Biography
Brother of actor Arthur Shields, with whom he performed in several films, most notably John Ford's The Quiet Man (1952). One of the very few character actors ever to achieve star status.
Fitzgerald was the only player ever nominated for the Academy Award for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in the same year for the same role. The recognition was for Going My Way (1944). After he received this double nomination, the Academy immediately changed their rules to prevent this from happening again, rules which have remained unchanged to this day.
One of Hollywood's finest character actors and most accomplished scene stealers, Barry Fitzgerald was born William Joseph Shields in 1888 in Dublin, Ireland. Educated to enter the banking business, the diminutive Irishman with the irresistible brogue was bitten by the acting bug in the 1920s and joined Dublin's world-famous Abbey Players. He subsequently starred in the Abbey Theatre production of Sean O'Casey's Juno And The Paycock, a role that he recreated in his film debut for director Alfred Hitchcock in 1930. He was coaxed to the U.S. in 1935 by John Ford to appear in Ford's film adaptation of another O'Casey masterpiece, The Plough and the Stars (1936). Fitzgerald took up residence in Hollywood and went on to give outstanding performances in such films as The Long Voyage Home (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941), None But the Lonely Heart (1944), And Then There Were None (1945), Two Years Before the Mast (1946) and what is probably the role for which he is most fondly remembered, The Quiet Man (1952). He won the Academy Award For Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of gruff, aging Father Fitzgibbon in Going My Way (1944). He was also nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for the same role and was the only actor to ever be so honored. Barry Fitzgerald died in his beloved Dublin in 1961.
Filmography
all 53
Movies 47
self 6
TV Shows 6
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered (2014)
Broth of a Boy (1959)
Rooney (1958)
The Catered Affair (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)
Happy Ever After (1954)
The Quiet Man (1952)
Ha da venì... don Calogero! (1952)
Silver City (1951)
The Cinematographer (1951)
Union Station (1950)
Lux Video Theatre (1950)
What's My Line? (1950)
The Story of Seabiscuit (1949)
Top o' the Morning (1949)
Miss Tatlock's Millions (1948)
The Sainted Sisters (1948)
The Naked City (1948)
Variety Girl (1947)
Welcome Stranger (1947)
Easy Come, Easy Go (1947)
California (1947)
Two Years Before the Mast (1946)
The Stork Club (1945)
And Then There Were None (1945)
Duffy's Tavern (1945)
Incendiary Blonde (1945)
None But the Lonely Heart (1944)
Going My Way (1944)
Corvette K-225 (1943)
Two Tickets to London (1943)
The Amazing Mrs. Holliday (1943)
Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941)
Full Confession (1939)
The Saint Strikes Back (1939)
Pacific Liner (1939)
Marie Antoinette (1938)
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Ebb Tide (1937)
Guests of The Nation (1935)
Juno and the Paycock (1929)
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1888-03-10
Deathday1961-01-14 (72 years old)
Birth NameWilliam Joseph Shields
Birth PlaceDublin, Ireland
Height160-centimeter
SiblingsArthur Shields
CitizenshipsRepublic of Ireland
Also Known AsWilliam Joseph Shields, Барри Фитцджеральд
Awardsstar on Hollywood Walk of Fame, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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