Milo O'Shea (born 2 June, 1926, in Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish character actor, recognisable for his bushy eyebrows, resounding voice and impish smile.
He was raised in Dublin, Ireland and educated by the Christian Brothers at Synge Street, along with his friend Donal Donnelly, who was born in England but raised in Ireland.
He began acting on the stage, then moved into film in the 1960s. He became popular in the UK as a result of starring in the BBC sitcom, Me Mammy, alongside Yootha Joyce. In 1967/68 he appeared in the drama Staircase, co-starring Eli Wallach and directed by Barry Morse, which stands as Broadway’s first depiction of homosexual men in a serious way.
O'Shea starred as Leopold Bloom in Joseph Strick's 1967 film version of Ulysses. Among his other memorable film roles in the 1960s were as the well-intentioned Friar Laurence in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet, and as the villainous Dr. Durand Durand in Roger Vadim's counterculture classic Barbarella (both films were released in 1968). He played Inspector Boot in the 1973 Vincent Price horror film Theatre of Blood.
He has continued to be active in American films and TV, such as his memorable supporting role as the trial judge in the Sidney Lumet directed movie The Verdict, and the TV series The West Wing.
He is married to the Irish actress Kitty Sullivan, with whom he has occasionally acted, most notably in a 1981 Broadway revival of My Fair Lady. They do not have any children. He and his wife have both adopted United States citizenship.
Other notable stage appearances include Mass Appeal (1981) in which he originated the role of "Father Tim Farley" (for which he was nominated for a Tony Award as "Best Actor"), Corpse! (1986) and a 1994 Broadway revival of Philadelphia, Here I Come.
