William George Fay (12 November 1872 – 27 October 1947) was an actor and theatre producer who was one of the co-founders of the Abbey Theatre.
Fay was born in Dublin, where he attended Belvedere College.Ferriter, Diarmaid (2009). "Fay, William George (‘Wille’)". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 16 October 2024. He worked for a time in the 1890s with a touring theatre company in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. When he returned to Dublin, he worked with his older brother Frank, staging productions in halls around the city. Finally, they formed W. G. Fay's Irish National Dramatic Company, focused on the development of Irish acting talent. The brothers participated in founding the Abbey Theatre and were largely responsible for evolving the Abbey style of acting. After a falling-out with the Abbey directors in 1908, the brothers emigrated to the United States to work in theatre there.
He moved to London in 1914, working as an actor on stage and in films.
He played Johnnie, in the film, Spellbound (1941 film). One of his most notable film roles was as Father Tom in Carol Reed's Belfast-set Odd Man Out (1947), whose cast was dense with actors from the Abbey Theatre. His memoir, The Fays of the Abbey Theatre, appeared in 1935. Willie Fay died in London in 1947, aged 74.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1933 The Blarney Stone The Leader 1934 General John Regan Golligher 1937 Storm in a Teacup Michael Cassidy 1937 The Last Curtain Milligan 1941 Spring Meeting Johnny Mahoney 1941 This Man Is Dangerous Mr. Eslick 1941 Spellbound Johnny 1946 London Town Mike 1947 Odd Man Out Father Tom 1947 Temptation Harbour Night Porter Uncredited1948 Oliver Twist Bookseller (final film role)
References
Bibliography Igoe, Vivien. A Literary Guide to Dublin. (Methuen, 1994) Ryan, Philip B. The Lost Theatres of Dublin. (The Badger Press, 1998)
External links