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John Kavanagh

Actor

John Kavanagh

Born January 1, 1946 in Dublin, Ireland59 films

John Kavanagh (born 1946, Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish character actor who was a member of the Abbey Theatre company for ten years (1967–1977) before going freelance. He has worked in over 20 films and numerous TV series since 1970. His film credits include Braveheart (1995), The Butcher Boy (1997), Dancing at Lughnasa (1998), Florence Foster Jenkins (2016), and The Last Duel (2021). On television he is best known for playing The Seer / Pope Leo IV in Vikings (2013–2020) and Vikings: Valhalla (2022–2024), and Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio in The Tudors (2007–2008). He received a Drama Desk Award nomination (1989) for Juno and the Paycock. He is also a singer, having played the lead in the Irish stage production of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris in the 1970s. No other personal details are publicly confirmed.

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The best way into John Kavanagh's work
Braveheart posterFirst watchBraveheart19957.9as CraigEnraged at the slaughter of Murron, his new bride and childhood love, Scottish warrior William Wallace slays a platoon of the local English lord's soldiers.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Last Duel poster7.4The Last Duel2021Florence Foster Jenkins poster6.7Florence Foster Jenkins2016Alexander poster6.0Alexander2004The Black Dahlia poster5.6The Black Dahlia2006In Secret poster6.1In Secret2014The Butcher Boy poster6.8The Butcher Boy1998The Invisible Woman poster5.9The Invisible Woman2013Closing the Ring poster6.2Closing the Ring2007

Filmography

59 films as actor
  1. TBAOne Sweet HourTommy
  2. TBAWeeksJim
  3. 2026Bucking FastardMr. Westmoreland
  4. 2024Der Irland-Krimi: Zerrissene SeelenArthur Browne
  5. 2024BaltimoreSir Alfred Beit
  6. 2021The Last DuelLe Gris' Priest
  7. 2021Riverdance: The Animated AdventureGatekeeper (voice)
  8. 2019SupervizedWindsor
  9. 2017DepositsNarrator (voice)
  10. 2017Lost MemoriesDad
  11. 2016Florence Foster JenkinsArturo Toscanini
  12. 2014HorseJunior
  13. 2014In SecretInspector Michaud
  14. 2013The Invisible WomanReverend Benham
  15. 2013The StagFionan and Little Kevin's Dad
  16. 2010The Runway
  17. 2007Closing the RingReverend Smith
  18. 2006The Tiger's TailHarry
  19. 2006The Black DahliaEmmett Linscott
  20. 2004AlexanderParmenion
  21. 2004The Halo EffectStan
  22. 2004The Wonderful Story of Kelvin Kind
  23. 2003MysticsGerry the Barman
  24. 2003Benedict Arnold: A Question of HonorJudge Shippen
  25. 2002Pete's MeteorSergeant Maloney
  26. 2002SinnersFrank
  27. 2002PuckoonHaggerty
  28. 2001Last Days in Dublin
  29. 1999Vicious CircleCharlie Rice
  30. 1998Dancing at LughnasaFather Carlin
  31. 1998The Butcher BoyDr. Boyd
  32. 1997The InformantIRA Chief
  33. 1996Some Mother's SonCardinal
  34. 1996Samuel Beckett: As the Story Was ToldVoice
  35. 1995Shadow of a GunmanAdolphus Grigson
  36. 1995BraveheartCraig
  37. 1995Sharpe's SwordFather Patrick Curtis
  38. 1995Circle of FriendsBrian Mahon
  39. 1994Widows' PeakCanon Murtagh
  40. 1993Love Lies BleedingSean Kerrigan
  41. 1993Bad CompanyPatrick Molloy
  42. 1992Into the WestHartnett
  43. 1991Children of the NorthSeamus Reilly
  44. 1991Arise and Go NowFather Dade
  45. 1991Events at DrimaghleenSuperintendent O'Kelly
  46. 1990August SaturdayTom Crosbie
  47. 1990Fools of FortuneJohnny Lacy
  48. 1988JoyridersManager
  49. 1988The Storyteller: A Story ShortBeggar
  50. 1987Bellman and TrueDonkey
  51. 1986The FantasistRobert Foxley
  52. 1985The PriceKearney
  53. 1984Children in the Crossfire
  54. 1984CalSkeffington
  55. 1983The Country GirlsJames
  56. 1983AttractaMr. Devereux
  57. 1982The Ballroom of RomanceBowser Egan
  58. 1971A Week in the Life of Martin CluxtonPriest
  59. 1970The McKenzie Break