Gray O'Brien
Gray O'Brien | |
---|---|
Born | Gerard O'Brien 11 August 1968 |
Alma mater | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1993–present |
Children | 1 |
Gray O'Brien (born Gerard O'Brien, 11 August 1968) is a Scottish television and film actor, best known for his portrayal of the villainous Weatherfield businessman Tony Gordon in the popular ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2007–2010, and as Richard McCaig on the BBC medical drama Casualty from 1996–1998.[1]
Biography
O'Brien was born in Glasgow,
O'Brien joined the cast of Coronation Street as the murderous factory boss Tony Gordon in September 2007. The actor explained in an interview that he uses sense-memory technique, drawing on "something dark from the past", to emote his powerful performances.
The Manchester show drew the ire of football fans when, in October 2008, several months after the 2008 UEFA Cup final riots, in a scripted line, O'Brien's evil character made a jibe about Rangers F.C. Complaints led to a similar line being cut from the script of a later episode.[7] Professing surprise at the outcry, the star said: "I'm a Celtic supporter but I need to be clear that I certainly wasn't going out of my way to antagonise any Rangers supporters."[8]
In May 2009 Coronation Street producers announced that O'Brien's contract with the show had been extended to 2010.[9] Gray left Coronation Street when his character was killed off at the end of a storyline, in which Tony Gordon held Hayley Cropper (Julie Hesmondhalgh) and Carla Connor (Alison King) hostage in the Underworld factory, which he sets ablaze; although his prisoners manage to escape alive.
He played Abanazar in the pantomime Aladdin at the Opera House, Manchester from 5 December 2009 to 3 January 2010.[9][10] Between 4 December 2010 and 16 January 2011 he played the role again at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham.[11]
O'Brien was judged Scotland's eleventh most eligible man in February 2009 by a Scotland on Sunday panel.[4] He once said: "I actually find the heartthrob thing laughable," adding: "I am just a jobbing actor from Scotland and I don't think of myself as particularly good looking."[3]
O'Brien has also appeared on
In 2017, he appeared in ITV drama The Loch.
Personal life
O'Brien is divorced
Filmography
Films
Year | Film | Role |
---|---|---|
2006 | The Queen | Charles' Valet |
2016 | The Wasting | Ilyas |
TV
Year | Show | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993–1995 | Taggart | DC Rob Gibson | Recurring; 5 episodes |
1996–1998 | Casualty | Richard McCaig | Series regular |
2000–2002 | Peak Practice | Dr. Tom Deneley | Series regular |
2002 | Cruise of the Gods | Casualty Doctor | |
2003–2007 | River City | Billy Davis
|
Series regular |
2007–2010 | Coronation Street | Tony Gordon | Series regular |
2007 | Doctor Who | Rickston Slade | 1 episode: Voyage of the Damned |
2012 | Titanic: Blood and Steel | Bruce Ismay | 12 part series |
2017 | The Loch | Alan Redford | 6-part drama series |
2018 | Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators | Ian McClurgy | 1 episode: The Chimes at Midnight |
References
- ^ "holby.tv | Casualty | Gray O'Brien". www.holby.tv. Archived from the original on 25 September 2004.
- ^ a b Young, Fiona (10 May 2009), "Corrie's Scots star wins best baddie at Soap Awards but rivals claim top gong", Sunday Mail
- ^ a b c d "Gray O'Brien", Holby.tv
- ^ a b "The most eligible men: 1-25", Scotland on Sunday, 8 February 2009
- ^ a b c "Interview with Gray O'Brien", GMTV, 6 February 2009
- ^ Corrie murderer Gray O'Brien interview stv (n.d.).
- ^ "Rangers fans prompt Corrie change", BBC News, 4 October 2008
- ^ English, Paul (11 October 2008), "I had to warn writers about Old Firm after controversial Rangers jibe, admits Corrie star Gray O'Brien", Daily Record
- ^ a b Kris Green, Gray O'Brien extends Corrie contract, Digital Spy (27 May 2009).
- ^ Manchester Opera House: What's On at the Opera House: Aladdin, ManchesterTheatres.com.
- ^ http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/3D-Aladdin-star-Corrie-baddie/story-12225974-detail/story.html [dead link]
- Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 25 March 2001. ITV.
- ^ a b Roberts, Brian (17 September 2008), "Exclusive: Coronation Street star Gray O'Brien dates set girl", Daily Mirror
- ^ "Coronation Street star Gray O'Brien in love split", Daily Record, 27 April 2009