Albert Sharpe

Albert Sharpe was an Irish stage and film actor born Albert Edward Sharpe on 15 April 1885 at 8 Goudy's Court in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was one of six children born to John Sharpe, a fishmonger and Anglican Protestant, and Mary Collins, a Roman Catholic. Sharpe attended St. Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School in Belfast. In December 1918 he married Margaret "Madge" Waterson, and together they had six children — three sons and three daughters.

Sharpe made his Broadway debut in 1947 in the original production of the musical Finian's Rainbow, where he originated the role of Finian McLonergan. During the run of that production, filmmaker David O. Selznick recruited Sharpe, along with fellow cast members David Wayne and Maude Simmons, to appear in Portrait of Jennie, which was filming in New York at the time. The film version of Finian's Rainbow, released in 1968, featured Fred Astaire in the role Sharpe had originated on stage.

Beyond Broadway, Sharpe built a notable screen career. He played Darby O'Gill in Disney's Darby O'Gill and the Little People, a film that also featured Sean Connery. For MGM, he appeared in the musical Brigadoon as Andrew, the father of the character Fiona. He also had a role in The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960), which starred Peter O'Toole. In addition to his film and Broadway work, Sharpe was a member of the Abbey Players.

Sharpe spent the final decade of his life in retirement at Iveagh Crescent off the Falls Road in Belfast. He died on 13 February 1970 in Belfast, 59 days before what would have been his 85th birthday.