Gabriel Byrne is an Irish actor whose star caught fire thanks to the Coen brothers crime drama Miller's Crossroads. In this picture, he embodied the image of a talented criminal Tom, a selfish and vile person. “Patients”, “Gothic”, “The Man in the Iron Mask”, “Mussolini: An Untold Story”, “Vikings”, “Common Suspects” - famous films and series with his participation. What else can you tell about this man?
Gabriel Byrne: The Beginning of the Way
The future actor was born in Dublin, there was a joyful event in May 1950. Gabriel Byrne was born in the family of a worker and a nurse, among his relatives there are no people associated with the world of cinema. He is the eldest of six children. Gabriel's mother and father raised sons and daughters in the Catholic faith. As a child, the boy was thinking about the career of a priest, he studied at the seminary for five years.
Gabriel Byrne did not become a priest, which he now does not regret. He was 16 years old when he was expelled for misconduct. For some time, the young man interrupted by casual work, then entered the Irish National University, where he began to study archeology.
A teacher, a cook, an archaeologist, a writer, a factory worker - in which profession Gabriel did not try to find his calling after graduation. The longest time he worked as a teacher of Spanish language and literature, however, this lesson soon bored the young man.
Theatre
In 1976, Gabriel Byrne gained his first stage experience. The young man began to participate in the productions of the experimental "Project Theater". Then he earned only forty dollars a week, but he finally got something to his liking.
In 1978, Byrne smiled luck: he was accepted into the troupe of the Dublin Abbey Theater, and a year later his collaboration with the Royal Theater of London began. However, the actor won fame nevertheless thanks to roles in films and TV shows.
First roles
In 1978, Gabriel Byrne first appeared on the set. The filmography of the actor began with the picture "Riding on a cobblestone pavement." Then the young man received one of the key roles in the television project “The Riordans Family”, which tells about the everyday life of Irish peasants. In 1979, it was decided to close the series, which prompted Byrne to move to London.
For the first time, Gabriel was able to declare himself thanks to the film "Escalibur", presented to the audience in 1981. In this drama, he played the role of King Uther, who is the father of the legendary Arthur. His hero was allocated little screen time, but he was remembered.
80s roles
In the 80s, Gabriel Byrne finally began to act actively, films and series with his participation came out one after another. In Hannah K. the actor brilliantly embodied the image of a clever diplomat from Israel, in the military drama "Fortress" played the role of a German soldier. Byrne got his first major role in 1986. He played a journalist in the thriller Defense of the Empire. The hero of Gabriel was an ambitious reporter, whose sensational article produces the effect of an exploding bomb.
In the film "In the Gothic style" Byrne perfectly coped with the role of the arrogant Lord Byron. Also worth watching is the mini-series Christopher Columbus, in which the actor embodied the image of the most famous traveler.
Movies & TV Series 90s
Gabriel Byrne continued to work actively in the 90s. Films and series with his participation began to be released even more often, which is associated with the success of the picture “Miller's Crossroads”. The Coen Brothers film tells about the everyday life of American gangsters. Gabriel’s hero is Tom Reagan, a cunning adviser to the mafia boss who always comes out of the water.
In the touching drama "To the West" Gabriel embodied the image of a suffering widower, who is forced to raise two children alone. In "The Killer", his character was a secret agent who could not be caught. In Dangerous Woman, he portrays a man who has two lovers. Byrne became a professor of philosophy in the historical drama Little Women. The actor played a secondary role in the film "The Man in the Iron Mask."
It should be noted and "Suspicious faces" by Brian Singer. In this film, Gabriel tried on the image of the scammer Dean Keaton.
What else to see
In the new century, Byrne is filmed mainly in psychological and historical dramas. “Spider”, “Vanity Fair”, “Bridge of King Louis Saint”, “Attack on the 13th section” - in all these paintings you can see the actor. In the drama Wow Wow, he plays the role of an alcoholic father, who is trying to educate his son and has serious problems with women.
In the drama series "Treatment" he got the role of the psychotherapist Paul Weston, who has problems in his personal life due to obsession with work. In Viking, he brilliantly embodied the image of a jarl opposing Ragnar Lodbrok.
Personal life
Is Gabriel Byrne married? The biography of the actor indicates that he married twice. His first wife was actress Ellen Barkin, whom Byrne met on the set of Lionheart. She bore him a son and daughter, but the union was not lasting. Gabriel has an excellent relationship with his ex-wife, he devotes a lot of time to raising children.
He is currently married to Hannah Beth King, they have no children in common yet.