PROFILE
Full Name: Brendan Gleeson
Stage Name: Brendan Gleeson
Year of Birth: March 29, 1955
Nationality: Irish
Spouse and Children: Married to Mary Weldon; has four children, including actors Domhnall Gleeson and Brian Gleeson
Career – Films, Series, and Plays
Films
The Field (1990)
Braveheart (1995) – As Hamish
Michael Collins (1996)
The General (1998) – As Martin Cahill
Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Gangs of New York (2002) – As Walter “Monk” McGinn
Cold Mountain (2003)
Troy (2004) – As Menelaus
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) – As Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)
In Bruges (2008) – As Ken
The Guard (2011)
Calvary (2014)
Assassin’s Creed (2016)
Paddington 2 (2017) – As Knuckles McGinty
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) – As King Duncan
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) – As Colm Doherty
Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) – Role undisclosed
TV Series
Into the West (1992)
The Treaty (1991)
The Village (1993)
The Comey Rule (2020) – As Donald Trump
Career Beginnings
Before becoming an actor, Brendan Gleeson was an English and Irish teacher for several years. He only started his professional acting career in the 1980s, performing in theater and small productions in Ireland before gaining international recognition in Braveheart (1995).
Awards and Nominations
Golden Globe – Nominated for In Bruges (2008) and The Guard (2011)
BAFTA Award – Nominated for The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
Emmy Awards – Won for Into the Storm (2009)
Academy Award (Oscar) – Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
Most Notable Role
While he has portrayed many iconic characters, Brendan Gleeson is widely recognized for his role as Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody in the Harry Potter franchise. However, his performances in In Bruges (2008) and The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) are considered some of the best in his career.
Interesting and Relevant Facts
He is a talented violinist and has played at various cultural events.
His son, Domhnall Gleeson, also starred in the Harry Potter franchise as Bill Weasley.
Despite his strong presence in Hollywood, he remains actively involved in Irish productions.
He is known for avoiding the media spotlight and keeping his personal life private.
Brendan Gleeson continues to be one of the most respected actors in cinema, known for his versatility and commanding screen presence.