Frank Grimes
Frank Grimes | |
|---|---|
.jpeg) Grimes in The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes (ITV, 1991) | |
| Born | 9 March 1947 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 1 August 2025 (aged 78) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1967–2017 |
Francis Patrick Grimes (9 March 1947 – 1 August 2025) was an Irish stage and screen actor.
Life and career
[edit | edit source]Grimes was born in Dublin on 9 March 1947.[1] He achieved his first major success as the young Brendan Behan in the 1967 stage adaptation of Behan's autobiography, Borstal Boy, at the Abbey Theatre.[2] When the production moved to Broadway, Grimes was nominated for a Tony Award for best actor.[3]
In 1970 the Italian director, Franco Zeffirelli, offered Grimes the lead role of Francis of Assisi in his biographical film, Brother Sun, Sister Moon. However, director and actor fell out over how the part should be played and Grimes was replaced by Graham Faulkner.[4]
In the early 1970s, Grimes moved to London where he came to the attention of director Lindsay Anderson. Anderson offered him a part in his production of David Storey's play The Farm, the success of which established Grimes' reputation in British theatre.[4]
Grimes' most significant film role was the part of Major Fuller in Richard Attenborough's A Bridge Too Far (1977). However, he was probably best known, in his native Ireland at least, for his performance as Father O'Connor in RTÉ's drama series, Strumpet City. In 1981, Grimes received a Jacob's Award "for his detailed and exceptionally convincing portrayal" of the young priest.[5]
Frank Grimes continued to work in television, films and theatre throughout his later years. Later TV appearances included the recurrent role of Barry Connor in Coronation Street. In 2013 he appeared as Mrs McCarthy's husband in the Father Brown episode "The Mayor and the Magician".
Grimes died following a short illness on 1 August 2025, at the age of 78.[6][7]
Filmography
[edit | edit source]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Tulips of Haarlem | Pierre |
| 1975 | Royal Flash | Lieutenant |
| 1977 | A Bridge Too Far | Major Fuller |
| 1979 | The Outsider | Tony Coyle |
| 1981 | The Funhouse | Strip Show Voyeur |
| 1982 | Give Us This Day | Robert Treswell |
| 1982 | Britannia Hospital | Sammy / Voice of Genesis |
| 1987 | Crystalstone | Captain |
| 1987 | The Whales of August | Mr. Beckwith |
| 1990 | The Dive | Dobrolsky |
| 1994 | War of the Buttons | Christian Brother |
| 2000 | When the Sky Falls | Paul McCarling |
| 2005 | Anything for Love | Mr. Jones |
References
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- ^ a b The Irish Times, "Frank Grimes", 5 May 1976
- ^ The Irish Times, "Kee wins award for TV history of Ireland", 11 April 1981
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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External links
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