Gabriel Byrne: Biography
Born in Dublin, Ireland, as the first of six children, Gabriel discovered his passion for acting later in his life. His careers were as eclectic as the characters he has portrayed on the screen. Before becoming an actor, he worked as an archaeologist, a cook, a bullfighter and a Spanish schoolteacher. He began his acting career on stage with The Focus Theatre and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, then later joined the Royal Court and the National Theatre in London. In 1981, he made his film debut as Lord Uther in John Boorman's classic King Arthur epic, "Excalibur."
Gabriel Byrne: Career
After appearing in a few more community theater productions, Byrne became a member of the Abbey Theatre. He also began to work in television, and in 1979 made his film debut in The Outsider. Although his film roles were steady -- albeit small -- TV was where he was most recognizable, particularly thanks to his work in the popular Irish series Bracken. Another notable television role was that of Christopher Columbus in an American miniseries of the same name.
Byrne's film career during the 1980s was decidedly uneven. Although there were a few hits, such as the 1981 Excalibur, the number of misses was substantial. One of those misses was the 1987 film Siesta, in which he starred opposite Ellen Barkin. Although the film failed to do well, it did result in a marriage between Byrne and his co-star. The two married in 1988, and during the course of their marriage they collaborated on one film, the children's adventure Into the West (1993). They divorced in 1993.
Byrne's film career did not take flight until he starred as an Irish mobster in the Coen brothers' memorable Miller's Crossing (1990). The film helped to establish him as an actor to be taken seriously, and since 1993 -- when he starred in The Point of No Return -- Byrne has enjoyed steady work, appearing in three to four films per year, notably, Little Women (1994), Dead Man (1995), The Usual Suspects (1995), Smilla's Sense of Snow (1997), and The Man in the Iron Mask (1998), in which he and Jeremy Irons, Gérard Depardieu, and John Malkovich starred as the Three Musketeers. In 1999, Byrne starred as a priest asked to investigate the case of a woman (Patricia Arquette) who has developed Christ-like wounds in Stigmata. That same year, he took on an entirely different role, playing Satan himself in the action-thriller End of Days.
Gabriel Byrne: Films
Virginia's Run (2005), The Bridge Of San Luis Rey (2005), Assault on Precinct 13 (2005), P.S. (2004), Vanity Fair (2004), Shade (2004), Killing Emmett Young (2003), Spider (2002), Ghost Ship (2002), When Brendan Met Trudy (2001), Virginia's Run (2001), Mad About Mambo (2000), End of Days (1999), Stigmata (1999), This is the Sea (1998), Enemy of the State (1998), Polish Wedding (1998), Quest for Camelot (1998), Last of the High Kings (1998), The Man in the Iron Mask (1998), The Brylcreem Boys (1997), Royal Deceit (1997), Weapons of Mass Distraction (1997), The End of Violence (1997), Smilla's Sense Of Snow (1997), Somebody is Waiting (1996), Mad Dog Time (1996), Dead Man (1996),
Frankie Starlight (1995), The Usual Suspects (1995), Little Women (1994), Trial By Jury (1994), A Simple Twist of Fate (1994), A Dangerous Woman (1993), Into the West (1993), Point of No Return (1993), Cool World (1992), Diamond Skulls (1991), Hakon Hakonsen (1991), Miller's Crossing (1990), Lionheart (1989), A Soldier's Tale (1989), The Courier (1988), Julia and Julia (1988), Siesta (1987), Hello, Again (1987), Gothic (1987), Defence of the Realm (1986), Christopher Columbus (1985), Hanna K. (1983), The Keep (1983), Excalibur (1981)