Who is Gabriel Byrne? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Gabriel James Byrne

Age: 73 Years, 73 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Hannah Beth King (m. 2014), Ellen Barkin (m. 1988–1999)

father: Dan Byrne

mother: Eileen Gannon

children: Jack Daniel Byrne, Romy Marion Byrne

Born Country: Ireland

Actors T V & Movie Producers

Height: 5'10" (178 cm), 5'10" Males

Ancestry: Irish American

More Facts

education: University College Dublin

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Childhood & Early Life

Gabriel was born on May 12, 1950, in Dublin, Ireland. He was the eldest of the six children of his parents. Byrne’s father was a barrel maker for ‘Guinness,’ the Irish brewer, and his mother was a nurse.

After being influenced by a Catholic priest, Gabriel considered becoming a priest and moved to England to study for it. However, after a few years, he left the seminary and went back to Ireland. Later, he revealed that he had been sexually abused during his training at the seminary.

Byrne attended the ‘University College, Dublin’ (UCD), on a scholarship. After receiving his degree in archaeology and linguistics, he started working as a teacher at ‘Ardscoil Éanna’ in Crumlin, Dublin.

Gabriel experimented with a number of jobs, including that of a plumber, an archaeologist, and a cook, before deciding to pursue acting.

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Early Career

Gabriel was 29 years old when he decided to devote his life to acting. He started as a theater actor at Dublin’s ‘Focus Theatre’ and ‘Abbey Theatre’.

In 1978, Gabriel made his TV debut in the soap opera ‘The Riordans,’ in which he played the role of ‘Pat Barry’. He reprised his role in ‘Bracken,’ which was a spinoff of ‘The Riordans.’

Gabriel made his movie debut in ‘Excalibur’ in 1981. Soon, he became a Hollywood star.

Gabriel appeared in a number of TV series such as ‘Stranger’ (1981) and ‘Christopher Columbus’ (1985). He also starred in films such as ‘Hanna K.’ (1983), ‘Gothic’ (1986), ‘Lionheart’ (1987), and ‘Dark Obsession’ (1989), until he had his first big success with ‘Miller’s Crossing’ (1990).

Career

Byrne tasted massive success with ‘Miller’s Crossing,’ in 1990. The rest is history.

He became a star soon after. During the 1990s, he delivered remarkable performances in movies such as ‘Into the West’ (1992), ‘Little Women’ (1994), ‘The Usual Suspects’ (1995), ‘The End of Violence’ (1997), ‘Enemy of the State’ (1998), ‘Stigmata’ (1999), and ‘End of Days’ (1999).

In 2000, Byrne went back to doing theater. His work in the ‘Broadway’ production ‘A Moon for the Misbegotten’ at the ‘Walter Kerr Theatre’ was widely appreciated.

He continued starring in films such as ‘Canone Inverso’ (2000), ‘Virginia’s Run’ (2002), ‘Ghost Ship’ (2002), and ‘Shade’ (2003). In 2004, he became a part of another hit movie ‘Vanity Fair.’

In 2005, he gave an outstanding performance in ‘A Touch of the Poet,’ a ‘Broadway’ show by ‘Studio 54.’ The same year, he also starred in the Hollywood action film ‘Assault on Precinct 13.’

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In 2006, Gabriel starred in another brilliant film, ‘Jindabyne,’ an Australian production. Many more of his movies hit the silver screen in the following years.

In 2008, he played ‘King Arthur’ in ‘Camelot,’ another ‘Broadway’ production for the ‘New York Philharmonic’s annual musical event.’ His most famous TV role has been in the ‘HBO’ drama ‘In Treatment,’ from 2008 to 2010.

His other notable movie roles were in ‘I, Anna’ (2012), ‘Vampire Academy’ (2014), ‘The 33’ (2014), ‘Louder Than Bombs’ (2015), ‘Nobody Wants the Night’ (2015), ‘Carrie Pilby’ (2016), and ‘Mad to Be Normal’ (2017).

In 2016, his ‘Broadway’ performance in ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night’ earned him a lot of positive reviews. Gabriel is set to star in the movie ‘Hereditary’ in 2018.

Other Works

As a screenwriter, Byrne co-wrote his 1996 movie ‘The Last of the High Kings.’ As a producer, his most noteworthy film remains to be ‘In the Name of the Father,’ which received seven ‘Academy Award’ nominations and four ‘Golden Globe’ nominations.

In 2004, his charity endeavors earned him the honor of being a ‘UNICEF Ireland’ ambassador.’

In 2008, Byrne released his documentary ‘Stories from Home,’ which revealed a few personal realties of his life. It premiered at the ‘Los Angeles Irish Film Festival’ in 2009.

Awards & Achievements

In 1979, Gabriel won his first award for ‘Best Actor in a TV Series’ (Drama) for ‘Bracken’ at the ‘Jacob’s Awards.’

In 1995, he won the ‘NBR Award for Best Acting by Ensemble’ for ‘The Usual Suspects.’ In 2000, he won the ‘Theatre World Award’ for ‘A Moon for the Misbegotten.’

He earned a ‘Tony Award’ nomination for ‘A Moon for the Misbegotten.’ In 2007, he was awarded the ‘Volta Award for Lifetime Achievement in Acting’ at ‘Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.’

In 2007, he earned an honorary degree from the ‘National University of Ireland,’ Galway, for his contribution to Irish cinema. The same year, he received the ‘Honorary Patronage’ of the’ University Philosophical Society’ from ‘Trinity College,’ Dublin.

In 2008, he earned his first ‘Emmy’ nomination for ‘In Treatment.’ The same year, he won his first ‘Golden Globe’ in the category of ‘Outstanding Performance in a Drama Series’ for ‘In Treatment.’

In 2009, he earned another ‘Emmy’ nomination for ‘In Treatment.’ In 2016, he received a ‘Tony Award’ nomination for his performance in ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night.’

Personal Life

Byrne was in a relationship with TV producer Aine O’Connor for 12 years. Their relationship ended in 1986.

Later, he married actor Ellen Barkin. The couple had two children but divorced in 1999.

He married Hannah Beth King on August 4, 2014. They had a daughter in February 2017.

Gabriel Byrne Biography