Frank Grimes (born 1947) is an Irish stage and screen actor.

Grimes was born in Dublin. 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.[1] When the production moved to Broadway, Grimes was nominated for a Tony Award for best actor.[2]

In 1970 the Italian director, Franco Zeffirelli, offered Grimes the lead role of Francis of Assisi in his biopic, Brother Sun, Sister Moon. However, director and actor fell out over how the part should be played and Grimes was replaced by Graham Faulkner.[3]

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.[3]

Grimes' most significant film role to date is the part of Major Fuller in Richard Attenborough's A Bridge Too Far (1977). However, he is 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.[4]

Frank Grimes continues to work in television, films and theatre. Recent TV appearances include 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".

Filmography

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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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  1. ^ "Borstal Boy at Irish Playography". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  2. ^ Wikipedia article: Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
  3. ^ a b The Irish Times, "Frank Grimes", 5 May 1976
  4. ^ The Irish Times, "Kee wins award for TV history of Ireland", 11 April 1981
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