Acting
Jul 28, 1951
Dublin, Ireland
Gavan O'Herlihy
Acting
Biography
Gavan O’Herlihy (29 July 1951 – 15 September 2021) was an Irish actor whose career spanned film, television, and stage, marked by a distinctive presence and a talent for commanding roles. Born in Dublin to actor Dan O’Herlihy and artist Elsie Bennett, he spent his early years between Ireland and the United States, eventually attending Phillips Academy Andover and later the University of California, where he excelled as a champion tennis player before turning fully toward acting. O’Herlihy first gained attention as Chuck Cunningham in the early episodes of Happy Days, a role he deliberately left behind to avoid being typecast in light comedic parts. He instead built a diverse and often hard‑edged body of work, appearing in major productions including Never Say Never Again (as the villainous Jack Petachi), Superman III, Death Wish 3, Willow (as the warrior Airk Thaughbaer), and the acclaimed miniseries Lonesome Dove. His television career was equally varied, with appearances in Twin Peaks, Star Trek: Voyager, The Six Million Dollar Man, Murder, She Wrote, and numerous British productions after relocating to the UK. Across more than fifty screen credits, O’Herlihy became known for portraying complex, often formidable characters — soldiers, outlaws, antagonists, and men with a dangerous edge — roles he embraced for the challenge and dramatic weight they offered. Off‑screen, he was regarded as thoughtful, private, and deeply committed to his craft, preferring character work over celebrity. He died in Bath, England, on 15 September 2021 at the age of 70, reportedly of natural causes.
Feature Films (26)
The evil Queen Bavmorda hunts the newborn princess Elora Danan, a child prophesied to bring about her downfall. When the royal infant is found by Willow, a timid farmer and aspiring sorcerer, he's entrusted with delivering her from evil.
Willow
The story follows a band of former Confederate soldiers who were part of a cavalry unit. Their commander, Graff, had once been a heroic and staunch supporter of the Southern cause, but after losing his family, he became coldhearted and ruthless. His second-in-command is Eustis, whom Graff has trained on the strategies of leadership and combat command.
The Last Outlaw
An Arthurian legend of young Prince Valiant, son of the King of Scandia. After the King is exiled by an evil leader, the Prince travels to Camelot to secure the aid of King Arthur in helping restore his family to power and prevent a plot by the Black Knight.
Prince Valiant
British 'Semi-Fictional' sports drama featuring Grand Prix motorcycle racing world champion Barry Sheene as himself. It tells the story of Sheene's pursuit of the world title, including his recovery from a near-fatal accident at Silverstone.
Space Riders
Architect/vigilante Paul Kersey arrives back in New York City and is forcibly recruited by a crooked police chief to fight street crime caused by a large gang terrorizing the neighborhoods.
Death Wish 3
The true story of Leonard Matlovich, a U.S. Air Force sergeant who, in 1975, publicly divulged his homosexuality and fought to remain in service.
Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force
Television & Series (24)
Pulled to the far side of the galaxy, where the Federation is 75 years away at maximum warp speed, a Starfleet ship must cooperate with Maquis rebels to find a way home.
Star Trek: Voyager
After fully recovering from her near fatal bout of bionic rejection, Jaime Sommers, the first female cyborg, is assigned to spy missions of her own.
The Bionic Woman
Working from his home in a converted windmill, Jonathan Creek is a magician with a natural ability for solving puzzles. He soon puts this ability to the use of solving impossible crimes and mysterious murders.
Jonathan Creek
Dateline: November 1967. Within klicks of Danang, Vietnam, sits a U.S. Army base, bar and hospital on China Beach filled with wounded soldiers and one very lovely but damaged Army Nurse Colleen McMurphy. Many heroes, dead and alive, try to make sense of life and death in between bourbon, bullets and battles.
China Beach
The body of Laura Palmer is washed up on a beach near the small Washington state town of Twin Peaks. FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper is called in to investigate her strange demise only to uncover a web of mystery that ultimately leads him deep into the heart of the surrounding woodland and his very own soul.
