Quick Facts
Biography
Brían Francis O'Byrne (born 16 May 1967) is an Irish actor, best known for his work in the United States.
Early life and education
O'Byrne was born in Mullagh, a village in the south-east of County Cavan, on 16 May 1967. He attended the Samuel Beckett Centre at Trinity College (T.C.D.) in Dublin. He moved to New York City in 1990, and was cast in the Irish Repertory Theatre production of Philadelphia, Here I Come!
Career
O'Byrne first attracted notice for his performances in the Martin McDonagh plays The Beauty Queen of Leenane (1996) as Pato Dooley (for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play) and The Lonesome West (1997). He is known for taking on serious and dramatic roles, such as a serial killer in Frozen (1998) (for which he won a Tony Award) and a priest accused of child molestation in Doubt: A Parable (2004), for which he received a Tony Award nomination. O'Byrne also appeared as a priest in the 2004 film Million Dollar Baby. In May 2007, O'Byrne was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance as Alexander Herzen in Tom Stoppard's 2002 trilogy The Coast of Utopia. He appeared in the play by John Patrick Shanley Outside Mullingar on Broadway in 2014, and received a nomination for the 2014 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding Actor In A Play.
In 2011, O'Byrne was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his performance in Mildred Pierce as Bert Pierce. O'Byrne was featured in the 2009–2010 ABC series FlashForward, in which he played Aaron Stark. The show was not renewed. FlashForward began airing in Ireland on January 4, 2010.
In 2012, O'Byrne was cast in the ABC drama pilot Gilded Lilys created and produced by Shonda Rhimes.
In 2017, O'Byrne appeared in Little Boy Blue as Steve Jones, the father of Rhys Jones who was murdered by gang members in 2007.
Personal life
O'Byrne is married to American actress Heather Goldenhersh, with whom he co-starred in the Broadway play Doubt: A Parable. The couple have two daughters together, the first born in 2008, the second in 2010.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Avenue X | Sonny | short film |
| 1997 | Electricity | Graham Crouch | short film |
| 1997 | The Fifth Province | Timmy | |
| 1997 | The Last Bus Home | Jessop | |
| 2000 | An Everlasting Piece | George | |
| 2001 | Bandits | Darill Miller | |
| 2001 | Disco Pigs | Gerry | |
| 2001 | The Grey Zone | Gestapo Interrogator, SS-Untersturmfuhrer | |
| 2001 | Mapmaker | Richie Markey | |
| 2003 | Easy | Mick McCabe | |
| 2003 | Intermission | Mick | |
| 2004 | Million Dollar Baby | Father Horvak | |
| 2005 | In an Instant | The Man | |
| 2005 | The New World | Lewes | |
| 2006 | Bug | Dr. Sweet | |
| 2007 | Before the Devil Knows You're Dead | Bobby | |
| 2007 | No Reservations | Sean | |
| 2009 | The International | The Consultant | |
| 2010 | Brooklyn's Finest | Ronny Rosario | |
| 2011 | Season of the Witch | Grandmaster | uncredited |
| 2013 | Medeas | Ennis | |
| 2014 | Jimmy's Hall | Commander O’Keefe | |
| 2014 | Queen and Country | RSM Digby |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Joe Forrester | N/A | Episode: “An Act of Violence” |
| 1998 | Amongst Women | Luke | 4 episodes |
| 2001 | Oz | Padraig Connolly | 3 episodes |
| 2004 | The Blackwater Lightship | Larry | TV Film |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Liam Connors | Episode: “Ghost” |
| 2007 | American Experience | Alexander Hamilton | Episode: “Alexander Hamilton” |
| 2007–08 | Brotherhood | Colin | 18 episodes |
| 2009–10 | FlashForward | Aaron Stark | 17 episodes |
| 2010 | Medium | Clark Kerwin | Episode: “The People in Your Neighborhood” |
| 2011 | Mildred Pierce | Bert Pierce | 5 episodes |
| 2011–12 | Prime Suspect | Detective Reg Duffy | 13 episodes |
| 2013 | Gilded Lilys | Edwin Lily | unsuccessful television pilot |
| 2013–14 | Love/Hate | D.I. Mick Moynihan | 11 episodes |
| 2015–16 | Aquarius | Ken Karn | 20 episodes |
| 2015 | The Bastard Executioner | Baron Ventris | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Exposed | Quigg | unsuccessful television pilot |
| 2015 | The Last Ship | Sean Ramsey | 8 episodes |
| 2015 | Saints & Strangers | John Billington, Sr. | |
| 2016–present | The Magicians | Mayakovsky | |
| 2017 | Mercy Street | Allan Pinkerton |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Gotham Awards | Best Ensemble Cast | Before the Devil Knows You're Dead | Won |
| 2007 | Satellite Awards | Best Cast – Motion Picture | Won | |
| 2011 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie | Mildred Pierce | Nominated |