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David O'Hara

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David O'Hara
Born (1965-07-09) 9 July 1965 (age 59)
Glasgow, Scotland
Alma materRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActor
Years active1984–present

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

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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.[1] 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.[citation needed]

Career

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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.[2]

In June 2009, O'Hara was filming The Tudors in Dublin.[3] 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

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 Comfort and Joy Engineer
1986 Link Tom
1989 Resurrected Male Nurse
1992 The Bridge Phillip Wilson Steer
1995 Braveheart Stephen
The Near Room Harris Hill
1996 Some Mother's Son Frank Higgins
1997 The Devil's Own Martin MacDuff
The Slab Boys Terry Skinnedar
The Matchmaker Sean Kelly
1999 Fever Will
The Match The Mechanic
Janice Beard 45 WPM O'Brien
2001 Made The Welshman
2003 Den of Lions Ferko Kurchina
Stander Allan Heyl
2004 Hotel Rwanda David
2006 Tristan and Isolde Donnchadh
The Departed Patrick "Fitzy" Fitzgibbons
2008 Doomsday Michael Canaris
Wanted Mr. X
2009 Darfur Freddie Smith
Jack Said The Boss
2010 The Kid Terry
Golf in the Kingdom Shivas Irons
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Albert Runcorn
2011 Cowboys & Aliens Pat Dolan
Whole Lotta Sole Mad Dog Flynn
2012 Contraband Jim Church
Best Laid Plans Curtis
2013 The Groundsman Keith
2014 Reach Me Thumper
2015 The Messenger DCI Keane
2016 Dias Santana Calum Mackie
The Rising James Connolly
Dirt Road to Lafayette Tom
2017 In Extremis Alex
2019 Cold Pursuit Sly
The Professor and the Madman Church
2022 DEUS: The Dark Sphere Ulph
2024 Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 Bowler Hat Surveyor

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 One by One Andy 3 episodes
1990 Taggart Malcolm Durie Episode: "Evil Eye Part One"
1991 Chimera Reynolds 2 episodes
Jute City Duncan Kerr 3 episodes
1990–92 Screen Two Michael / Ronnie Wilson 2 episodes
1993 Full Stretch Steve Bissell Episode: "Ivory Tower"
1994 Grushko Lev 2 episodes
The Tales of Para Handy Robert Grant Episode: "The End of the World"
Open Fire Armed Robber Television film
1996 Prime Suspect DS Rankine 2 episodes
1997 Oliver Twist Bill Sikes Television film
1999 Jesus John the Baptist
2000 Donovan Quick Clive
2000–01 The District Det. Danny 'Mac' McGregor
2001 Crossfire Trail Rock Mullaney
2004 Pulling Moves Nuts & Bolts Episode: "All Day Long"
2005 The Commander DCC Stephen 'Blackdog' Blackton Television film
2007 Damage John Ward
2008 Trial & Retribution DI Jack Mullins Episode: "The Box: Part 1"
2010 The Tudors Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey 9 episodes
2012 Covert Affairs Dmitri Larionov Episode: "Let's Dance"
2013 Luther DSU George Stark 4 episodes
2015 Gotham Reggie Payne 2 episodes
2017 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Alistair Fitz 3 episodes

References

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  1. ^ David O'Hara Biography (1965–) at Filmreference.com
  2. ^ "The Departed". Warner Bros. 28 November 2006.
  3. ^ David O'Hara set for "The Tudors" Archived 22 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine. MovieWeb
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