Cyril Cusack

Cyril James Cusack was a prominent Irish stage and film actor whose career spanned a remarkable seven decades. He was highly regarded as one of Ireland's finest performers during his lifetime. Cusack was renowned for his interpretations of both classical and contemporary theatre, including numerous Shakespearean roles as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and over 60 productions for the Abbey Theatre, where he remained a lifelong member. He was recognized in 2020 as number 14 on The Irish Times' list of Ireland's greatest film actors. Born in Durban, South Africa to an English mother and Irish father, Cusack was raised in County Tipperary. He dropped out of law school to join the Abbey Theatre, acting in over 60 plays during his 13-year stint. Fluent in English and Irish, Cusack starred in the first Irish-language feature film, Poitín (1978). He established himself as the patriarch of the Cusack acting family, having fathered Sinéad, Sorcha, Niamh, Pádraig, and Catherine Cusack.

Cusack's eminent career extended to collaborations with top British directors, including Powell & Pressburger, Carol Reed, Peter Brook, Peter Hall, and Anthony Harvey. His acting prowess particularly shone alongside Richard Burton, who praised Cyril's performance as 'always himself and yet always totally different'. Cusack moved to London, performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and founded his own touring company. Apart from his acting career, Cusack was a notable supporter of Irish nationalism and became a campaigner for conservative causes in Ireland. His personal life was marred by controversy surrounding his marital infidelity, which was closely scrutinized in the Irish press. Despite this, Cusack's contribution to the arts remains influential, earning him posthumous recognition and honorary doctorates from the NUI and the University of Dublin.