Sean McClory
Known for Acting · 98 credits
- Born
- 1924-03-08
- Died
- 2003-12-10
- Place of birth
- Dublin, Ireland
- Also known as
- Séan Joseph McClory · Seán McClory · Sean McGlory · Shawn McGlory
Biography
Sean McClory was born in Dublin, Ireland, but spent his early life in Galway. He was the son of Hugh Patrick, an architect and civil engineer, and Mary Margaret Ball, who had been a model.
Sean decided to become an actor and joined Dublin's renowned Abbey Theater (also known as the National Theater of Ireland, opened in 1904). He rose through the ranks playing in productions of the works of such authors as William Butler Yeats and George Bernard Shaw, and soon began to play leads mostly in comedies (popular through most of the 1940s and into the 1950s).
When comedies began to fade from the theater after World War II, McClory turned an eye toward film. In early 1947 he decided to make the jump to America and break into Hollywood. His first roles were that of a staple in American films: the Irish cop, which he played in two of the Dick Tracy series in 1947. In 1949 he signed a short contract with 20th Century-Fox. By 1950 he was showing up in more notable films - though uncredited, particularly in The Glass Menagerie (1950).
Within a year McClory's talents were being showcased in various small feature roles. John Ford finally began casting - a painstaking process for the finicky director - for his long conceived The Quiet Man (1952) and chose McClory for a small but showy part, in which he was seen throughout the film feature with Charles B. Fitzsimons, the younger brother of the film's star, Maureen O'Hara, playing an Irish villager. Although some of the cast were familiar members of the "John Ford Stock Company", many roles were filled by actual Irish villagers (the film was shot on location) and included a generous helping of Abbey Theater alumni: the Shields brothers (Barry Fitzgerald and Arthur Shields) and Jack MacGowran, in addition to O'Hara McClory. Ford wanted him for roles in several of his subsequent films, however McClory's busy film and TV schedule only allowed him to accept roles in two other Ford films, The Long Gray Line and Cheyenne Autumn.
McClory had a cultured, neutral Irish brogue that fit well in small- or big-screen performances, unlike such Irish actors as Barry Fitzgerald who, though very effective and beloved, had a thick brogue that kept him forever cast as an Irishman. As a result, McClory was much more at home in American TV and had many memorable roles from 1953 onward, appearing in a gamut of episodic TV in addition to his feature film work. However, it was his frequent appearances on the small screen that enabled McClory to stand out in viewers' memories, especially in a range of western and adventure series (in which he played a good sprinkling of Irish characters) well into the 1970s.
Known For
TV Shows (58)
Columbo
1971
as Captain
Perry Mason
1957
as Fred Wenzel / Harry Fothergill / Hannibal Harvey
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Ross Barber
Mannix
1967
Falcon Crest
1981
as Frank O'Neal
The Rifleman
1958
Lassie
1954
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
The Virginian
1962
as Cobb
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
Climax!
1954
as Mark Yorke
Four Star Playhouse
1952
as Robert Upton
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1955
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Graham Clague
Daniel Boone
1964
as Liam O'Hara / Ephron Marsh / Bartender
Rawhide
1959
as Finn
Matinee Theater
1955
Lost in Space
1965
as Hamish
Wanted: Dead or Alive
1958
as 'Doc' Phillips
The Outer Limits
1963
as Karl Emmet
Gunsmoke
1955
as Clete Bolden / Sham
Thriller
1960
as Sean O'Danagh / Patrick Galt
The High Chaparral
1967
as Sandy McIntire
One Step Beyond
1959
as Michael Barry
Adventures in Paradise
1959
as Mike Milligan / Shay
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Brother Gerard / Irish Bar Patron
Family Affair
1966
Surfside 6
1960
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957
as Ted O'Malley
The Detectives
1959
The 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
Battlestar Galactica
1978
as Assault 9
Tarzan
1966
Lancer
1968
Checkmate
1960
as Stamper
Telephone Time
1956
Bronco
1958
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
1956
Cavalcade of America
1952
as Andrew Johnson
Honey West
1965
as Insurance Investigator Booth
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Albert
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
1959
as Father Ray
The Guns of Will Sonnett
1967
The Great Adventure
1963
as Major Carlton
The Islanders
1960
as Quinn
The Dakotas
1963
S.W.A.T.
1975
Frontier
1955
The Californians
1957
as Jack McGivern
The Outcasts
1968
General Electric True
1962
Kate McShane
1975
as Pat McShane
General Electric Theater
1953
Bring 'Em Back Alive
1982
The Swamp Fox
1959
Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers
1956
Convoy
1965
as Major Perth-Whittaker
Movies (40)
Niagara
1953
as Sam (uncredited)
Them!
1954
as Maj. Kibbee
Cheyenne Autumn
1964
as Dr. O'Carberry
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel
1951
as Jock
Bandolero!
1968
as Robbie O'Hare
The Quiet Man
1952
as Owen Glynn
Body Bags
1993
as Minister
Les Miserables
1952
as Bamtasbois (uncredited)
Moonfleet
1955
as Elzevir Block
Lorna Doone
1951
as Charleworth Doone
The Dead
1987
as Mr. Grace
The Long Gray Line
1955
as Dinny Maher
The Gnome-Mobile
1967
as Horatio Quaxton
Diane
1956
as Count Michel Montgomery
Storm Warning
1951
as Shore
My Chauffeur
1986
as O'Brien
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe
1976
as Codge Collier
The Happiest Millionaire
1967
as Police Sergeant
Island in the Sky
1953
as Frank Lovatt, Dooley's co-pilot
The Guns of Fort Petticoat
1957
as Emmett Kettle
The King's Pirate
1967
as Sparkes
Roller Boogie
1979
as Jammer Delany
Follow Me, Boys!
1966
as Edward White, Sr.
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome
1947
as Officer Carney (uncredited)
Valley of the Dragons
1961
as Michael Denning
Anne of the Indies
1951
as Hackett
The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady
1950
as James Moore
The King's Thief
1955
as Sheldon
Dick Tracy's Dilemma
1947
as Officer Dillon (uncredited)
Plunder of the Sun
1953
as Jefferson
Man in the Attic
1953
as Constable #1
Beyond Glory
1948
as Barney
I Cover the Underworld
1955
as Gunner O'Hara / John O'Hara
Young Harry Houdini
1987
as Sean O'Casey
The Day of the Wolves
1971
as The Sheriff
Charade
1953
as Jack Stuydevant
Kate McShane
1975
as Pat McShane
Roughshod
1949
as Fowler
Ring of Fear
1954
as Dublin O'Malley
The Child
1954
as Reverend Smith
About Sean McClory
Sean McClory was born in Dublin, Ireland, but spent his early life in Galway. He was the son of Hugh Patrick, an architect and civil engineer, and Mary Margaret Ball, who had been a model. Sean decided to become an actor and joined Dublin's renowned Abbey Theater (also known as the National Theater of Ireland, opened in 1904). He rose through the ranks playing in productions of the works of such authors as William Butler Yeats and George Bernard Shaw, and soon began to play leads mostly in comedies (popular through most of the 1940s and into t… With 98 credits spanning from 1947 to 1993, Sean McClory has appeared in 40 films and 58 TV shows.
Fans searching for Sean McClory movies, Sean McClory filmography, or the latest projects starring Sean McClory can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Sean McClory Movies
- Niagara (1953) — as Sam (uncredited)
- Them! (1954) — as Maj. Kibbee
- Cheyenne Autumn (1964) — as Dr. O'Carberry
- The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951) — as Jock
- Bandolero! (1968) — as Robbie O'Hare
Where to Watch Sean McClory Films
Most Sean McClory movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Sean McClory, check our movies catalogue and browse page.