Donal Donnelly was an English actor best known for his roles in The Knack… and How to Get It, The Godfather Part III, and his performances in Brian Friel’s plays. Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, on July 6, 1931, he grew up in Dublin, Ireland.
Personal and Family Life
Donal Donnelly was married to Patsy Porter in 1964, and they had two children together. He attended a Christian Brothers School in Dublin, where he acted in school plays alongside future actors like Milo O’Shea. Throughout his career, he specialized in playing various Irish characters in theater and film.
Career
Donnelly gained fame on stage with his performance in Philadelphia, Here I Come! at Dublin’s Gate Theatre, leading to a Tony Award nomination for the Broadway transfer in 1966. He acted in several Broadway productions, including Sleuth and The Elephant Man, and had significant roles in films such as The Godfather Part III, The Knack… and How to Get It, and The Dead.
Death and Legacy
Donal Donnelly passed away from cancer on January 4, 2010, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 78. His contributions to theater and film, especially in portraying Irish characters, have left a lasting impact on audiences and fellow actors alike.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Godfather Part III | 1990-12-25 | Archbishop Gilday |
| The Knack… and How to Get It | 1965-05-01 | Tom |
| The Dead | 1987-09-03 | Freddy Malins |
| Love & Rage | 2000-02-09 | Sweeney |
| Mesmer | 1994-08-25 | Doctor Vic d’Azyr |
| Waterloo | 1970-10-26 | O’Connor |
| Up Jumped a Swagman | 1965-12-21 | Bockeye |
| Korea | 1996-01-05 | John Doyle |
| The Mind of Mr. Soames | 1970-07-01 | Joe Allan |
| Red Riding Hood | 1992-01-01 | Narrator (voice) |
| Words Upon the Window Pane | 1994-06-10 | Cornelius Patterson |
| This Is My Father | 1999-05-07 | John Maney |
| Gideon’s Day | 1958-03-25 | Feeney |
| The Rising of the Moon | 1957-08-10 | Sean Curran (segment ‘1921’) |
| Serjeant Musgrave’s Dance | 1961-10-24 | Pte. Sparky |
| Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale | 1994-10-28 | Brother Paul |
| The Informers | 1963-11-29 | Tommy The Trotter (uncredited) |
| The Drummer and the Bloke | 1968-01-31 | Alf |
| I’m All Right Jack | 1959-08-18 | Perce Carter |
| The Glory Hole | 1982-08-10 | Jokey nelson |
| Shake Hands with the Devil | 1959-06-24 | |
| The Avengers | 1961-01-07 | |
| The Sentimental Agent | 1963-09-28 | |
| No Hiding Place | 1959-09-16 | |
| Yes, Honestly | 1976-01-09 | Matthew Browne |
| Law & Order | 1990-09-13 | Daniel Mallahan |
| Department S | 1969-09-09 | Stacey |
| Spenser: For Hire | 1985-09-20 |