Internationally known actor Gabriel Byrne has worked extensively in the worlds of film, literature and theatre. After wrapping up his critically acclaimed role as James Tyrone, Jr. in Eugene O'Neill's Tony Award-winning Broadway play, " A Moon for the Misbegotten", Gabriel Byrne is now starring in (and co-executive producer) "Madigan Men," a new comedy about three generations of Irish men living in New York. "Madigan Men" marks Gabriel's first acting and producing foray into American series television.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, as the first of six children, Gabriel discovered his passion for acting later in his life. His careers were as eclectic as the characters he has portrayed on the screen. Before becoming an actor, he worked as an archaeologist, a cook, a bullfighter and a Spanish schoolteacher. He began his acting career on stage with The Focus Theatre and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, then later joined the Royal Court and the National Theatre in London. In 1981, he made his film debut as Lord Uther in John Boorman's classic King Arthur epic, "Excalibur."He went on to star in many European films for such
as Costa-Gavras, Michael Mann, Ken Russell, Ken Loach and Wim Wenders. But it was his 1989 American film debut in the Coen Brothers' acclaimed film, "Miller's Crossing", as gangster Tom Reagan, that drew attention to Gabriel Byrne as an actor in the US. Subsequent films included starring roles in "Cool World", with Brad Pitt; "Point of No Return", opposite Bridget Fonda; "Little Women" with Winona Ryder; and "Dead Man" with Johnny Depp and the role of the crooked ex-cop, Dean Keaton, in the neo-noir "The Usual Suspects", opposite Kevin Spacey.
In 1997-98, Gabriel's prolific acting carreer continued as he starred in "Polish Wedding ", "Smilla's Sense of snow" and "The End of Violence". Following this, Gabriel teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, Gerard Depardieu and John Malkovich in the modern adaptation of Alexander Dumas' "The Man in the Iron Mask".
1999 proved to be a millennium year for Gabriel as he played a Jesuit priest in the supernatural thriller, "Stigmata", then went on to play Satan opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the apocalypic film, "End of Days."In addition to acting, Gabriel has also established himself as a producer and writer. Screenwriting credits include Miramax's "The Last of the High Kings" (he also produced) and the Gaelic language film, "Magic", which was directed by Aine O'Connor. As producer, his films include the Oscar-nominated "In the Name of the Father", "Into the West", "Mad About Mambo" (starring Keri Russell) and the National Geographic special, "When Ireland Starved", a documentary about the Irish famine of 1845.
Gabriel also authored a book of reminiscences about his childhood in Ireland, titled Pictures in My Head, (published in the US, 1998) which became a critically acclaimed bestseller in Ireland.
Gabriel has two children, Romy and
the apocalypic film, "End of Days."In addition to acting, Gabriel has also established himself as a producer and writer. Screenwriting credits include Miramax's "The Last of the High Kings" (he also produced) and the Gaelic language film, "Magic", which was directed by Aine O'Connor. As producer, his films include the Oscar-nominated "In the Name of the Father", "Into the West", "Mad About Mambo" (starring Keri Russell) and the National Geographic special, "When Ireland Starved", a documentary about the Irish famine of 1845.
Gabriel also authored a book of reminiscences about his childhood in Ireland, titled Pictures in My Head, (published in the US, 1998) which became a critically acclaimed bestseller in Ireland.
