1. John Joseph MacGowran was an Irish actor, known for being one of the foremost stage interpreters of the work of Samuel Beckett, as well as his film roles as Professor Abronsius in The Fearless Vampire Killers, Juniper in How I Won the War, and Burke Dennings in The Exorcist ; MacGowran died during production of the latter film.
Jack MacGowran was born on 13 October 1918 in Dublin, and educated at Synge Street CBS.
Jack MacGowran established his professional reputation as a member of the Abbey Players in Dublin, while he achieved stage renown for his knowing interpretations of the works of Samuel Beckett.
Jack MacGowran appeared as Lucky in Waiting for Godot at the Royal Court Theatre, and with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Endgame at the Aldwych Theatre.
Jack MacGowran specialised in the work of Sean O'Casey, creating the role of Joxer in the Broadway musical Juno in 1959, based on Juno and the Paycock, O'Casey's 1924 play about the Irish Civil War.
Jack MacGowran played O'Casey's brother Archie in Young Cassidy, one of John Ford's later films, which the director had to abandon due to ill health.
Jack MacGowran played the title role of Gandhi in the Broadway play written by Gurney Campbell in 1971, directed by Jose Quintero.
Jack MacGowran played a safecracker opposite Kenneth Cope in "The Ghost Talks" episode of Randall and Hopkirk.
Jack MacGowran played a thief in "Big Fish Little Fish" episode of Gideon's Way.
Shortly after completing work on The Exorcist, while in New York City appearing as Fluther in Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars, Jack MacGowran died at 54 from influenza after complications resulting from the London flu epidemic.