Arthur O'Sullivan

Arthur O'Sullivan (1912 – 17 February 1981), also known as Archie O'Sullivan, was an Irish actor whose career spanned stage, screen, and radio. Born in Ireland, he worked across multiple mediums over several decades before his death at Our Lady's Hospice, Harolds Cross, Dublin, at the age of 69.

O'Sullivan joined the Radio Éireann Players in 1948, alongside Laurence O'Dea and Frank O'Dwyer. The company, formed in 1947 as a repertory ensemble for radio drama, was notable for being the first of its kind in any English-speaking country. All of its members were from Ireland, with many being native Irish speakers. Micheál Ó hAodha served as the company's first producer. O'Sullivan performed in productions featuring work by writers including Frank O'Connor and Seán Ó Faoláin, appearing alongside Tom Studley, George Greene, Éamonn Kelly, Joe Lynch, and Aidan Grennell. Brendan Behan also contributed to the company's output, making his debut with two plays written for radio. Between dramatic productions, the players participated in radio variety programmes and read pieces on air as required.

In 1961, O'Sullivan appeared in a radio production of The Weaver's Grave, written by Galway author Seamus O'Kelly and adapted and produced by Mícheál Ó hAodha. The production won the Prix Italia for Radio Drama. The Radio Éireann Players won the same award again in 1964. O'Sullivan also appeared in Radio Éireann's Rambling House, a programme in which Ceoltóirí Chualann, Seán Ó Sé, Éamon Kelly, and others recreated the Irish Rambling Houses of old through singing, music, and storytelling.

On stage, O'Sullivan participated in the world premieres of plays by both John B. Keane and Brian Friel. In 1966, he brought his stage work to Broadway, appearing in The Loves of Cass McGuire. That same year, he appeared on RTÉ television in The Singer, written by P. H. Pearse, as part of a series broadcast to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the 1916 Insurrection. He returned to RTÉ in 1978 for the series Teems of Times, in which he played the role of Sailor Clancy.

O'Sullivan also took roles in several significant feature films produced in Ireland. These included Girl with Green Eyes in 1964, Ryan's Daughter in 1970, and Barry Lyndon in 1975. In Barry Lyndon, he portrayed Captain Feeny, described in the film as a courteous highwayman.