15 Facts About Dan O'Herlihy

Daniel Peter O'Herlihy was an Irish and American actor of film, television and radio.

Dan O'Herlihy was educated at Christian Brothers College in Dun Laoghaire and later studied at University College Dublin, graduating in 1944 with a degree in architecture, following in his father's footsteps.

Dan O'Herlihy developed a keen interest in acting during his university studies.

Dan O'Herlihy joined several amateur theatre groups and joined the Abbey Theatre as a bit player.

Dan O'Herlihy appeared in some fifty plays at the Gate.

Dan O'Herlihy made his film debut in 1947 in Carol Reed's Odd Man Out, which was shot on location in Belfast, and worked extensively in radio.

Dan O'Herlihy's career took an upward turn in 1954 when he played the title role in Luis Bunuel's Robinson Crusoe, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

Dan O'Herlihy recalled that the producers of the film wanted Bunuel to use Orson Welles for the role, with Bunuel refusing, saying he was too big and too fat.

Dan O'Herlihy was later featured in 1959 in The Young Land as Judge Millard Isham and as Dave Edwards in Douglas Sirk's remake of Imitation of Life.

Dan O'Herlihy was cast as Dr Caligari in The Cabinet of Caligari, Robert Bloch's reimagining of the German silent classic, in 1962.

Dan O'Herlihy portrayed Larry "Ace" Banner in the first season of The Untouchables in the episode titled "The Big Squeeze".

Dan O'Herlihy portrayed the ill-fated lumber tycoon Andrew Packard in the cult television program Twin Peaks and in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Deep Freeze", voicing the villainous theme park mogul Grant Walker.

In 1998, O'Herlihy acted in his last film, The Rat Pack, playing Joseph P Kennedy Sr.

Dan O'Herlihy was the brother of director Michael O'Herlihy, and the father of actor Gavan O'Herlihy, architect Lorcan O'Herlihy, and visual artist-turned-theatrical producer Olwen O'Herlihy.

Dan O'Herlihy died of natural causes in Malibu, California in 2005, aged 85.