GB.
  21. Web site: Once . 2022-05-07 . Landmark Productions . en-US.
  22. Web site: 2017-02-27 . Once: The Musical is returning for a run at Dublin's Olympia Theatre this summer . 2022-05-07 . Entertainment.ie . en.
  23. Web site: Musical Once National Performing Arts Center Taichung Theatre . live . 11 August 2024 . www.npac-ntt.org.
  24. Web site: The Country Girls (Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick) . 2022-05-07 . Abbey Theatre . en.
  25. Web site: Dear Ireland Continues . 2022-05-07 . Abbey Theatre . en.
  26. Web site: Joyce's Women . 2022-08-23 . Abbey Theatre . en.
  27. Web site: Boyne Valley International Film Festival 2022 . 2022-08-23 . Droichead Arts Centre Drogheda, Co. Louth.