Connection
John Cowley is a Actor born on 8 september 1923
John Cowley (8 September 1923 – 13 February 1998) was an Irish actor, best known for his role as paterfamilias, Tom Riordan, in the long-running RTÉ Television drama series, The Riordans.
From a farming background, John Cowley was born in Navan, County Meath. He left school at the age of 13 to work on the family farm.
Cowley entered the acting profession as a member of one of the touring companies that brought theatre to rural communities in Ireland up until the 1960s. In a bid to escape the impecunious life of a roving actor, he wrote to Laurence Olivier seeking a position at the Old Vic; however, Olivier politely declined. In 1964, Cowley was chosen to play the part of Tom Riordan in RTÉ's new series, The Riordans. His performance won him a Jacob's Award in 1967 and he continued in the cast until the series ended in 1979. Tom Hickey, who played Tom Riordan's son, Benjy, described Cowley as the "central rock of The Riordans" and "the father of the whole enterprise".
Following The Riordans, Cowley returned to the stage and continued acting up to the end of his life. At the time of his death, he was rehearsing with Galway's Druid Theatre Company for their production of Brian Friel's play, Philadelphia Here I Come. He also appeared in a number of feature films, including Jim Sheridan's The Field, an adaptation of John B. Keane's play, and the same director's 1997 film The Boxer.
Cowley was a passionate opponent of cruelty to animals and campaigned vigorously against hare coursing and fox hunting. He was a founder-member of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports.
John Cowley died at his home in Ardbraccan at the age of seventy-four. He was married to the actress, Annie D'Alton, who predeceased him in March 1983. Their son, Ultan, is a writer and historian.
(1990)
(Actor)
Source : Wikidata
John Cowley
- Infos
- Photos
- Best films
- Family
- Characters
- Awards
Birth 8 september 1923
Death 13 february 1998 (at 74 years)
Death 13 february 1998 (at 74 years)
From a farming background, John Cowley was born in Navan, County Meath. He left school at the age of 13 to work on the family farm.
Cowley entered the acting profession as a member of one of the touring companies that brought theatre to rural communities in Ireland up until the 1960s. In a bid to escape the impecunious life of a roving actor, he wrote to Laurence Olivier seeking a position at the Old Vic; however, Olivier politely declined. In 1964, Cowley was chosen to play the part of Tom Riordan in RTÉ's new series, The Riordans. His performance won him a Jacob's Award in 1967 and he continued in the cast until the series ended in 1979. Tom Hickey, who played Tom Riordan's son, Benjy, described Cowley as the "central rock of The Riordans" and "the father of the whole enterprise".
Following The Riordans, Cowley returned to the stage and continued acting up to the end of his life. At the time of his death, he was rehearsing with Galway's Druid Theatre Company for their production of Brian Friel's play, Philadelphia Here I Come. He also appeared in a number of feature films, including Jim Sheridan's The Field, an adaptation of John B. Keane's play, and the same director's 1997 film The Boxer.
Cowley was a passionate opponent of cruelty to animals and campaigned vigorously against hare coursing and fox hunting. He was a founder-member of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports.
John Cowley died at his home in Ardbraccan at the age of seventy-four. He was married to the actress, Annie D'Alton, who predeceased him in March 1983. Their son, Ultan, is a writer and historian.
Best films
(1990)(Actor)
Usually with
Filmography of John Cowley (7 films)
Actor
Add to a movie list
The Boxer (1997)
, 1h53Directed by Jim Sheridan
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Romance
Themes Films about religion, Sports films, Films about terrorism, Martial arts films, Boxing films, Political films, Conflit nord-irlandais, Le boxe anglaise
Actors Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson, Brian Cox, Lorraine Pilkington, Ken Stott, Gerard McSorley
Rating69%
Former Irish pugilist & Provisional IRA member Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) returns home to Belfast from a 14-year stint in prison at the age of 32. Weary of the unbroken cycle of violence in Northern Ireland, he attempts to settle down and live in peace. After meeting his drink-sodden old trainer Ike (Ken Stott), Danny starts up a non-sectarian boxing club for boys in an old gymnasium. While fixing up the old building, however, he runs across a cache of Semtex hidden underneath the stage. He throws the cache into the river.
The Field (1990)
, 1h47Directed by Jim Sheridan
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Thriller
Themes Théâtre, Films based on plays
Actors Richard Harris, John Hurt, Sean Bean, Brenda Fricker, Tom Berenger, John Cowley
Rating72%
Bull McCabe, an Irish farmer, dumps a dead donkey in a lake. It transpires that McCabe's son, Tadhg, killed the donkey after discovering it had broken into the field the family has rented for generations. The donkey's owner blames Bull McCabe for the death and demands "blood money".
Anne Devlin (1984)
, 2h1Directed by Pat Murphy
Genres Drama, Historical
Actors Bríd Brennan, Bosco Hogan, David Kelly, Ian McElhinney, John Cowley
Roles Devlin
Rating72%
The Informers (1963)
, 1h45Directed by Ken Annakin
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Crime
Actors Nigel Patrick, Katherine Woodville, Colin Blakely, Derren Nesbitt, Harry Andrews, John Cowley
Roles Jim Ruskin
Rating68%
Filmed at Pinewood Studios and on location in London, the story concerns the somewhat uneasy relationship between a Scotland Yard Detective, Johnoe (Nigel Patrick) and the Squad Chief, Bestwick (Harry Andrews) over the use of paid informants. Despite orders not to use informants and to adopt more scientific principals of detection, Johnoe continues on until one of his informants is murdered. Immediately he finds himself in a frame for corruption and with few friends left on his own side of the law his only option is to enlist the help of the murdered man's brother (Colin Blakely).
Lies My Father Told Me (1960)
, 1hDirected by Don Chaffey
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama
Actors Harry Brogan, Betsy Blair, John Cowley
Rating69%
Sally's Irish Rogue (1960)
Directed by George Pollock
Genres Comedy
Actors Julie Harris, Harry Brogan, Tim Seely, Paul Farrell, John Cowley
Rating30%
The Rising of the Moon (1957)
, 1h21Directed by John Ford
Origin Irlande
Genres Drama, Comedy
Themes Transport films, Rail transport films
Actors Cyril Cusack, Noel Purcell, Denis O'Dea, Tyrone Power, John Cowley, Jack MacGowran
Roles Phelim O'Feeney
Rating65%
Police Inspector Dillon (Cyril Cusack) reluctantly sets out to see an old friend, Dan O'Flaherty (Noel Purcell). Along the way, he encounters Mickey J. (Jack MacGowran), a poitín maker who, fortunately for him, is not Dillon's target today. The inspector has the unfortunate duty of serving a warrant on O'Flaherty for striking Phelim O'Feeney (John Cowley) on the head. O'Flaherty refuses to pay the fine, as he feels he has done nothing wrong, nor will he allow O'Feeney to pay it for him. Instead, he heads off to prison.