David O'Hara
{{Short description|Scottish actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2021}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| imagesize =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1965|7|9}}
| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland
| occupation = Actor
| alma_mater = Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
| years_active = 1984–present
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
}}
David Patrick O'Hara (born 9 July 1965) is a Scottish stage and character actor. A graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, he is best known to audiences for his numerous supporting roles in high-profile films, including Irishman Stephen in Braveheart, dimwitted mobster Fitzy in The Departed, hitman Mr. X in Wanted, and Albert Runcorn in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. He portrayed Det. Danny 'Mac' McGregor on The District and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey on The Tudors.
Early life
O'Hara was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Martha (née Scott) and Patrick O'Hara, a construction worker. He lived with a large Catholic family, and was raised in the Pollok Housing Estate.[http://www.filmreference.com/film/26/David-O-Hara.html David O'Hara Biography (1965–) at Filmreference.com] His family was Catholic and of Irish descent. After leaving school he was accepted for a Youth Opportunities Programme, at a community theatre based at the Glasgow Arts Centre which toured local schools. At age 17, he moved to London to study at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, but left after two terms because of a shortage of funds. He went back to Scotland and landed a role in Bill Forsyth's Comfort and Joy, then returned to Central to finish his last term, where he was the understudy to Ralph Fiennes in A Midsummer Night's Dream.{{fact|date=August 2021}}
Career
O'Hara appeared in a number of Shakespearean productions, including Romeo and Juliet at the Regent Park Open-Air Theatre and The Comedy of Errors at The Pleasance. He spent a season with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Barbican Centre, where he starred in Bite of the Night, which was directed by Danny Boyle. He appeared as the "mad" Irishman Stephen in Braveheart.
O'Hara had a featured role in the US series The District, which he left after one season to return to the UK. In 2006, O'Hara appeared as Fitzy, one of Jack Nicholson's chief mobsters in the Oscar-winning film The Departed.{{Cite web |date=28 November 2006 |title=The Departed |url=http://thedeparted.warnerbros.com/ |publisher=Warner Bros}}
In June 2009, O'Hara was filming The Tudors in Dublin.[http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEBIHFDDCXbHFJ David O'Hara set for "The Tudors"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722022907/http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEBIHFDDCXbHFJ |date=22 July 2010 }}. MovieWeb
He played Albert Runcorn and Harry Potter disguised as Runcorn in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. In April 2017, O'Hara appeared as Alistair Fitz in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Leo Fitz's father.
Film
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role !Notes |
|---|
| 1984
|Engineer | |
| 1986
|Link |Tom | |
| 1989
|Male Nurse | |
| 1992
|Phillip Wilson Steer | |
| rowspan="2" |1995
|Stephen | |
| The Near Room
|Harris Hill | |
| 1996
|Frank Higgins | |
| rowspan="3" |1997
|Martin MacDuff | |
| The Slab Boys
|Terry Skinnedar | |
| The Matchmaker
|Sean Kelly | |
| rowspan="3" |1999
|Will | |
| The Match
|The Mechanic | |
| Janice Beard 45 WPM
|O'Brien | |
| 2001
|Made |The Welshman | |
| rowspan="2" |2003
|Ferko Kurchina | |
| Stander
|Allan Heyl | |
| 2004
|David | |
| rowspan="2" |2006
|Donnchadh | |
| The Departed
|Patrick "Fitzy" Fitzgibbons | |
| rowspan="2" |2008
|Michael Canaris | |
| Wanted
|Mr. X | |
| rowspan="2" |2009
|Freddie Smith | |
| Jack Said
|The Boss | |
| rowspan="3" |2010
|Terry | |
| Golf in the Kingdom
|Shivas Irons | |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
|Albert Runcorn | |
| rowspan="2" |2011
|Pat Dolan | |
| Whole Lotta Sole
|Mad Dog Flynn | |
| rowspan="2" |2012
|Jim Church | |
| Best Laid Plans
|Curtis | |
| 2013
|Keith | |
| 2014
|Thumper | |
| 2015
|DCI Keane | |
| rowspan="3" |2016
|Dias Santana |Calum Mackie | |
| The Rising
|James Connolly | |
| Dirt Road to Lafayette
|Tom | |
| rowspan="1" |2017
|In Extremis |Alex | |
| rowspan="2" |2019
|Sly | |
| The Professor and the Madman
|Church | |
| 2022
|Ulph | |
| 2024
|Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 |Bowler Hat Surveyor | |
Television
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role !Notes |
|---|
| 1985
|Andy |3 episodes |
| 1990
|Malcolm Durie |Episode: "Evil Eye Part One" |
| rowspan="2" |1991
|Reynolds |2 episodes |
| Jute City
|Duncan Kerr |3 episodes |
| 1990–92
|Michael / Ronnie Wilson |2 episodes |
| 1993
|Steve Bissell |Episode: "Ivory Tower" |
| rowspan="3" |1994
|Lev |2 episodes |
| The Tales of Para Handy
|Robert Grant |Episode: "The End of the World" |
| Open Fire
|Armed Robber |Television film |
| 1996
|DS Rankine |2 episodes |
| 1997
| rowspan="5" |Television film |
| 1999 |
| 2000
|Donovan Quick |Clive |
| 2000–01
|Det. Danny 'Mac' McGregor |
| 2001
|Rock Mullaney |
| 2004
|Nuts & Bolts |Episode: "All Day Long" |
| 2005
|DCC Stephen 'Blackdog' Blackton | rowspan="2" |Television film |
| 2007
|Damage |John Ward |
| 2008
|DI Jack Mullins |Episode: "The Box: Part 1" |
| 2010
|9 episodes |
| 2012
|Dmitri Larionov |Episode: "Let's Dance" |
| 2013
|DSU George Stark |4 episodes |
| 2015
|Reggie Payne |2 episodes |
| 2017
|3 episodes |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0641244|David O'Hara}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ohara, David}}
Category:Scottish male film actors
Category:Scottish male television actors
Category:Male actors from Glasgow
Category:Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Category:20th-century Scottish male actors