Barry Fitzgerald

Lore & Background

Fitzgerald was born William Joseph Shields in Dublin, Ireland, to an Irish father and German mother. He was raised in the Church of Ireland, though often cast as stereotypical Irish Catholic characters. He began his career in the civil service, acting part-time at the Abbey Theatre under the stage name Barry Fitzgerald to avoid trouble with his superiors. His breakthrough came in 1919 in Lady Gregory's *The Dragon*, but he did not become a full-time actor until age 41, when he left his civil service job to perform in London in 1929.

Fitzgerald made his film debut in Alfred Hitchcock's *Juno and the Paycock* (1930). He moved to Hollywood in 1936 after starring in the film version of *The Plough and the Stars*, directed by John Ford. He found steady work as a character actor, appearing in films such as *Bringing Up Baby* (1938), *The Long Voyage Home* (1940), and *How Green Was My Valley* (1941). His performance in *Going My Way* (1944) earned him both a Best Supporting Actor Oscar and a Best Actor nomination for the same role. He later appeared in *The Quiet Man* (1952) and continued acting in film and television into the late 1950s.

Reader's Guide

Barry Fitzgerald's significance lies in his distinctive character roles and his unique Oscar achievement. His dual nomination for the same performance in *Going My Way* led to a rule change preventing such occurrences in the future. Fitzgerald's career bridged the Abbey Theatre's golden age and Hollywood's studio system, bringing an authentic Irish presence to American cinema. He was listed at number 11 on *The Irish Times* list of Ireland's greatest film actors in 2020. His work with director John Ford, including *The Quiet Man* and *How Green Was My Valley*, remains highly regarded. Fitzgerald's legacy endures as a versatile actor who could shift seamlessly from stage to screen, often portraying lovable rogues or wise elders.

Did You Know?

• Fitzgerald was nominated for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for the same performance in *Going My Way* (1944), winning the latter.
• He accidentally decapitated his plaster Oscar statuette while practicing his golf swing; the Academy provided a replacement.
• He was the elder brother of Irish actor Arthur Shields.
• In 1926, three gunmen attempted to kidnap him to prevent a performance of *The Plough and the Stars*, but could not find him.