Brendan Gleeson (born 29 March 1955) is an Irish actor who has starred in many high profile Irish, American and British films. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the Harry Potter films, Kingdom of Heaven, Troy, Gangs of New York, 28 Days Later, Braveheart, and The General. His most recent role is as Ken in the movie In Bruges, starring alongside Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes.

A versatile actor, who decided to become an actor at age 34 after teaching a secondary level for several years, made his debut as a quarryman in Field, The (1990). He had several small roles in major Hollywood movies based in Ireland, such as Far and Away (1992) and Into the West (1992). Memorably played historical Irish figure Michael Collins in Treaty, The (1991) (TV). Made his breakthrough in Scottish themed Braveheart (1995), which was largely filmed in Ireland, opposite Mel Gibson (I). He played Gibson's right-hand man Hamish. Since then, he has appeared in numerous major films such as Mission: Impossible II (2000), Lake Placid (1999), _Turbulence (1997/I)_. He has made a name for himself taking the titular role in General, The (1998), based on the life of Irish criminal Martin Cahill, for which he won the Boston Society of Film Critics Award. He appears in director John Boorman's film Tailor of Panama, The (2001) as well as Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York (2002) and Steven Spielberg (I)'s Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001).

Brendan Gleeson was born on March 29, 1955 in Dublin, Ireland. From a very young age he loved to learn, especially reading classical text in and outside the classroom. He took great attention to Irish play writers such as Samual Beckett, which eventually led to him performing in his high school play production of 'Waiting for Godot', and paying great attention to detail in his high school drama classes. Upon finishing 12th grade, he spent a couple of years with the Dublin Shakespeare Festival, and under the advice of a director there, headed across to London and auditioned for drama schools. He was nearly immediately accepted to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and he graduated from the three year BA hons course. After RADA, he returned home to Dublin, and continued with theatre, as well as making a living as a secondary level teacher specifically in English and Drama. Soon to follow, he was invited to audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon, and spent a couple of seasons back in England on the stage. He then, at the age of thirty five, decided to audition for films in the UK and began to build a very respectable resume playing many different diverse characters. His classical acting skills gained the attention of Mel Gibson and he was casted in the 1995 film Braveheart. Ever since, he has continued to bring his huge stage presence to the screen, always delivering the character in full development to his audience. He is married to his lovely wife Mary since 1982. They gave four sons.