Liam Cunningham
Liam Cunningham | |
|---|---|
 Cunningham in 2017 | |
| Born | 2 June 1961 |
| Education | St Davids, Artane, Dublin |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse | Colette Cunningham |
| Children | 3 |
Liam Cunningham (born 2 June 1961) is an Irish actor. He is known for playing Davos Seaworth in the HBO epic-fantasy series Game of Thrones.[1]
Cunningham has been nominated for the London Film Critics' Circle Award, the British Independent Film Award, has won two Irish Film & Television Awards, and shared a BAFTA with Michael Fassbender, for their crime-drama short film Pitch Black Heist. His film roles include War of the Buttons (1994), A Little Princess (1995), Jude (1996), Dog Soldiers (2002), The Crooked Man (2003), The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006), Hunger (2008), The Escapist (2008), The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), Good Vibrations (2013), Let Us Prey (2014) and The Childhood of a Leader (2015). In 2020, he was listed at number 36 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors.[2]
Early life
[edit]Cunningham was born in East Wall, which is an inner city area of the Northside of Dublin.[3] He grew up in Kilmore West with his three sisters and a brother. Cunningham left secondary school at 15 and pursued a career as an electrician.[4] In the 1980s, Cunningham moved to Zimbabwe for three years where he maintained electrical equipment at a safari park and trained Zimbabwean electricians.[5][6] After returning to Ireland, Cunningham became dissatisfied with his work as an electrician and decided to pursue his interest in acting. He attended acting classes and began to work in local theatre, including the Royal Shakespeare Company. He appeared in a production of Studs at The Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn, London.[7]
Career
[edit]
Cunningham's debut film role came in Into the West (1992), where he played a police officer. His on-screen acting continued with roles in War of the Buttons (1994), and A Little Princess (1995),[8][9] before making his role as Phillotson in Jude (1996).[10] He continued with character roles in Falling for a Dancer (TV, 1998), RKO 281 (1999), Shooting the Past (TV, 1999), When the Sky Falls (2000) and Stranded (2002). Cunningham came to international prominence with his role as Captain Ryan in the critically acclaimed, independent horror film, Dog Soldiers (2002).[11]
Cunningham starred in well-received films such as The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival; Hunger; The Escapist (both 2008); The Guard; and Black Butterflies (both 2011). He also had roles in many high budget British and American films including The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse (2005), The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), Harry Brown (2009), Clash of the Titans, Centurion (both 2010).[12] On television, he appeared as President Richard Tate in the BBC programme Outcasts.[13] Cunningham was producer Philip Segal’s first choice to portray the Eighth Doctor in the TV movie of Doctor Who (1996), but was vetoed by Fox executives.[14][15]
In 2012, Cunningham joined the main cast for the second season of HBO's Game of Thrones portraying former smuggler Davos Seaworth,[16] and in 2013 he starred in The Numbers Station alongside John Cusack.[17] He was also cast in season 5 of the BBC series Merlin as a sorcerer.[18] He featured in the music video for "High Hopes" by Irish alternative rock band Kodaline from their EP The High Hopes.[19] In April 2013, he appeared in the seventh series of the BBC One series Doctor Who in the episode "Cold War", where he played Captain Zhukov, the commander of a Russian submarine in 1983 facing one of the Ice Warriors.[20] In 2015, he played the father in Brady Corbet's directorial debut film, The Childhood of a Leader.[21]
In February 2020, it was announced that Cunningham would voice Man-At-Arms in the Netflix animated series Masters of the Universe: Revelation.[22]
Personal life
[edit]Cunningham lives in Dublin with his wife Colette, with whom he has three children.[23]
Political views and activism
[edit]In 2025, Cunningham expressed his belief that high-profile individuals in society have a responsibility to speak out on significant political issues.[24] However, Cunningham also noted he felt it was the role of elected politicians to fix problems in society, not celebrities.[24]
Cunningham is opposed to private healthcare. In 2020, he stated "I don't have private health insurance. I never have had it because nobody should. It would be very easy to start a national health system here. Just make it illegal for TDs to have private health insurance, and we'd have a fucking great health service here very quickly".[25]
Cunningham endorsed the Trotskyist political alliance Solidarity–People Before Profit in the 2020 Irish general election.[26]
In 2020 Cunningham criticised the Irish government's housing policy, stating "The government are a bunch of fucking idiots who can't even plan to allow young people to afford their own houses".[25] In 2022, Cunningham joined the "Raise the Roof" campaign, led by a coalition of left-wing Irish political parties and trade unions, which called on the government to act faster on housing.[27]
In 2024, Cunningham stated he had been involved in pro-Palestinian campaigns for "30 to 40 years".[28] In 2015, Cunningham was one of over 100 artists who signed a letter to The Guardian announcing support for a cultural boycott of Israel.[29] In 2023, he was one of over two thousand to sign an Artists for Palestine letter calling for a ceasefire and accusing western governments of "not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them."[30]
In June 2025, several outlets[which?] erroneously reported that Cunningham had joined the June 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla aboard the humanitarian aid ship Madleen, which departed from Sicily en route to the Gaza Strip; however, he was not onboard.[31][32] It was also in June 2025 that Cunningham appeared at a People before Profit press event and criticised the Irish Government’s approach to the Gaza conflict, arguing that economic priorities are being placed ahead of humanitarian concerns. Cunningham called for stronger action, including passing the Occupied Territories Bill with meaningful provisions, and ending trade with Israel.[33] While at the event, Cunningham also endorsed a campaign which called on the Irish government to retain the policies of Irish neutrality and the triple lock policy for its defence forces.[34]
In August 2025, it was announced that Cunningham was due to take part in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which is planned to be the largest civilian-led attempt to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and to set sail between August and September 2025.[35][36]
Filmography
[edit]
Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Into the West | Police Officer | |
| Public Toilet | Short film | ||
| Heaven Only Knows | Paul Clarke | ||
| 1993 | The Sea | ||
| 1994 | Undercurrent | Greg Laughton | |
| War of the Buttons | The Master | ||
| 1995 | A Little Princess | Capt. Crewe / Prince Rama | |
| First Knight | Sir Agravaine | ||
| 1996 | Jude | Phillotson | |
| 1997 | The Doherty Brothers | Connor Doherty | Short film |
| The Life of Stuff | Alex Sneddon | ||
| 1998 | The Tale of Sweety Barrett | Detective Bone | |
| 1999 | A Love Divided | Sean Cloney | |
| 2000 | When the Sky Falls | John Cosgrave (The Runner) | |
| The Second Death | James Mangan | Short film | |
| 2001 | Revelation | Father Ray Connolly | |
| The Island of the Mapmaker's Wife | John Wyndham | ||
| 2002 | Dog Soldiers | Capt. Ryan | |
| The Abduction Club | John Power | ||
| 2003 | Mystics | Sean Foley | |
| The Crooked Man | Hamilton | ||
| The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse | Director | ||
| 2004 | The Card Player | John Brennan | |
| Screwback | Harry | Short film | |
| 2005 | Breakfast on Pluto | 1st Biker | |
| 2006 | The Wind That Shakes the Barley | Dan | |
| 2008 | The Escapist | Brodie | |
| Hunger | Father Dominic Moran | ||
| Paris Noir | Douglas | ||
| The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor | Mad Dog Maguire | ||
| 2009 | Blood: The Last Vampire | Michael Harrison | |
| The Tournament | Powers | ||
| Perrier's Bounty | The Mutt | ||
| Harry Brown | Sid Rourke | ||
| 2010 | Centurion | Brick | |
| Clash of the Titans | Solon | ||
| The Whistleblower | Bill Hynes | ||
| 2011 | Pitch Black Heist | Liam | Short film Also executive producer |
| The Guard | Francis Sheehy-Skeffington | ||
| Black Butterflies | Jack Cope | ||
| The Silence of Joan | The English Captain | ||
| War Horse | The Army Doctor | ||
| 2012 | Safe House | Alec Wade | |
| 2013 | SLR | Elliot | Short film |
| The Numbers Station | Grey | ||
| Good Vibrations | Davy | ||
| 2014 | I Am Here | Father | Short film |
| Noble | Thomas | ||
| Let Us Prey | Six | ||
| 2015 | Ladygrey | Angus | |
| Dusha shpiona | Hillsman | ||
| The Childhood of a Leader | The Father | ||
| Pursuit | Fionn | ||
| 2017 | 24 Hours to Live | Wetzler | |
| 2021 | The Vault | Walter Moreland | |
| 2023 | The Last Voyage of the Demeter | Captain Elliot | |
| 2025 | Palestine 36 | Post-production |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | A Handful of Stars | Stapler | TV movie |
| Poor Beast in the Rain | Danger Doyle | ||
| 1994–1995 | Roughnecks | Chris | 13 episodes |
| 1995 | Cracker | Stuart Grady | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Police 2020 | DCI Billy O'Connell | Pilot |
| 1998 | Falling for a Dancer | Mossie Sheehan | TV movie |
| 1999 | Shooting the Past | Christopher Anderson | Miniseries |
| Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke | Alec Cunningham-Reid | TV movie | |
| RKO 281 | Gregg Toland | ||
| 2000 | A Likeness in Stone | Bill Armstrong | |
| 2001 | Rebel Heart | Michael Malone | |
| Attila | Theodoric I | 2 episodes | |
| 2002 | Stranded | David Robinson | TV movie |
| 2003 | Final Demand | David Milner | |
| Prime Suspect | Robert West | Episode: "Part 1" | |
| 2004 | Messiah | Pace Tierney | Episode: "The Promise" |
| 2005 | Showbands | Tony Golden | TV movie |
| The Clinic | Malcolm Keown | 5 episodes | |
| 2006 | Hotel Babylon | Adrian McBride | Episode #1.8 |
| Showbands II | Tony Golden | TV movie | |
| Murphy's Law | Drew Johnstone | 3 episodes | |
| 2007 | Afterlife | Jonathan | Episode: "Your Hand in Mine" |
| The Wild West | Wyatt Earp | Episode: "The Gunfight at the OK Corral" | |
| Northanger Abbey | General Tilney | TV movie | |
| Anner House | Neil Barry | ||
| The Catherine Tate Show | Father | Episode: "Christmas Special" | |
| 2009 | The Street | Thomas Miller | Episode #3.1 |
| 2011 | Outcasts | President Richard Tate | 8 episodes |
| Camelot | Colfur | Episode: "Justice" | |
| Strike Back: Project Dawn | Daniel Connolly | 2 episodes | |
| 2012 | Saving the Titanic | Narrator (voice) | Documentary |
| Titanic: Blood and Steel | Jim Larkin | 5 episodes | |
| Merlin | Ruadan | 2 episodes | |
| 2012–2019 | Game of Thrones | Davos Seaworth | 42 episodes |
| 2013 | Doctor Who | Captain Zhukov | Episode: "Cold War" |
| Vera | Sam Harper | Episode: "Prodigal Son" | |
| 2015 | The Musketeers | Belgard | Episode: "The Prodigal Father" |
| 2017 | Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams | General Olin | Episode: "Human Is" |
| 2019 | The Hot Zone | Wade Carter | 6 episodes |
| Rick and Morty | Balthromaw (voice) | Episode: “Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim's Morty” | |
| 2020 | Solar Opposites | Pupa (voice) | Episode: "Retrace-Your-Step-Alizer" |
| 2021–2024 | Masters of the Universe: Revelation | Man-At-Arms (voice) | 13 episodes |
| 2021 | Domina | Livius | 8 episodes |
| 2024–present | 3 Body Problem | Thomas Wade | 8 episodes |
Music videos
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "High Hopes" | By Kodaline |
Awards and nominations
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Liam Cunningham signs for next six series of Game of Thrones". Independent Women. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ Clarke, Donald; Brady, Tara. "The 50 greatest Irish film actors of all time – in order". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ "Falling for an Irish Lad". Irish News, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 27 November 1999 – by Robert McMillen. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ "Game Of Thrones star Liam Cunningham talks to The Works Presents". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 21 March 2017.
- ^ "Liam Cunningham Talks About the End of 'Game of Thrones'". GQ. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ "Liam Cunningham on his phenomenal success in 'Game of Thrones', his childhood in Coolock and getting married at 22". The Irish Independent. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ Nat (3 September 2017). "Five Things You Didn't Know About Liam Cunningham". TVOvermind. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ "This 'Game of Thrones' character was in "A Little Princess" and you didn't even notice". HelloGiggles. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ Lewis, Anna (21 July 2016). "You'll never guess which Game Of Thrones actor played the dad in The Little Princess…". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ Rose, Lloyd (1 November 1996). "'Jude': Loss of Innocents". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ Minns, Adam. "UK horror Dog Soldiers wins at Brussels festival". Screendaily.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ "Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham will lead this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin". JOE.ie. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ "Television review: 'Outcasts'". Los Angeles Times. 18 June 2011. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ "A Brief History Of Time (Travel): Doctor Who (1996)". Shannonsullivan.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ "10 Things You Might Not Know About DOCTOR WHO: THE TV MOVIE". Warpedfactor.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ "Game of Thrones Casts Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ^ "The Numbers Station". Matador Pictures. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ "Liam Cunningham cast in BBC's Merlin". Irish Film and Television Network. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ^ Kodaline – High Hopes. 23 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2016 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Liam Cunningham, Matt Smith, David Warner, and Jenna-Louise Coleman in 'Cold War'". THE UNAFFILIATED CRITIC. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ Movieclips Indie (29 June 2016), The Childhood of a Leader Trailer 1 (2016) - Liam Cunningham Movie, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 12 July 2019 – via YouTube
- ^ "Mark Hamill Will Voice Skeletor on the New 'Masters of the Universe'". Screen Rant. 14 February 2020.
- ^ Goronja, Ariel (10 April 2019). "Is Liam Cunningham Married? Does the Game of Thrones Actor Have a Wife?". Heavy.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ a b Byrne, Sophie (15 February 2025). "Liam Cunningham hits out at celebrities who don't use their platform to speak out on important issues". Goss.ie. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ a b Ingle, Roisin (8 March 2020). "Liam Cunningham: 'My wife married an electrician and ended up with some d**k off the telly". Irish Times. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Our favourite Game of Thrones actor, Liam Cunningham - calling for your number 1 vote for Solidarity - People before Profit". People Before Profit. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ Kelleher, Olivia (26 November 2022). "Game of Thrones star joins Raise the Roof to protest 'breakdown in the social contract'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ Sherlock, Cillian (24 April 2024). "Game Of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham criticises people 'ignoring' Gaza". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Over 100 artists announce a cultural boycott of Israel | Letters". The Guardian. 13 February 2015. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ "Tilda Swinton among 2000+ artists calling for Gaza ceasefire". Artists for Palestine. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ Burne, Louise (4 June 2025). "Liam Cunningham says Government is 'putting health of economy ahead of genocide'". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ "Who's on board the Madleen Gaza flotilla, and where has it reached so far?". Al Jazeera. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ McGlynn, Michelle (4 June 2025). "'Vast majority of people disgusted' with Government putting money ahead of Gaza's children". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Liam Cunningham says Government is 'siding with warmongers' as he endorses Irish neutrality campaign". Irish Times. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Greta Thunberg, activists plan new aid flotilla to Gaza". Khaleej Times. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Greta Thunberg and global activists to sail largest flotilla for Gaza to break Israeli blockade". The Online Citizen. 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ "Here's the full list of nominees for this year's Irish Film and Television Awards". Entertainment.ie. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
External links
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|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
