Brendan Gleeson biography
Brendan Gleeson is an Irish actor, born on 29 March 1955 in Dublin.
Brendan Gleeson's screen career began in 1989 with Dear Sarah, playing Brendan Dowd.
Brendan Gleeson has appeared in 89 films and 20 television or streaming titles.
The most recent films are H Is for Hawk (2025), Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (2025), Joker: Folie à Deux (2024).
Honours include Emmy Award and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.
Coming up next: The Good Daughter.
- Born
- 29 March 1955 (age 71)
- Birthplace
- Dublin
- Work
- Actor, Character actor, Stage actor, Film actor, Television actor
- Film industries
- Hollywood and beyond
- Years active
- 1984 to present
- Awards
- Emmy Award
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Brendan Gleeson filmography
89 films and 21 television or streaming titles, newest first.
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | H Is for Hawk | Alisdair Macdonald | ||
| 2025 | Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry | Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody | ||
| 2024 | Joker: Folie à Deux | Jackie Sullivan | ||
| 2023 | A Greyhound of a Girl | Paddy | Voice | |
| 2022 | The Banshees of Inisherin | Colm Doherty | ||
| 2021 | The Tragedy of Macbeth | King Duncan | ||
| 2021 | Riverdance: The Animated Adventure | The Huntsman | Voice | |
| 2019 | Ghost in the Graveyard | Student / Extra | ||
| 2019 | Frankie | Jimmy | ||
| 2018 | The Ballad of Buster Scruggs | Irishman (Clarence) | Segment: "The Mortal Remains" | |
| 2018 | Psychic | Jeremiah | Short film; also director | |
| 2018 | Captain Morten and the Spider Queen | Father | Voice | |
| 2017 | Paddington 2 | Knuckles McGinty | ||
| 2017 | Hampstead | Donald Horner | ||
| 2016 | Assassin's Creed | Joseph Lynch | ||
| 2016 | Alone in Berlin | Otto Quangel | ||
| 2016 | Live by Night | Thomas Coughlin | ||
| 2016 | Trespass Against Us | Colby | ||
| 2016 | Atlantic | Narrator | Voice; Documentary | |
| 2015 | In the Heart of the Sea | Old Thomas Nickerson | ||
| 2015 | Suffragette | Arthur Steed | ||
| 2015 | Pursuit | Searbhán | ||
| 2014 | Edge of Tomorrow | General Brigham | ||
| 2014 | Calvary | Father James Lavelle | ||
| 2014 | Stonehearst Asylum | The Alienist |
Show all 89 films
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Song of the Sea | Conor, Mac Lir | Voices; English and Irish versions | |
| 2013 | The Smurfs 2 | Victor Doyle | ||
| 2013 | The Grand Seduction | Murray French | ||
| 2012 | The Raven | Captain Charles Hamilton | ||
| 2012 | The Company You Keep | Henry Osborne | ||
| 2012 | Safe House | David Barlow | ||
| 2012 | The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! | Pirate with Gout | Voice | |
| 2011 | The Guard | Sergeant Gerry Boyle | ||
| 2011 | The Cup | Dermot Weld | ||
| 2011 | Albert Nobbs | Dr. Holloran | ||
| 2010 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , Part 1 | Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody | ||
| 2010 | Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey | |||
| 2010 | Green Zone | Martin Brown | ||
| 2010 | Noreen | Con Keogh | Short film | |
| 2009 | Perrier's Bounty | Darren Perrier | ||
| 2009 | The Secret of Kells | Abbot Cellach | Voice | |
| 2008 | In Bruges | Ken | ||
| 2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody | ||
| 2007 | Black Irish | Desmond | ||
| 2007 | Beowulf | Wiglaf | Motion-capture | |
| 2006 | The Tiger's Tail | Liam O'Leary | ||
| 2006 | Studs | Walter Keegan | ||
| 2005 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody | ||
| 2005 | Breakfast on Pluto | John Joe Kenny | ||
| 2005 | Kingdom of Heaven | Raynald of Châtillon | ||
| 2004 | The Village | August Nicholson | ||
| 2004 | Troy | Menelaus | ||
| 2004 | Six Shooter | Donnelly | Short film | |
| 2004 | In My Country | De Jager | ||
| 2003 | Cold Mountain | Stobrod Thewes | ||
| 2002 | Gangs of New York | Walter "Monk" McGinn | ||
| 2002 | 28 Days Later | Frank | ||
| 2002 | Dark Blue | Jack Van Meter | ||
| 2001 | A.I. Artificial Intelligence | Lord Johnson-Johnson | ||
| 2001 | The Tailor of Panama | Michelangelo "Mickie" Abraxas | ||
| 2001 | Cáca Milis | Pól | Short film; Irish-language; English: Cake | |
| 2001 | J.J. Biker | |||
| 2000 | Wild About Harry | Harry McKee | ||
| 2000 | Saltwater | Simple Simon | ||
| 2000 | Mission: Impossible 2 | John C. McCloy | ||
| 2000 | Harrison's Flowers | Marc Stevenson | ||
| 1999 | My Life So Far | Jim Menries | ||
| 1999 | Lake Placid | Sheriff Hank Keough | ||
| 1999 | This Is My Father | Garda Jim | ||
| 1998 | The General | Martin Cahill | ||
| 1998 | The Tale of Sweety Barrett | Sweet Barrett | ||
| 1997 | Turbulence | Stubbs | ||
| 1997 | The Butcher Boy | Father Bubbles | ||
| 1997 | I Went Down | Bunny Kelly | ||
| 1997 | Spaghetti Slow | Frank Ferguson | ||
| 1997 | Before I Sleep | John Harte | Short film | |
| 1997 | A Further Gesture | Richard | ||
| 1996 | Michael Collins | Liam Tobin | ||
| 1996 | Trojan Eddie | Ginger | ||
| 1996 | Angela Mooney Dies Again | Barney Mooney | ||
| 1995 | Braveheart | Hamish Campbell | ||
| 1995 | The Life of Reilly | Patient | Short film | |
| 1993 | The Snapper | Lester | ||
| 1992 | Far and Away | Social Club Policeman | ||
| 1992 | Into the West | Inspector Bolger | ||
| 1992 | The Bargain Shop | Jim Kennedy | ||
| 1992 | M.A.N.: Matrix Adjusted Normal | Dr Abraham | Short film | |
| 1992 | Conneely's Choice | Josie Conneely | Short film | |
| 1990 | The Field | Quarryman |
Television and streaming
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Good Daughter | Rusty | Upcoming | ||
| 2026 | Spider-Noir | Finbar "Finn" Byrne / Silvermane | 8 episodes | |
| 2025 | The Simpsons | Joe Quimby Sr. (old) | Voice; episode: "Sashes to Sashes" | |
| 2022 | State of the Union | Scott | 10 episodes | |
| 2021 | Frank of Ireland | Liam | Episode: "Memento Mary" | |
| 2020 | The Comey Rule | Donald Trump | 2 episodes | |
| 2017 | Mr. Mercedes | Bill Hodges | Lead role; 30 episodes | |
| 2014 | The Money | James Castman | Unaired pilot | |
| 2010 | 1916 Seachtar na Cásca | Narrator | Voice; Documentary series | |
| 2009 | Into the Storm | Winston Churchill | HBO television film | |
| 2005 | Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks | Uncle Ferny | Voice; Episodes: "Wish Upon A Story: Part 1 and 2" | |
| 1998 | Making the Cut | Flanagan | Television film | |
| 1995 | Kidnapped | Red Fox | Television film | |
| 1994 | The Lifeboat | Leslie Parry | 9 episodes | |
| 1993 | Screenplay | Thomas Macken | Episode: "Love Lies Bleeding" | |
| 1991 | The Treaty | Michael Collins | Television film | |
| 1991 | Saint Oscar | Television film | ||
| 1991 | In the Border Country | Farmer | Television film | |
| 1990 | Hard Shoulder | Lorry Driver | Television film | |
| 1990 | Glenroe | Sam Treacy | Soap series | |
| 1989 | Dear Sarah | Brendan Dowd | Television film |