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Cyril Cusack Biography (1910-)

Full name, Cyril James Cusack; born November 26, 1910, in Durban, Natal, South Africa; son of James Walter (a member of the Natal mounted police) and Alice Violet (an actress; maiden name, Cole) Cusack; married Maureen Kiely (an actress), April 5, 1945 (deceased); children: two sons, four daughters. Addresses: HOME--Cluain Chaoin, Br. Sorrento, Deilginis, County Dublin, Ireland.

Favorite roles: The Covey in The Plough and the Stars, Christy Mahon in The Playboy of the Western World, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, and Shavian parts.

Nationality

Irish

Gender

Male

Birth Details

November 26, 1910

Durban, South Africa

Famous Works

• Credits
• STAGE DEBUT--Little Willie Carlyle, East Lynne, Clonmel, Ireland, 1916.
• LONDON DEBUT--Richard, Ah, Wilderness!, Westminster Theatre, 1936.
• BROADWAY DEBUT--Phil Hogan, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Bijou Theatre, 1957.
• Credits; PRINCIPAL STAGE APPEARANCES
• Indian student, Tilly of Bloomsbury, and Carruthers, Mr. Wu, both NorwichRepertory Company, Norwich, U.K., 1928.
• Richard, Ah, Wilderness!, Ambassadors Theatre, London, 1936.
• Christy Mahon, The Playboy of the Western World, Mercury Theatre, London,1939.
• the Covey, The Plough and the Stars, Q Theatre, London, 1939.
• Michel, Les Parents terribles, Gate Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, 1940.
• Streeter, Thunder Rock, St. Martin's Theatre, London, 1941.
• Louis Dubedat, The Doctor's Dilemma, Haymarket Theatre, London, 1942.
• Christy Mahon, The Playboy of the Western World, Theatre Sarah Bernhardt,Paris, France, 1954.
• Nosey, Pommy, People's Palace Theatre, London, 1950.
• Roger Casement, Casement, Theatre Royal, Waterford, Ireland, 1958.
• Seumas O'Beirne, Goodwill Ambassador, Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, 1959, then Shubert Theatre, New Haven, CT, later Wilbur Theatre, Boston, MA, both 1960.
• Krapp, Krapp's Last Tape, Empire Theatre, Belfast, Ireland, 1960.
• Bluntschli, Arms and the Man, Empire Theatre, then Queen's Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, both 1960.
• title role, The Temptation of Mr. O, Dublin Theatre Festival, Olympia Theatre, 1961.
• Johann Wilhelm Stettler, The Physicists, Royal Shakespeare Company, Aldwych Theatre, London, 1963.
• Cassius, Julius Caesar, Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon, U.K., 1963.
• Can, Andorra, National Theatre Company, Old Vic Theatre, London, 1964.
• Conn, The Shaughraum, Abbey Theatre Company, Aldwych Theatre, 1968.
• Gaev, The Cherry Orchard, Dublin Theatre Festival, 1968.
• Menenius, Coriolanus, John F. Kennedy Theatre, Honolulu, HI, then Old VicTheatre, both 1970.
• Antonio, The Tempest, and the Masked Man, Spring Awakening, both NationalTheatre Company, Old Vic Theatre, 1974.
• Fluther Good, The Plough and the Stars, National Theatre, London, 1977.
• Drumm, A Life, Old Vic Theatre, 1980.
• Also appeared in Milestones, The Promised Land, and Ambrose Applejohn's Adventure, all Norwich Repertory Company, 1928; Tareis an Aifrinn (After Mass), Gate Theatre, 1942; and You Never Can Tell, Malvern Theatre Festival, Malvern, U.K., 1978; and with the Liverpool Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool, U.K.,1958.
• WITH THE ABBEY THEATRE, DUBLIN,IRELAND The Boy, The Vigil, and Hughie Boyle, Wrack, both 1932.
• Michael, Drama at Inish, 1933.
• Irish countryman, Parnell of Avondale, Malcolm, Macbeth, the Son, Six Characters in Search of an Author, and Colin Langford, At Mrs.
• Beams', all 1934.
• Marchbanks, Candida, Japhet, Noah, and Curran, Summer's Day, all 1935.
• Titus Larius, Coriolanus, Andy, Boyd's Shop, Jo Mahony, Katie Roche, Hind, The Passing Day, John Joseph Barrett, The Silver Jubilee, and Mr. Bunton, The Jailbird, all 1936.
• O'Flingsley, Shadow and Substance, Quin, Quin's Secret, Loftus de Lury, Killycreggs in Twilight, Dan Cusack, The Patriot, Mangan, The Man in the Cloak, Kelly, The Invincibles, Cartney, Cartney and Kevney, and Neddy, She Had toDo Something, all 1937.
• Adam, Neal Maquade, Ned Hegarty, Moses Rock, Hyacinth, Bird's Nest, the Fool, On Baile's Strand, the Covey, The Plough and the Stars, Christy Mahon, The Playboy of the Western World, and O'Flingsley, Shadow and Substance, all 1938.
• Pat Hooey, Give Him a House, and John Joe Martin, They Went by Bus, both1939.
• Kevin McMorna, The Spanish Soldier, 1940.
• Dewis, The Whiteheaded Boy, 1942.
• title role, The O'Cuddy, and Michael, The Old Road, both 1943.
• Francis, The Wise Have Not Spoken, and Seuman, The End House, both 1944.
• Dawson, Tenants at Will, 1945.
• Conn, The Shaughraum, 1967.
• title role, Hadrian VII, 1969.
• title role, The Vicar of Wakefield, 1974.
• Fluther Good, The Plough and the Stars, 1976.
• Also appeared in Margaret Gillan, 1933; Gallant Cassian, 1934; The King of Spain's Daughter, The Silver Tassie, A Deuce of Jacks, andA Saint in a Hurry, all 1935; The Grand House in the City and Blind Man's Buff, both 1936; A Spot in the Sun, The Great Adventure, and Pilgrims, all 1938; William John Mawhinney, 1940; An Apple a Day, 1942; Faustus Kelly and Poor Man's Miracle, both 1943; The New Regime, 1944; Rossa, 1945; You Never Can Tell, 1978.
• WITH THE GAIETY THEATRE, DUBLIN,IRELAND John, The Barrell Organ, 1942.
• Romeo, Romeo and Juliet, 1944.
• Tom, The Last of Summer, and Sid Hunt, Hell Bent for Heaven, both 1945.
• Dick Dudgeon, The Devil's Disciple, Louis Dubedat, The Doctor's Dilemma,and Bluntschli, Arms and the Man, all 1947.
• Christy Mahon, The Playboy of the Western World, and Bluntschli, Arms andthe Man, both 1953.
• Codger, The Bishop's Bonfire, 1955.
• Do-the-Right, The Golden Cuckoo, Androcles, Androcles and the Lion, and the Man, The Rising of the Moon, all 1956.
• title role, Hamlet, 1957.
• Roger Casement, Casement, 1958.
• Doolin, The Voices of Doolin, 1960.
• title role, The Temptation of Mr. O, 1961.
• Fox Melarkey, Crystal and Fox, 1968.
• PRINCIPAL STAGE WORK; AS PRODUCER WITH CYRIL CUSACK PRODUCTIONS, UNLESS INDICATED Director, Tareis an Aifrinn (After Mass), Gate Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, 1942.
• (with Shelah Richards) Romeo and Juliet, Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, 1944.
• The Last of Summer, Gaiety Theatre, 1945.
• Arms and the Man, Gaiety Theatre, 1953.
• The Playboy of the Western World, Gaiety Theatre, 1953, then Theatre Sarah Bernhardt, Paris, France, 1954.
• The Bishop's Bonfire, Gaiety Theatre, 1955.
• Androcles and the Lion and The Rising of the Moon, both Gaiety Theatre, 1956.
• Hamlet, Gaiety Theatre, 1957.
• Casement, Gaiety Theatre, 1958.
• Arms and the Man and Krapp's Last Tape, tours of European cities, both 1960.
• co-producer, Goodwill Ambassador, Olympia Theatre, Dublin, 1960.
• The Voices of Doolin, Gaiety Theatre, 1961.
• (also director) The Temptation of Mr. O, Dublin Theatre Festival, OlympiaTheatre, 1961.
• Credits; MAJOR TOURS
• The Cat, Dick Whittington, Irish cities, 1920.
• the Donkey, Ali Baba, and Babe, The Babes in the Wood, Irish cities, both1922.
• the Boy, Irish and Proud of It, U.K. cities, 1924.
• Christy Mahon, The Playboy of the Western World, Irish cities, 1954.
• Doolin, The Voices of Doolin, Irish cities, 1960.
• Seumas O'Beirne, Goodwill Ambassador, U.S. cities, 1960.
• Bluntschli, Arms and the Man, and Krapp, Krapp's Last Tape, European cities, both 1960.
• title role, Hadrian VII, Abbey Theatre Company, U.K. cities, 1969-70.
• Also appeared in Arrah-na-Pogue, Irish cities, 1918; The Sign of the Cross and Shot at Dawn, Irish cities, both 1920; The Terror, U.K.
• cities, 1928.
• FILM DEBUT--Young O'Brien, Knocknagow, or The Homes of Tipperary (silent), Film Company of Ireland, 1916.
• Credits; PRINCIPAL FILM APPEARANCES
• Jules, Late Extra, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1935.
• Bill Hopkins, Once a Crook, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1941.
• Pat, Odd Man Out (also known as Gang War), Universal, 1947.
• Rogers, Escape, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1948.
• Fred Parsons, Esther Waters, General Film Distributors, 1948.
• Gerald Vane, All Over the Town, General Film Distributors, 1949.
• James Carter, The Blue Lagoon, Universal, 1949.
• Corporal Taylor, Hour of Glory (also known as The Small Back Room), British Lion, 1949.
• Chauvelin, The Fighting Pimpernel (also known as The Elusive Pimpernel),British Lion, 1950.
• Frank Hutchins, The Blue Veil, RKO, 1951.
• Duggie Lewis, Maniacs on Wheels (also known as Once a Jolly Swagman), International Releasing, 1951.
• Limey, The Secret of Convict Lake, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1951.
• Private Dennis Malloy, Soldiers Three, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), 1951.
• Edward Marston, The Wild Heart (also known as Gone to Earth and Gypsy Blood), RKO/Selznick, 1952.
• Khadir, Saadia, MGM, 1953.
• Bohannon, Passage Home, General Film Distributors, 1955.
• Mr. Flannagan, Jacqueline, Rank, 1956.
• taxi driver, The Man Who Never Was, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1956.
• Lazy Mangan, The March Hare (also known as Gamblers Sometimes Win), British Lion, 1956.
• Dr. Kelly, The Man in the Road, Republic, 1957.
• Sam Bishop, Miracle in Soho, Rank, 1957.
• Garcia, The Spanish Gardener, Rank, 1957.
• Inspector Michael Dillon, "The Majesty of the Law" in The Rising of the Moon, Warner Brothers, 1957.
• Peebles, Floods of Fear, Universal, 1958.
• Sandy, Night Ambush (also known as Ill Met by Moonlight), Rank, 1958.
• Herbert "Birdy" Sparrow, Gideon of Scotland Yard (also known as Gideon'sDay), Columbia, 1959.
• Chris Noonan, Shake Hands with the Devil, United Artists, 1959.
• Jimmy Hannafin, The Night Fighters (also known as A Terrible Beauty), United Artists, 1960.
• Captain Ferris, I Thank a Fool, MGM, 1962.
• Dr. Grogan, Waltz of the Toreadors (also known as The Amorous General), Continental Distributing, 1962.
• Father Maguire, 80,000 Suspects, Rank, 1963.
• Control, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Paramount, 1965.
• prosecuting counsel, Johnny Nobody, Medallion, 1965.
• Peter Rosser, Where the Spies Are, MGM, 1965.
• captain, Fahrenheit 451, Universal, 1966.
• Hogan, Time Lost and Time Remembered (also known as I Was Happy Here andPassage of Love), Continental Distributing, 1966.
• Grumio, The Taming of the Shrew, Columbia, 1967.
• title role, Galileo, Fenice Cinemato-Grafica/Rizzoli/Kinozenter, 1968.
• messenger, Oedipus the King, Universal, 1968.
• Dr. Maitland, Brotherly Love (also known as Country Dance), MGM, 1970.
• Barkis, David Copperfield, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1970.
• sculptor, Harold and Maude, Paramount, 1971.
• Duke of Albany, King Lear, Altura, 1971.
• Frederick Katzmann, Sacco e Vanzetti (also known as Sacco and Vanzetti),UMC, 1971.
• Stolfi, La polizia ringrazia (also known as The Law Enforcers and From the Police, with Thanks), Produzioni Atlas Consorziale, 1972.
• Julian Ainsley, The Devil's Widow (also known as Tam Lin), InternationalPictures, 1972.
• Matto, Piu forte ragazzi! (also known as All the Way, Boys), AVCO- Embassy/Seven Keys, 1973.
• gunsmith, The Day of the Jackal, Universal, 1973.
• Sam, The Homecoming, American Film Theatre, 1973.
• Corso, La Mala ordina (also known as The Italian Connection and Manhunt),International Pictures, 1973.
• Chancellor Oxenstierna, The Abdication, Warner Brothers, 1974.
• David's father, Children of Rage, Emmessee Productions, 1975.
• poteen maker, Poitin, Cinegael, 1979.
• Cardinal Danaher, True Confessions, United Artists, 1981.
• Sulzer, Wagner, Alan Landsburg, 1983.
• Myles Keenan, The Outcasts, Cinegate, 1983.
• Charrington, 1984, Atlantic Releasing, 1984.
• Frederick Dorritt, Little Dorrit, Sands/Cannon Screen Entertainment, 1987.
• Also appeared in Guests of the Nation, 1934; The Man without a Face, 1935; Mail Train (also known as Inspector Hornleigh Goes to It), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1941; as Billy, Servants All, 1941; in Christopher Columbus, 1949; Destination Milan, British Lion, 1954; The Last Moment, British Lion, 1954; Lawrence of Arabia, Columbia, 1962; Tristan et Iseult (also known as Tristan andIsolde), Films du soir, 1973; Juggernaut, United Artists, 1974; as balloon vendor, Last Moments (also known as Venditore di palloncini), 1974; in Run, RunJoe!, 1974; The Bloody Hands of the Law (also known as La mano spietata della legge and Execution Squad), 1976; The Temptation of Mr. O, 1981; The Kingfisher, 1982; and in One Spy Too Many and Passport to Oblivion.
• PRINCIPAL TELEVISION APPEARANCES; MINI-SERIES Yehuda, Jesus of Nazareth,NBC, 1977.
• Old Mr. Lorimer, Death of an Expert Witness, Anglia Television, then Mystery!, PBS, 1985.
• Also The Golden Bowl, BBC, then Masterpiece Theatre, PBS, 1973.
• Credits; EPISODIC
• Thomas a Becket, "Murder in the Cathedral," and the Father, "Six Characters in Search of an Author," BBC Festival, BBC, 1964.
• Credits; MOVIES
• Petley, The Big Toe, ITV, 1964.
• Barkis, David Copperfield, NBC, 1970.
• Father Manus, Catholics, CBS, 1973.
• Fauchelevent, Les Miserables, CBS, 1978.
• Tom Maloney, Cry of the Innocent, NBC, 1980.
• Doc Spencer, Danny, the Champion of the World, Disney Channel, 1989.
• Credits; SPECIALS
• Dr. Coutras, The Moon and Sixpence, ABC, 1957.
• Krapp, Krapp's Last Tape, BBC, 1963.
• Inspector Hubbard, Dial M for Murder, ABC, 1967.
• Mr. Reese, The Hands of Cormac Joyce, NBC, 1972.
• Steiner, Dr. Fischer of Geneva, BBC, 1983, then Great Performances, PBS,1985.
• Theban citizen, The Theban Plays, BBC, then PBS, 1988.
• parish priest, "The Tenth Man," Hallmark Hall of Fame, CBS, 1988.
• Also appeared in The Shadow of the Glen, BBC, 1938; Ship Day, Elstree, 1948; Highland Fling, Elstree, 1948; The Sensible Man, Elstree, 1949; Oedipus Complex, BBC, 1953; What Every Woman Knows, ABC, 1959; The Enchanted, ABC, 1959; The Power and the Glory, ABC, 1959; The Dummy, ABC, 1962; The Chairs, Granada, 1962; Don Juan in Hell, Granada, 1962; The Lotus Eater, Granada, 1962; as Michael McInerney, The Workhouse Ward, 1963; in The Wedding Dress, Granada,1963; Tryptych, 1963; In the Train, 1963; The Good and Faithful Servant, 1974; Crystal and Fox, 1975; No Country for Old Men, 1981; One of Ourselves, 1983; and in Moon in the Yellow River, Deirdre, The Hitchhiker, Trial of Marshall Petain, Uncle Vanya, A Time of Wolves and Tigers, Passage to India, In theBosom of the Country, Them, Clochemerie, I Stand Well with All Parties, The Plough and the Stars, You Never Can Tell, The Tower, St. Francis, The Physicists, and The Reunion.
• Credits; PRINCIPAL RADIO APPEARANCES; PLAYS
• The Dark Tower, BBC, 1946.
• Troilus and Cressida, Third Network, 1965.
• Also appeared as Pip, Great Expectations, BBC; in Frederic General, BBC;The Dead, BBC; The Wild Goose, BBC; and performed characters from Charles Dickens for Radio-Eireann.
• Beckett: Molloy, Malone Dies, [and] The Unnameable, Caedmon, 1964.
• Writings;STAGE
• Tareis an Aifrinn (After Mass), Gate Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, 1942.
• The Temptation of Mr. O, Dublin Theatre Festival, Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, 1961.
• Writings;OTHER
• Timepieces (poetry), 1972.
• Poems, 1976.
• Also contributor to journals and periodicals.