Gifted Irish stage performer, born in South Africa who made his film debut in 1917's "Knocknagow", but did not come into his own as a strong screen character actor until 1947 with Carol Reed's "Odd Man Out". With his quirky features, playful authority and an elfin face that sometimes registers melancholy or stern morality, Cusack most often portrayed clerics ("My Left Foot" 1989) but in "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" (1965), he played the spy chief and in Truffaut's "Fahrenheit 451" (1966), the book-burning fire chief. One of the most acclaimed stage actors of his generation, Cusack was famous for his association with Ireland's national theater, the Abbey; he was at various times also affiliated with Old Vic and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Cusack also performed on Broadway, as in the memorable 1957 staging of Eugene O'Neill's "A Moon for the Misbegotten" in which he starred opposite Wendy Hiller. Active in theatre administration and production as well, he managed the Gaity Theater in Dublin for a while in the 1940s and founded his own Cyril Cusack Productions in 1944. He is the father of actresses Sinead, Niamh and Sorcha Cusack with whom he co-starred in the 1990 Gate Theater of Dublin's production of "The Three Sisters".
- Born:
November 26, 1910 in Durban, South Africa
- Died:
October 7, 1993.
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Job Titles:
Actor, Manager, Playwright, Producer
Family
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Daughter: Catherine Cusack. mother, Mary Cuscak; survived him
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Daughter: Niamh Cusack. survived him
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Daughter: Sinead Cusack. married to Jeremy Irons; survived him
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Daughter: Sorcha Cusack. married to English actor Nigel Cook; survived him
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Father: James Cusack. mounted policeman in Natal
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Mother: Alice Cusack.
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Son: Padraig Cusack. mother, Maureen Kiely; survived him
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Son: Paul Cusack. mother, Maureen Kiely; survived him
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Step-father: Brefni O Rourke.
Education
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University College, Dublin, Ireland, law
Milestones
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1916 State acting debut in East Lynne in Clonmel, Ireland
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1917 Film acting debut, Knocknagow/The Homes of Tipperary (Film Company of Ireland)
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1932 Joined the Abbey theater, appearing in 65 plays in 13 years
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1935 Producer with Gaelic Players
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1935 First US sound film, Late Extra
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1936 London stage debut, Ah, Wilderness!
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1938 BBC TV debut, The Shadow of the Glenn
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1942 Stage directing and writing debut, Tareis an Aifrinn/After Mass at the Gate Theater, Dublin
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1944 Managed the Gaity Theater, Dublin
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1944 Stage producing debut, Romeo and Juliet , Dublin
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1957 Broadway debut, A Moon for the Misbegotten
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1963 Joined the RSC
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1964 Joined the Old Vic
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1990 Starred with his three daughters (Sinead, Niamh and Sorcha) in the Gate Theater of Dublin s production of The Three Sisters
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Founded and was managing director, Cyril Cusack Productions
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Moved to Ireland at age six with his mother
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Professional stage debut at age seven