Here is the biography of Daniel Peter "Dan" O'Herlihy:
Daniel Peter "Dan" O'Herlihy was born on May 1, 1919, at Odessa Cottage, Wexford Town, County Wexford, Ireland, to John Robert O'Herlihy, a civil servant, and Ellen (née Hanton). He had at least two siblings, a sister and a younger brother, Michael O'Herlihy, who became a television director. The family moved to Dublin when Dan was one year old.
Educated at CBS Eblana, as a teenager, he developed literary ambitions. He applied to study law at University College Dublin (UCD) but switched to architecture, which allowed him to use his drawing skills. While a student, he published political cartoons in Irish newspapers under the initials "TOC".
Dan decided not to follow in his father's footsteps and instead pursued an acting career. He first came to note as a small part actor with the Gate and Abbey Theatre Players and later landed his first leading role in Sean O'Casey's play "Red Roses for Me" in 1944. He was spotted by director Carol Reed and cast as an IRA terrorist in "Odd Man Out" (1947) and "Hungry Hill" (1947),receiving good critical notices.
Orson Welles cast O'Herlihy in the role of Macduff for his production of "Macbeth" (1948),and Luis Buñuel cast him in the title role of "Robinson Crusoe" (1954). He was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the latter film.
O'Herlihy worked under short-term contracts for Universal and 20th Century Fox, often cast in costume dramas. He branched out into anthology television, becoming a sought-after guest star on popular prime time shows like "The Untouchables", "Bonanza", and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.". He also continued to work on radio shows.
From the mid-1960s, he was afforded better film opportunities, including a dual role in "The Cabinet of Caligari" (1962),a role in "Fail Safe" (1964),and appearances in "Waterloo" (1970),"The Last Starfighter" (1984),"Halloween III: Season of the Witch" (1982),"RoboCop" (1987),and "Twin Peaks" (1990).
Dan O'Herlihy died on February 17, 2005, at the age of 85. He left his papers to the care of University College Dublin (UCD),where he had graduated with a degree in architecture in 1945.
