Jack MacGowran
Jack MacGowran | |
|---|---|
 MacGowran, as pictured inHow I Won the War(1967) | |
| Born | John Joseph MacGowran 13 October 1918 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 30 January 1973(aged 54) New York City, U.S. |
| Years active | 1951–1973 |
| Spouse |
Aileen Gloria Nugent
(m.1963) |
| Children | 1 |
John Joseph MacGowran(13 October 1918 – 30 January 1973) was an Irish actor, known for being one of the foremost stage interpreters of the work ofSamuel Beckett,as well as his film roles as Professor Abronsius inThe Fearless Vampire Killers(1967), Juniper inHow I Won the War(1967), and Burke Dennings inThe Exorcist(1973), in which MacGowran died during production.
Career
[edit]Stage
[edit]MacGowran was born on 13 October 1918 in Dublin,[1]and educated atSynge Street CBS.[2]He established his professional reputation as a member of theAbbey Playersin Dublin, while he achieved stage renown for his knowing interpretations of the works ofSamuel Beckett.He appeared as Lucky inWaiting for Godotat theRoyal Court Theatre,and with theRoyal Shakespeare CompanyinEndgameat theAldwych Theatre.He released an LP record titledMacGowran Speaking Beckettto coincide with Samuel Beckett's 60th birthday in 1966,[3]and he won the 1970–71Obiefor Best Performance By an Actor in the off-Broadway playMacGowran in the Works of Beckett.[4]Beckett‘s television playEh Joewas written specifically for MacGowran, and he appears on the cover of the play’s published edition.
He also specialised in the work ofSeán O'Casey,creating the role of Joxer in the Broadway musicalJunoin 1959, based onJuno and the Paycock,O'Casey's 1924 play about theIrish Civil War.He played O'Casey's brother Archie inYoung Cassidy(1965), one ofJohn Ford's later films, which the director had to abandon due to ill health.[5][6]
In 1954, he moved to London, where he became a member of theRoyal Shakespeare Company,where he struck up a lasting friendship with actorPeter O'Toole,with whom he later appeared inRichard Brooks'Lord Jim(1965).
MacGowran played the title role of Gandhi in the Broadway play written by Gurney Campbell in 1971, directed byJosé Quintero.[7]
Film
[edit]MacGowran's film career started in Ireland with the filmNo Resting Place(1951), and many of his earlier films were set in Ireland. NotablyThe Quiet Man(1952),The Gentle Gunman(1952),Rooney(1958) andDarby O'Gill and the Little People(1959).
In 1966Roman Polanskicast him as the gangster Albie inCul-de-sac,before creating Professor Abronsius inThe Fearless Vampire Killers(1967) especially for him. Other notable film appearances include theEalingcomedyThe Titfield Thunderbolt(1953),Tony Richardson'sTom Jones(1963),David Lean'sDoctor Zhivago(1965),Richard Lester'sHow I Won the War(1967),Peter Brook'sKing Lear,the leading role of Professor Collins inWonderwall(1968), andAge of Consent(1969). On TV, he appeared in "The Happening", episode 5 ofThe Championsas Banner B. Banner, (Old prospector), and in "The Winged Avenger" episode ofThe Avengers(where he is sometimes listed as "Jack MacGowan" ). He played a safecracker oppositeKenneth Copein "The Ghost Talks"episode ofRandall and Hopkirk (Deceased).He played a thief in "Big Fish Little Fish" episode ofGideon's Way(1964). His last film wasThe Exorcist(1973), where he played Burke Dennings, an alcoholic director and Regan's first victim.[8]
Personal life
[edit]In 1963, he married Aileen Gloria Nugent, daughter ofSir Walter Nugent, Bt.
Death
[edit]Shortly after completing work onThe Exorcist,while in New York City appearing as Fluther inSeán O'Casey'sThe Plough and the Stars,MacGowran died at 54 frominfluenzaafter complications resulting from theLondon fluepidemic.[9]He was survived by his wife and daughter.
Partial filmography
[edit]- No Resting Place(1951) – Billy Kyle
- The Quiet Man(1952) – Ignatius Feeney
- The Gentle Gunman(1952) – Patsy McGuire
- Time Bomb(1953) – Bearded Man in Hostel (uncredited)
- The Titfield Thunderbolt(1953) – Vernon Crump
- Raiders of the River(1956) – Alf Barber
- Jacqueline(1956) – Campbell
- Sailor Beware!(1956) – Toddy (uncredited)
- The Rising of the Moon(1957) – Mickey J. – the poitín maker (1st Episode)
- Manuela(1957) – Tommy
- Rooney(1958) – Joe O'Connor
- She Didn't Say No!(1958) – William Bates
- Behemoth the Sea Monster(1959) – Dr. Sampson, the Paleontologist
- Darby O'Gill and the Little People(1959) – Phadrig Oge
- The Boy and the Bridge(1959) – Market Porter
- Blind Date(1959) – Postman
- Two and Two Make Six(1962) – Night Porter
- Captain Clegg(1962) – Frightened Man
- Mix Me a Person(1962) – Terence
- The Brain(1962) – Furber
- Tom Jones(1963) – Partridge
- The Ceremony(1963) – O'Brian
- Lord Jim(1965) – Robinson
- Young Cassidy(1965) – Archie
- Doctor Zhivago(1965) – Petya
- Cul-de-sac(1966) – Albie
- How I Won the War(1967) – Juniper
- The Fearless Vampire Killers(1967) – Professor Abronsius
- The AvengersTV Series: Episode "The Winged Avenger'" (1967) – Professor Poole
- Wonderwall(1968) – Prof. Oscar Collins
- Age of Consent(1969) – Nat Kelly
- Start the Revolution Without Me(1970) – Jacques
- The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go(1970) – Leo Zimmerman
- King Lear(1971) – Fool
- A Day at the Beach(1972) – The Collector
- The Exorcist(1973) – Burke Dennings (final film role)
References
[edit]- ^British film and television year book.Cinema TV Today. 1970. p. 234.
- ^Battersby, Eileen (9 November 1988)."Jack MacGowran: Born to play Beckett".Irish Times.Retrieved15 December2020.
- ^"MacGowan Speaking Beckett - MacGowran Speaking Beckett".Discogs.
- ^"Jack MacGowran in the Works of Samuel Beckett".
- ^"Young Cassidy".January 1965.
- ^"The Complete Rod Taylor Site: Young Cassidy".
- ^"Gandhi".
- ^Maye, Brian (8 October 2018)."Hero of the stage – An Irishman's Diary on actor Jack MacGowran".Irish Times.Retrieved5 March2019.
- ^van Gelder, Lawrence(31 January 1973)."Jack MacGowran, Interpreter Of Beckett and O'Casey, Dead".The New York Times.p. 44.Retrieved5 March2019.
External links
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