
Barry Fitzgerald
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.
- Known ForActing
- Born9 March 1888 (age 137)
- Place of BirthDublin, Ireland
Barry Fitzgerald

- Known ForActing
- Born9 March 1888 (age 137)
- Place of BirthDublin, Ireland

Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
2014

Cradle of Genius
1960
Broth of a Boy
1959

Rooney
1958

The Catered Affair
1956

Santa Claus and the Tenth Avenue Kid
1955

Happy Ever After
1954

The Quiet Man
1952

Ha da venì... don Calogero!
1952

Silver City
1951

Union Station
1950

The Story of Seabiscuit
1949

Top o' the Morning
1949

The Naked City
1948

The Sainted Sisters
1948

Miss Tatlock's Millions
1948

California
1947

Welcome Stranger
1947

Variety Girl
1947

Easy Come, Easy Go
1947

Two Years Before the Mast
1946

And Then There Were None
1945

The Stork Club
1945

Incendiary Blonde
1945

Duffy's Tavern
1945

Going My Way
1944

None But the Lonely Heart
1944

I Love a Soldier
1944

The Amazing Mrs. Holliday
1943

Two Tickets to London
1943

Corvette K-225
1943

The Sea Wolf
1941

Tarzan's Secret Treasure
1941

How Green Was My Valley
1941

The Long Voyage Home
1940

San Francisco Docks
1940

The Saint Strikes Back
1939

Full Confession
1939

Pacific Liner
1939

Bringing Up Baby
1938

The Dawn Patrol
1938

Four Men and a Prayer
1938

Marie Antoinette
1938

Ebb Tide
1937

The Plough and the Stars
1936

Guests of The Nation
1935
