Brendan Gleeson

Brendan Gleeson

Known For

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Biography

Brendan Gleeson (born 29 March 1955) is an Irish actor and film director. He is the recipient of three IFTA Awards, two BIFA's, and a Primetime Emmy Award and has been nominated twice for a BAFTA Award, five times for a Golden Globe Award and once for an Academy Award. In 2020, he was listed at number 18 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors. He is the father of actors Domhnall Gleeson and Brian Gleeson.

He is best known for his performance as Alastor Moody in the Harry Potter films (2005–2010). He is also known for his supporting roles in films such as Braveheart (1995), Michael Collins (1996), 28 Days Later (2002), Gangs of New York (2002), Cold Mountain (2003), Troy (2004), Suffragette (2015), Paddington 2 (2017), The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), and The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021). He is also known for his leading roles in films such as The General (1998), In Bruges (2008), The Guard (2011), Calvary (2014), Frankie (2019), and The Banshees of Inisherin (2022). He received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the lattermost film.

He won an Primetime Emmy Award in 2009 for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the television film Into the Storm. He also received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance as Donald Trump in the Showtime series The Comey Rule (2020). From 2017 to 2019 he starred in the crime series Mr. Mercedes. He received an Emmy Award nomination for Stephen Frears' Sundance TV series State of the Union (2022).

Movies Featuring Brendan Gleeson

H Is for Hawk

H Is for Hawk (2025)

as Alisdair Macdonald
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

as Irishman (segment "The Mortal Remains")
Paddington 2

Paddington 2 (2017)

as Knuckles McGinty
Hampstead

Hampstead (2017)

as Donald Horner
Live by Night

Live by Night (2016)

as Thomas Coughlin
In the Heart of the Sea

In the Heart of the Sea (2015)

as Old Thomas Nickerson
Suffragette

Suffragette (2015)

as Arthur Steed
Pursuit

Pursuit (2015)

as Searbhán
Song of the Sea

Song of the Sea (2014)

as Conor / Mac Lir (voice)
Edge of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

as General Brigham
Calvary

Calvary (2014)

as Father James Lavelle
The Smurfs 2

The Smurfs 2 (2013)

as Victor Doyle
The Raven

The Raven (2012)

as Colonel Hamilton
Safe House

Safe House (2012)

as David Barlow
Albert Nobbs

Albert Nobbs (2011)

as Dr. Holloran
The Cup

The Cup (2011)

as Dermot Weld
The Guard

The Guard (2011)

as Sergeant Gerry Boyle
Noreen

Noreen (2010)

as Con Keogh
Green Zone

Green Zone (2010)

as Martin Brown
Into the Storm

Into the Storm (2009)

as Winston Churchill
The Secret of Kells

The Secret of Kells (2009)

as Abbot Cellach (voice)
Black Irish

Black Irish (2007)

as Desmond McKay
Studs

Studs (2006)

as Walter Keegan
Kingdom of Heaven

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

as Reynald de Chatillon
The Village

The Village (2004)

as August Nicholson
Troy

Troy (2004)

as Menelaos
Cold Mountain

Cold Mountain (2003)

as Stobrod Thewes
Gangs of New York

Gangs of New York (2002)

as Walter 'Monk' McGinn
Dark Blue

Dark Blue (2002)

as Jack van Meter
Saltwater

Saltwater (2000)

as Simple Simon
Lake Placid

Lake Placid (1999)

as Sheriff Hank Keough
Sweety Barrett

Sweety Barrett (1999)

as Sweety Barrett
The General

The General (1998)

as Martin Cahill
The Butcher Boy

The Butcher Boy (1998)

as Father Bubbles
I Went Down

I Went Down (1997)

as Bunny Kelly
Spaghetti Slow

Spaghetti Slow (1996)

as Frank Ferguson
Braveheart

Braveheart (1995)

as Hamish Campbell
Into the West

Into the West (1992)

as Inspector Bolger
Far and Away

Far and Away (1992)

as Social Club Policeman
The Treaty

The Treaty (1991)

as Michael Collins
Dear Sarah

Dear Sarah (1990)

as Brendan Dowd
No Image

Sexual Healing (N/A)

as Freddy Cousaert
No Image

Blood Runs Coal (N/A)

as Joseph Yablonski