Denis O'Dea (26 April 1905 – 5 November 1978) was an Irish stage and film actor. Career He was born in Dublin and attended Synge Street CBS. When very young he and his mother Kathleen (from County Kerry) moved in with her sister, who kept a boarding house at 54 South Richmond Street.1911 Census returns He worked in insurance until taking up acting. O'Dea was a leading member of Dublin's Abbey Theatre where he had a great acting career from 1929 to 1953; a list of his performances can be found in the Abbey archives. He also appeared in numerous plays by Irish playwright Teresa Deevy, some of which toured New York and England. His work led to a number of notable film roles, including two mid-1930s John Ford films, The Informer and The Plough and the Stars (1936), and the part of the police inspector in pursuit of IRA man James Mason in Carol Reed's Odd Man Out (1947).
Other films in which he appeared include The Mark of Cain (1947), The Fallen Idol (1948, again for Reed, and again as a police inspector), Alfred Hitchcock's Under Capricorn (1949), The Bad Lord Byron (1949), Landfall (1949), Marry Me! (1949), Disney's Treasure Island (1950), Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951), The Long Dark Hall (1951), Mogambo (1953; another John Ford film), Niagara (1953), Never Take No for an Answer (1953), The Rising of the Moon (1957), Captain Lightfoot (1957), Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959), and Esther and the King (1960).
Family He was married to actress Siobhán McKenna from 1946 until his death in 1978 at the age of 73; they had one son, Donnacha O'Dea, who is a champion swimmer and professional poker player.
Filmography
Guests of the Nation (1935) The Informer (1935) – Street Singer Beloved Enemy (1936) – Sean's I.R.A. Friend (uncredited) The Plough and the Stars (1936) – The Covey Odd Man Out (1947) – Inspector The Mark of Cain (1947) – Sir William Godgrey The Fallen Idol (1948) – Inspector Crowe The Bad Lord Byron (1949) – Prosecuting Counsel Marry Me! (1949) – Saunders Under Capricorn (1949) – Mr. Corrigan Landfall (1949) – Capt. Burnaby Treasure Island (1950) – Dr. Livesey The Long Dark Hall (1951) – Sir Charles Morton Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) – RAdm. Sir Rodney Leighton Peppino e Violetta (1951) – Father Damico Never Take No for an Answer (1951) – Father Damico Niagara (1953) – Inspector Starkey Sea Devils (1953) – Lethierry Mogambo (1953) – Father Josef Captain Lightfoot (1955) – Regis Donnell The Rising of the Moon (1957) – Police Sergeant Tom O'Hara (3rd Episode) The Story of Esther Costello (1957) – Father Devlin Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) – Father Murphy Esther and the King (1960) – Mordecai (final film role)
Theater credits Year Title Role Director Venue/Notes1929The WomanAbbey Theatre, a play by Margaret O'Leary1930The ReapersTed Dohertyhttps://irishplayography.com/play/the-reapersLennox RobinsonAbbey Theatre, lost work of Teresa Deevy1931A DiscipleJack the ScalpAbbey Theatre, Dublin, a play by Teresa DeevyThe Moon in the Yellow RiverDarrell BlakeAbbey Theatre, Dublin, a play by Denis Johnston 1932Temporal PowersJim SlatteryAbbey Theatre, Dublin, a play by Teresa DeevyThings That Are Caesar'sTerrence NoomanMartin Beck Theatre, New York, O'Dea's American debutThe New GossoonLuke CareyMartin Beck Theatre, New York1933Margaret GillanMichael TaafeAbbey Theatre, Dublin, a play by Brinsley MacNamara 1934The Plough and the StarsCapt. BrennanJohn Golden Theatre, New York, part of a reparatory performance in November of that year.https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-plough-and-the-stars-10419The New GossoonLuke CareyDrama at InishEddie TwohigLook at the HeffernansSidney HeffernanThe ResurrectionThe SyrianChurch StreetThe Evoked HughThe Well of the SaintsMat SimonThe CoinerA Police SergeantJuno and the PaycockAn Irregular Mobilizer1936The PuritanFrancis FerriterChester ErskinBelmont Theatre, New YorkGreen WatersMichael FraserTheatre Masque, New York1937Katie RocheJo MahoneyCambridge, EnglandKatie RocheJo MahoneyAmbassador Theatre, New YorkThe Plough and the StarsThe Young CoveyIn a TrainDelanceyThe Playboy of the Western WorldPhilly CullenThe New GossoonLuke CareyJuno and the PaycockJerry DevineDrama at InishJohn Hegarty1938Riders to the SeaBartleyTouring production1938The King of Spain's DaughterJim HarrisAbbey Theatre, Dublin1939The King of Spain's DaughterJim HarrisCork, Ireland1941The Money Doesn't MatterPhilip MannionAbbey Theatre, Dublinhttps://irishplayography.com/play/the-money-doesnt-matter1942Juno and the PaycockJoxer DalyThe Plough and the StarsCommandant Jack Clitheroe1944John Bull's Other IslandAbbey Theatre, Dublin1945Juno and the PaycockJerry DevineLennox RobinsonAbbey Theatre, DublinThe Playboy of the Western WorldShawn KeoghAbbey Theatre, Dublin1946The Shadow of a GunmanDonal DavorenAbbey Theatre, Dublin1951The Playboy of the Western WorldShawn KeoghThe Dublin Players, Edinburgh Festivalhttps://www.dib.ie/biography/odea-denis-a66741953The Playboy of the Western WorldShawn KeoghGaiety Theatre, DublinShadow and SubstanceRev. Thomas Canon SkerrittAbbey Theatre, Dublin1955The Righteous Are BoldFather O'MalleyEddie DowlingHoliday Theatre, New York
References
External links
Denis O'Dea at The Teresa Deevy Archive Denis O'Dea at The Abbey Theatre Archive