Brother of actor Arthur Shields, with whom he performed in several films, most notably John Fords The Quiet Man (1952). One of the very few character actors ever to achieve star status.Fitzgerald was the only player ever nominated for the Academy Award for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in the same year for the same role. The recognition was for Going My Way (1944). After he received this double nomination, the Academy immediately changed their rules to prevent this from happening again, rules which have remained unchanged to this day.One of Hollywoods finest character actors and most accomplished scene stealers, Barry Fitzgerald was born William Joseph Shields in 1888 in Dublin, Ireland. Educated to enter the banking business, the diminutive Irishman with the irresistible brogue was bitten by the acting bug in the 1920s and joined Dublins world-famous Abbey Players. He subsequently starred in the Abbey Theatre production of Sean OCaseys Juno And The Paycock, a role that he recreated in his film debut for director Alfred Hitchcock in 1930. He was coaxed to the U.S. in 1935 by John Ford to appear in Fords film adaptation of another OCasey masterpiece, The Plough and the Stars (1936). Fitzgerald took up residence in Hollywood and went on to give outstanding performances in such films as The Long Voyage Home (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941), None But the Lonely Heart (1944), And Then There Were None (1945), Two Years Before the Mast (1946) and what is probably the role for which he is most fondly remembered, The Quiet Man (1952). He won the Academy Award For Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of gruff, aging Father Fitzgibbon in Going My Way (1944). He was also nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for the same role and was the only actor to ever be so honored. Barry Fitzgerald died in his beloved Dublin in 1961.
Self
Film 1960
Aloysius Gogarty
Film 1938
Michaleen Oge Flynn
Film 1952
Francis Quinncannon
Film 1945
Cyfartha
Film 1941
Inspector Donnelly
Film 1950
Timothy Blake
Film 1943
Bott
Film 1938
Father Fitzgibbon
Film 1944
The Orator
Film 1930
Zipper Dyson
Film 1939
Henry Twite
Film 1944
Uncle Jack Conlon
Film 1956
Jerry B. 'J.B.' / 'Pop' Bates
Film 1945
Dr. Joseph McRory
Film 1947
Barry Fitzgerald
Film 1947
Michael 'Mike' Guinan
Film 1945
Sergeant Briany McNaughton
Film 1949
Fluther Good
Film 1936
Grandfather
Film 1958
Martin L. Donovan
Film 1947
Huish
Film 1937
Robbie McCleary
Film 1948
Capt. McCardle
Film 1943
Thady O'Heggarty
Film 1954
Terence O'Feenaghty
Film 1946
Michael O'Keefe
Film 1939
Denno Noonan
Film 1948
Britches
Film 1939
R.R. Jarboe
Film 1951
Stooky
Film 1943
Patrick Farrell
Film 1959
Bing Crosby's Father
Film 1945
Captured British soldier
Film 1935
Self (archive footage)
Film 2014
Peddler (uncredited)
Film 1938
Harold "Stretch" Sears
Film 1955
Self
Tv 1948
Tv 1953
Harold 'Stretch' Sears
Tv 1955
Barry Flynn
Tv 1950
Self - Mystery Guest
Tv 1950
Tv 1959