George Ian Kenneth “Kenny” Ireland was a Scottish actor and theatre director known for his roles in Victoria Wood As Seen on TV, Benidorm, and Local Hero. Ireland was born on August 7, 1945, in Paisley, Scotland, and he passed away on July 31, 2014, in London, England.
Personal and Family Life
Kenny Ireland was married to Meg Poole from 1980 until his death in 2014. He had previously been married to Marilyn Imrie, but they later divorced. His father, an RAF bomber pilot, died on a secret mission when Kenny was just five months old. Ireland was trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Theatre Career
Ireland was highly involved in theatre and served as the Artistic Director of the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh from 1992 to 2003. After leaving his position, he criticized the Scottish arts framework for not supporting quality theatre and claimed that plans for a National Theatre of Scotland were not prioritized. His directing work included notable productions such as Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Waiting for Godot.
Death and Legacy
Kenny Ireland passed away on July 31, 2014, due to cancer. At the time of his death, he was still an active figure in the entertainment industry, with his character not appearing in the next series of Benidorm, though his voice was still heard. His contributions to theatre and television have left a lasting impact.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Drowning by Numbers | 1988-09-10 | Jonah Bognor |
| A Hazard of Hearts | 1987-12-27 | Padlett |
| Salome’s Last Dance | 1988-05-06 | 1st Soldier |
| The Big Man | 1990-08-31 | Tony |
| Local Hero | 1983-02-17 | Skipper |
| Benidorm | 2007-02-01 | Donald Stewart |
| Taggart | 1983-09-06 | |
| House of Cards | 1990-11-18 | |
| Heartbeat | 1992-04-10 | Zeph Pratt |
| Midsomer Murders | 1997-03-23 | George Dormer |