Billy Boyle is an Irish actor and singer on British film, television and stage. His recording career included five 45 rpm singles for the Decca and Columbia labels, including the novelty song "My Baby's Crazy 'Bout Elvis" (Decca F 11503) in 1962. He is a veteran of the West End stage, having played leading roles in over 15 hit shows.
In his first West End musical, Maggie May, he was nominated as best newcomer. Gower Champion then chose him to play Barnaby in Hello Dolly at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane. He appeared in Canterbury Tales at the Phoenix Theatre as The Clerk of Oxford. Harold Hobson, The Times critic said, "He was a breath of fresh air in the West-End". He went on to play leading roles in No Sex Please, We're British, Billy, What's a Nice Country, The Rivals, Love, Lust, & Marriage, Some Like It Hot, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and in the original cast of Dirty Dancing. Lately he has appeared as Grandpa George and Grandpa Joe in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory at Drury Lane. In 2010, he was the Mysterious Man in the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Into the Woods.Regent's Park Into the Woods cast, sondheimguide.com. Accessed 23 July 2023.
In 2016, he was Major Bouvier and Norman Vincent Peale in the smash hit Grey Gardens. He followed this playing Arvide in Guys and Dolls at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End. He has had his own very successful television series in Ireland, It's Billy Boyle, as well as leading roles in Trail of Guilt, the award-winning The Grass Arena and The Bretts, as well as many guest appearances in EastEnders, The Professionals, Coronation Street, Father Ted, etc.
In the late 1970s, Boyle was cast as Ronald McDonald in the European TV commercials and in all print media for the fast-food chain McDonald's. He was the last 'straight man' to Basil Brush on BBC1's The Basil Brush Show and later presented Dance Crazy for ITV, on the history of dance, with Lesley Judd. He was seen in Dirk Gently and Lead Balloon.
His films include Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon, Groupie Girl, Side by Side, Wild Geese II, The Scarlet and the Black, Round Ireland with a Fridge and A United Kingdom.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1970Groupie GirlWesley1975Barry LyndonNora's brother #21975Side by SideGary1985Wild Geese IIDevenish1987-1988The BrettsHegarty16 episodes1989Dead BangPriest1990It's Billy Boyle1992Screen TwoMr. HealyEpisode: "The Grass Arena"1993EastEndersDanny Taurus12 episodes1996Father TedChatback PriestEpisode: "A Christmassy Ted"1999ShergarCarrigan1999Trail of GuiltTV series2002The Basil Brush ShowTV series2008Coronation StreetFather Maguire2 episodes2009Dance Crazy2010Dirk GentlyHarry JordanEpisode: "Pilot"2010Round Ireland with a FridgeDonal2011Into the WoodsMysterious Man2011Lead BalloonPriestEpisode: "Shoddy"2016A United KingdomReverend James Manners2017National Theatre Live: FolliesTheodore Whitman2023Coronation StreetGlyn Young2025Silent WitnessCharles Mead
Stage Title RoleMaggie MayHello, Dolly!BarnabyCanterbury TalesThe Clerk of OxfordSome Like it HotJerry/DaphneNo Sex Please, We're BritishBillyWhat's a Nice CountryThe RivalsLove, Lust, & MarriageBeauty and the BeastMauriceInto the WoodsThe Mysterious ManCharlie and the Chocolate FactoryGrandpa George/Grandpa JoeGrey GardensMajor Bouvier/Norman Vincent PealeGuys and DollsArvideFolliesTheodore Whitman
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