Gavan O'Herlihy, Acting - KorPlix:Korean Person Archives

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Gavan O'Herlihy
Acting

Gavan O'Herlihy
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1951-07-29,Dublin, Ireland
Gender
Male
Biography
Gavan O’Herlihy (29 July 1951 – 15 September 2021) was an Irish actor whose career spanned film, television, and stage, marked by a distinctive presence and a talent for commanding roles. Born in Dublin to actor Dan O’Herlihy and artist Elsie Bennett, he spent his early years between Ireland and the United States, eventually attending Phillips Academy Andover and later the University of California, where he excelled as a champion tennis player before turning fully toward acting. O’Herlihy first gained attention as Chuck Cunningham in the early episodes of Happy Days, a role he deliberately left behind to avoid being typecast in light comedic parts. He instead built a diverse and often hard‑edged body of work, appearing in major productions including Never Say Never Again (as the villainous Jack Petachi), Superman III, Death Wish 3, Willow (as the warrior Airk Thaughbaer), and the acclaimed miniseries Lonesome Dove. His television career was equally varied, with appearances in Twin Peaks, Star Trek: Voyager, The Six Million Dollar Man, Murder, She Wrote, and numerous British productions after relocating to the UK. Across more than fifty screen credits, O’Herlihy became known for portraying complex, often formidable characters — soldiers, outlaws, antagonists, and men with a dangerous edge — roles he embraced for the challenge and dramatic weight they offered. Off‑screen, he was regarded as thoughtful, private, and deeply committed to his craft, preferring character work over celebrity. He died in Bath, England, on 15 September 2021 at the age of 70, reportedly of natural causes.

Filmography

7.008

Willow
1988-05-20

The Last Outlaw

5.4

The Last Outlaw
1993-10-30

5.188

Prince Valiant
1997-07-24

5.5

Space Riders
1984-01-01

6.2

Death Wish 3
1985-11-01

Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force

4.4

Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force
1978-08-21

Mark Twain: Beneath the Laughter

9

Mark Twain: Beneath the Laughter
1979-12-10

The Descent: Part 2

5.987

The Descent: Part 2
2009-10-14

The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission

6.3

The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission
1985-02-04

6.7

Conagher
1991-07-01

4.838

The Shooter
1995-12-15

5.509

Superman III
1983-06-17

6.3

A Wedding
1978-09-27

7.1

Sharpe's Eagle
1993-05-12

Sharpe: The Legend

6.125

Sharpe: The Legend
1997-10-13

The Ghost of Cypress Swamp

7

The Ghost of Cypress Swamp
1977-03-13

The Secret Adversary

6.909

The Secret Adversary
1983-10-09

Red King, White Knight

6.4

Red King, White Knight
1989-11-25

A Death in Canaan

5.3

A Death in Canaan
1978-03-01

4.6

Butterfly Man
2002-12-06

Cruise of the Gods

5.125

Cruise of the Gods
2002-12-23

Never Say Never Again

6.084

Never Say Never Again
1983-10-07

The California Kid

6.286

The California Kid
1974-09-25

Top of the World

5.238

Top of the World
1997-05-01

9

The Healers
1974-05-22

9

Call to Danger
1973-02-27

Star Trek: Voyager

7.774

Star Trek: Voyager
1995-01-16

The Bionic Woman

7.023

The Bionic Woman
1976-01-14

7.571

Jonathan Creek
1997-05-09

7.431

China Beach
1988-04-26

8.336

Twin Peaks
1990-04-08

Tales from the Crypt

7.978

Tales from the Crypt
1989-06-10

7.627

Happy Days
1974-01-15

Sherlock Holmes

8.19

Sherlock Holmes
1984-04-24

6.923

Cover Up
1984-09-22

18 Wheels of Justice

5.333

18 Wheels of Justice
2000-01-12

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

7.661

The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1970-09-19

Midsomer Murders

7.5

Midsomer Murders
1997-03-23

The Six Million Dollar Man

7.286

The Six Million Dollar Man
1974-01-18

7.9

Lonesome Dove
1989-02-05

Marcus Welby, M.D.

6.575

Marcus Welby, M.D.
1969-09-23

8

A Rumor of War
1980-09-24

Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime

6.5

Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime
1983-10-09

The Amazing Spider-Man

6.3

The Amazing Spider-Man
1978-04-05

6.439

Police Woman
1974-09-13

A Killing on the Exchange

5

A Killing on the Exchange
1987-03-06

6.3

Matt Houston
1982-09-26

8.014

Sharpe
1993-05-05

We'll Meet Again

7

We'll Meet Again
1982-02-19

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

8.7

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
1994-03-07