Barry Fitzgerald
Known for: Acting
Brother of actor Arthur Shields, with whom he performed in several films, most notably John Ford's The Quiet Man (1952). One of the very few character actors ever to achieve star status. Fitzgerald was the only player ever nominated for the Academy Award for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in the same year for the same role. The recognition was for Going My Way (1944). After he received this double nomination, the Academy immediately changed their rules to prevent this from happening again, rules which have remained unchanged to this day. One of Hollywood's finest character actors and most accomplished scene stealers, Barry Fitzgerald was born William Joseph Shields in 1888 in Dublin, Ireland. Educated to enter the banking business, the diminutive Irishman with the irresistible brogue was bitten by the acting bug in the 1920s and joined Dublin's world-famous Abbey Players. He subsequently starred in the Abbey Theatre production of Sean O'Casey's Juno And The Paycock, a role that he recreated in his film debut for director Alfred Hitchcock in 1930. He was coaxed to the U.S. in 1935 by John Ford to appear in Ford's film adaptation of another O'Casey masterpiece, The Plough and the Stars (1936). Fitzgerald took up residence in Hollywood and went on to give outstanding performances in such films as The Long Voyage Home (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941), None But the Lonely Heart (1944), And Then There Were None (1945), Two Years Before the Mast (1946) and what is probably the role for which he is most fondly remembered, The Quiet Man (1952). He won the Academy Award For Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of gruff, aging Father Fitzgibbon in Going My Way (1944). He was also nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for the same role and was the only actor to ever be so honored. Barry Fitzgerald died in his beloved Dublin in 1961.
Filmography
Series
What's My Line?
Self
1950
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Harold 'Stretch' Sears
1955
Series
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
Series
Play of the Week
1959
Lux Video Theatre
Barry Flynn
1950
Film
Bringing Up Baby
Mr. Gogarty
1938
Film
The Quiet Man
Michaleen Oge Flynn
1952
Film
How Green Was My Valley
Cyfartha
1941
Film
The Naked City
Lt. Dan Muldoon
1948
Film
Marie Antoinette
Peddler (uncredited)
1938
Film
The Long Voyage Home
Cocky
1940
Film
And Then There Were None
Francis Quinncannon
1945
Film
Going My Way
Father Fitzgibbon
1944
Film
The Sea Wolf
Cooky
1941
Film
Union Station
Inspector Donnelly
1950
Series
General Electric Theater
1953
Film
The Catered Affair
Jack Conlon
1956
Film
Tarzan's Secret Treasure
Dennis O'Doul
1941
Film
Variety Girl
Barry Fitzgerald
1947
Film
California
Michael Fabian
1947
Film
The Dawn Patrol
Bott
1938
Film
The Stork Club
Jerry B. 'J.B.' / 'Pop' Bates
1945
Film
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Self (archive footage)
2014
Film
Incendiary Blonde
Michael 'Mike' Guinan
1945
Film
Happy Ever After
Thady O'Heggarty
1954
Film
The Story of Seabiscuit
Shawn O'Hara
1949
Film
Juno and the Paycock
The Orator
1930
Film
Corvette K-225
Stooky
1943
Film
Two Years Before the Mast
Terence O'Feenaghty
1946
Film
The Amazing Mrs. Holliday
Timothy Blake
1943
Film
The Saint Strikes Back
Zipper Dyson
1939
Film
None But the Lonely Heart
Henry Twite
1944
Film
Silver City
R.R. Jarboe
1951
Film
Duffy's Tavern
Bing Crosby's Father
1945
Film
San Francisco Docks
The Icky
1940
Film
The Plough and the Stars
Fluther Good
1936
Film
Welcome Stranger
Dr. Joseph McRory
1947
Film
Easy Come, Easy Go
Martin L. Donovan
1947
Film
Four Men and a Prayer
Mulcahay
1938
Film
I Love a Soldier
Murphy
1944
Film
The Sainted Sisters
Robbie McCleary
1948
Film
Top o' the Morning
Sergeant Briany McNaughton
1949
Film
Full Confession
Michael O'Keefe
1939
Film
Pacific Liner
Britches
1939
Film
Ebb Tide
Huish
1937
Film
Two Tickets to London
Capt. McCardle
1943
Film
Santa Claus and the Tenth Avenue Kid
Harold "Stretch" Sears
1955
Film
Miss Tatlock's Millions
Denno Noonan
1948
Film
Rooney
Grandfather
1958
Film
Ha da venì... don Calogero!
Don Calogero
1952
Film
Cradle of Genius
Self
1960
Film
Guests of The Nation
Captured British soldier
1935
Broth of a Boy
Patrick Farrell
1959