Liam Cunningham(born 2 June 1961) is an Irish actor. He is known for playingDavos Seaworthin theHBOepic-fantasy seriesGame of Thrones.[1]
Liam Cunningham | |
|---|---|
 Cunningham in 2017 | |
| Born | 2 June 1961 |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | St Davids,Artane, Dublin |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse | Colette Cunningham |
| Children | 3 |
Cunningham has been nominated for theLondon Film Critics' Circle Award,theBritish Independent Film Award,has won twoIrish Film & Television Awards,and shared aBAFTAwithMichael Fassbender,for their crime-drama short filmPitch Black Heist.His film roles includeA Little Princess(1995),Jude(1996),Dog Soldiers(2002),The Crooked Man(2003),The Wind That Shakes the Barley(2006),Hunger(2008),The Escapist(2008),The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor(2008),Good Vibrations(2013),Let Us Prey(2014) andThe Childhood of a Leader(2015). In 2020, he was listed at number 36 onThe Irish Timeslist of Ireland's greatest film actors.[2]
Early life
editCunningham was born inEast Wall,which is an inner city area of theNorthsideofDublin.[3]He grew up in Kilmore West with his three sisters and a brother. Cunningham left secondary school at 15 and pursued a career as an electrician.[4]In the 1980s, Cunningham moved toZimbabwefor three years where he maintained electrical equipment at a safari park and trained Zimbabwean electricians.[5][6]After returning to Ireland, Cunningham became dissatisfied with his work as an electrician and decided to pursue his interest in acting. He attended acting classes and began to work in local theatre, including theRoyal Shakespeare Company.He appeared in a production ofStudsat The Tricycle Theatre inKilburn,London.[7]
Career
edit
Cunningham's debut film role came inInto the West(1992), where he played a police officer. His on-screen acting continued with roles inWar of the Buttons(1994), andA Little Princess(1995),[8][9]before making his role as Phillotson inJude(1996).[10]He continued with character roles inFalling for a Dancer(TV, 1998),RKO 281(1999),Shooting the Past(TV, 1999),When the Sky Falls(2000) andStranded(2002). Cunningham came to international prominence with his role as Captain Ryan in the critically acclaimed, independent horror film,Dog Soldiers(2002).[11]
Cunningham starred in well-received films such asThe Wind That Shakes the Barley(2006) which won thePalme d'Orat theCannes Film Festival;Hunger;The Escapist(both 2008);The Guard;andBlack Butterflies(both 2011). He also had roles in many high budget British and American films includingThe League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse(2005),The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor(2008),Harry Brown(2009),Clash of the Titans,Centurion(both 2010).[12]On television, he appeared as PresidentRichard Tatein theBBCprogrammeOutcasts.[13]Cunningham was producerPhilip Segal’s first choice to portray theEighth Doctorin the TV movie ofDoctor Who(1996), but was vetoed by Fox executives.[14][15]
In 2012, Cunningham joined the main cast for thesecond seasonofHBO'sGame of Thronesportraying former smugglerDavos Seaworth,[16]and in 2013 he starred inThe Numbers StationalongsideJohn Cusack.[17]He was also cast in season 5 of theBBCseriesMerlinas a sorcerer.[18]He featured in the music video for "High Hopes"by Irish alternative rock bandKodalinefrom their EPThe High Hopes.[19]In April 2013, he appeared in the seventh series of theBBC OneseriesDoctor Whoin the episode "Cold War",where he played Captain Zhukov, the commander of a Russian submarine in 1983 facing one ofthe Ice Warriors.[20]In 2015, he played the father inBrady Corbet's directorial debut film,The Childhood of a Leader.[21]
In February 2020, it was announced that Cunningham would voiceMan-At-Armsin theNetflixanimated seriesMasters of the Universe: Revelation.[22]
Personal life
editCunningham lives inDublinwith his wife Colette, with whom he has three children, daughter Ellen and sons Liam Jr. and Sean.[23]
Political views
editIn 2015, Cunningham was one of over 100 artists who signed a letter toThe Guardianannouncing support for acultural boycott of Israel.[24]In light of the2023 Israel–Hamas war,he was one of over two thousand to sign an Artists for Palestine letter calling for a ceasefire and accusing western governments of "not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them."[25]
Cunningham endorsedSolidarity–People Before Profitin the2020 Irish general election.[26]
Filmography
edit
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Into the West | Police Officer | |
| Public Toilet | Short film | ||
| Heaven Only Knows | Paul Clarke | ||
| 1993 | The Sea | ||
| 1994 | Undercurrent | Greg Laughton | |
| War of the Buttons | The Master | ||
| 1995 | A Little Princess | Capt. Crewe / Prince Rama | |
| First Knight | Sir Agravaine | ||
| 1996 | Jude | Phillotson | |
| 1997 | The Doherty Brothers | Connor Doherty | Short film |
| The Life of Stuff | Alex Sneddon | ||
| 1998 | The Tale of Sweety Barrett | Detective Bone | |
| 1999 | A Love Divided | Sean Cloney | |
| 2000 | When the Sky Falls | John Cosgrave (The Runner) | |
| The Second Death | James Mangan | Short film | |
| 2001 | Revelation | Father Ray Connolly | |
| The Island of the Mapmaker's Wife | John Wyndham | ||
| 2002 | Dog Soldiers | Capt. Ryan | |
| The Abduction Club | John Power | ||
| 2003 | Mystics | Sean Foley | |
| The Crooked Man | Hamilton | ||
| The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse | Director | ||
| 2004 | The Card Player | John Brennan | |
| Screwback | Harry | Short film | |
| 2005 | Breakfast on Pluto | 1st Biker | |
| 2006 | The Wind That Shakes the Barley | Dan | |
| 2008 | The Escapist | Brodie | |
| Hunger | Father Dominic Moran | ||
| Paris Noir | Douglas | ||
| The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor | Mad Dog Maguire | ||
| 2009 | Blood: The Last Vampire | Michael Harrison | |
| The Tournament | Powers | ||
| Perrier's Bounty | The Mutt | ||
| Harry Brown | Sid Rourke | ||
| 2010 | Centurion | Brick | |
| Clash of the Titans | Solon | ||
| The Whistleblower | Bill Hynes | ||
| 2011 | Pitch Black Heist | Liam | Short film Also executive producer |
| The Guard | Francis Sheehy-Skelfington | ||
| Black Butterflies | Jack Cope | ||
| The Silence of Joan | The English Captain | ||
| War Horse | The Army Doctor | ||
| 2012 | Safe House | Alec Wade | |
| 2013 | SLR | Elliot | Short film |
| The Numbers Station | Grey | ||
| Good Vibrations | Davy | ||
| 2014 | I Am Here | Father | Short film |
| Noble | Thomas | ||
| Let Us Prey | Six | ||
| 2015 | Ladygrey | Angus | |
| Dusha shpiona | Hillsman | ||
| The Childhood of a Leader | The Father | ||
| Pursuit | Fionn | ||
| 2017 | 24 Hours to Live | Wetzler | |
| 2021 | The Vault | Walter Moreland | |
| 2023 | The Last Voyage of the Demeter | Captain Elliot | |
| TBA | Palestine 36 | Post-production |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | A Handful of Stars | Stapler | TV movie |
| Poor Beast in the Rain | Danger Doyle | ||
| 1994–1995 | Roughnecks | Chris | 13 episodes |
| 1995 | Cracker | Stuart Grady | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Police 2020 | DCI Billy O'Connell | Pilot |
| 1998 | Falling for a Dancer | Mossie Sheehan | TV movie |
| 1999 | Shooting the Past | Christopher Anderson | Miniseries |
| Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke | Alec Cunningham-Reid | TV movie | |
| RKO 281 | Gregg Toland | ||
| 2000 | A Likeness in Stone | Bill Armstrong | |
| 2001 | Rebel Heart | Michael Malone | |
| Attila | Theodoric I | 2 episodes | |
| 2002 | Stranded | David Robinson | TV movie |
| 2003 | Final Demand | David Milner | |
| Prime Suspect | Robert West | Episode: "Part 1" | |
| 2004 | Messiah | Pace Tierney | Episode: "The Promise" |
| 2005 | Showbands | Tony Golden | TV movie |
| The Clinic | Malcolm Keown | 5 episodes | |
| 2006 | Hotel Babylon | Adrian McBride | Episode #1.8 |
| Showbands II | Tony Golden | TV movie | |
| Murphy's Law | Drew Johnstone | 3 episodes | |
| 2007 | Afterlife | Jonathan | Episode: "Your Hand in Mine" |
| The Wild West | Wyatt Earp | Episode: "The Gunfight at the OK Corral" | |
| Northanger Abbey | General Tilney | TV movie | |
| Anner House | Neil Barry | ||
| The Catherine Tate Show | Father | Episode: "Christmas Special" | |
| 2009 | The Street | Thomas Miller | Episode #3.1 |
| 2011 | Outcasts | President Richard Tate | 8 episodes |
| Camelot | Colfur | Episode: "Justice" | |
| Strike Back: Project Dawn | Daniel Connolly | 2 episodes | |
| 2012 | Saving the Titanic | Narrator | Documentary |
| Titanic: Blood and Steel | Jim Larkin | 5 episodes | |
| Merlin | Ruadan | 2 episodes | |
| 2012–2019 | Game of Thrones | Davos Seaworth | 42 episodes |
| 2013 | Doctor Who | Captain Zhukov | Episode: "Cold War" |
| Vera | Sam Harper | Episode: "Prodigal Son" | |
| 2015 | The Musketeers | Belgard | Episode: "The Prodigal Father" |
| 2017 | Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams | General Olin | Episode: "Human Is" |
| 2019 | The Hot Zone | Wade Carter | 6 episodes |
| Rick and Morty | Balthromaw (voice) | Episode: “Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim's Morty” | |
| 2020 | Solar Opposites | Pupa (voice) | Episode: "Retrace-Your-Step-Alizer" |
| 2021–present | Masters of the Universe: Revelation | Man-At-Arms | 13 episodes |
| 2021 | Domina | Livius | 8 episodes |
| 2024–present | 3 Body Problem | Thomas Wade | 8 episodes |
Music videos
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "High Hopes" | ByKodaline |
Awards and nominations
editReferences
edit- ^"Liam Cunningham signs for next six series ofGame of Thrones".Independent Women.Retrieved18 August2012.
- ^Clarke, Donald; Brady, Tara."The 50 greatest Irish film actors of all time – in order".The Irish Times.Retrieved3 November2021.
- ^"Falling for an Irish Lad".Irish News, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 27 November 1999 – by Robert McMillen. Archived fromthe originalon 17 March 2012.Retrieved18 August2012.
- ^"Game Of Thrones star Liam Cunningham talks to The Works Presents".Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 21 March 2017.
- ^"Liam Cunningham Talks About the End of 'Game of Thrones'".GQ.15 January 2018.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^"Liam Cunningham on his phenomenal success in 'Game of Thrones', his childhood in Coolock and getting married at 22".The Irish Independent.14 January 2019.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^Nat (3 September 2017)."Five Things You Didn't Know About Liam Cunningham".TVOvermind.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^"This 'Game of Thrones' character was in" A Little Princess "and you didn't even notice".HelloGiggles.21 July 2016.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^Lewis, Anna (21 July 2016)."You'll never guess which Game Of Thrones actor played the dad in The Little Princess…".Cosmopolitan.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^Rose, Lloyd (1 November 1996)."'Jude': Loss of Innocents ".The Washington Post.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^Minns, Adam."UK horror Dog Soldiers wins at Brussels festival".Screendaily.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^"Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham will lead this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin".JOE.ie.28 February 2018.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^"Television review: 'Outcasts'".Los Angeles Times.18 June 2011.ISSN0458-3035.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^"A Brief History Of Time (Travel): Doctor Who (1996)".Shannonsullivan.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^"10 Things You Might Not Know About DOCTOR WHO: THE TV MOVIE".Warpedfactor.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^"Game of Thrones Casts Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved19 August2012.
- ^"The Numbers Station".Matador Pictures. Archived fromthe originalon 23 September 2012.Retrieved18 August2012.
- ^"Liam Cunningham cast in BBC's Merlin".Irish Film and Television Network.Retrieved19 August2012.
- ^Kodaline – High Hopes.23 January 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2021.Retrieved14 February2016– viaYouTube.
- ^"Liam Cunningham, Matt Smith, David Warner, and Jenna-Louise Coleman in 'Cold War'".THE UNAFFILIATED CRITIC.16 April 2013.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^Movieclips Indie (29 June 2016),The Childhood of a Leader Trailer 1 (2016) - Liam Cunningham Movie,archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2021,retrieved12 July2019– via YouTube
- ^"Mark Hamill Will Voice Skeletor on the New 'Masters of the Universe'".Screen Rant.14 February 2020.
- ^Goronja, Ariel (10 April 2019)."Is Liam Cunningham Married? Does the Game of Thrones Actor Have a Wife?".Heavy.Retrieved12 July2019.
- ^"Over 100 artists announce a cultural boycott of Israel | Letters".The Guardian.13 February 2015.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved3 March2019.
- ^"Tilda Swinton among 2000+ artists calling for Gaza ceasefire".Artists for Palestine.17 October 2023.Retrieved17 October2023.
- ^"Our favourite Game of Thrones actor, Liam Cunningham - calling for your number 1 vote for Solidarity - People before Profit".People Before Profit. 7 February 2020.Retrieved7 February2020– viaTwitter.
- ^"Here's the full list of nominees for this year's Irish Film and Television Awards".Entertainment.ie.8 March 2017.Retrieved10 March2017.
External links
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