Albert Sharpe

This article is about the actor. For the American football and basketball player and coach, see Albert Sharpe (American football).

Albert Sharpe
in Royal Wedding (1951)
Born(1885-04-15)15 April 1885
Belfast, Ireland, UK
Died13 February 1970(1970-02-13) (aged 84)
Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
OccupationActor
Years active1905−1960

Albert Sharpe (15 April 1885 – 13 February 1970) was a Northern Irish stage and film actor.

Life and work

Albert Edward Sharpe was born at 8 Goudy's Court in Belfast on 15 April 1885, one of six children born to fishmonger John Sharpe, a Presbyterian, and Mary Collins, a Roman Catholic. He attended St. Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School.[1]

In December 1918 he married Margaret "Madge" Waterson and they had six children, three sons and three daughters.

His most famous roles were those of Darby O'Gill in Disney's Darby O'Gill and the Little People featuring Sean Connery, and as Finian McLonergan in the Original Broadway production of the musical Finian's Rainbow.[1][2] (The film version, made in 1968, stars Fred Astaire in the role.)[3] On screen he played Fiona's father Andrew in the MGM musical Brigadoon.[4] He was in The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960) with Peter O'Toole.[5]

He was also a member of the Abbey Players.[1]

His last ten years were spent in retirement at Iveagh Crescent off the Falls Road.[6] He died in 1970 in Belfast, 59 days short of his 85th birthday.[7]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1946 I See a Dark Stranger Irish Publican aka "The Adventuress" (USA). Uncredited
1947 Odd Man Out Bus Conductor Uncredited
1948 Up in Central Park Timothy Moore
The Return of October Vince the Tout aka "A Date with Destiny" (UK)
Portrait of Jennie Moore aka "Jennie" (UK) OR "Tidal Wave"
1949 Adventure in Baltimore Dan Fletcher aka "Bachelor Bait" (UK)
1951 Royal Wedding James Ashmond aka "Wedding Bells" (UK)
The Highwayman Forsythe
You Never Can Tell Grandpa Hathaway aka "One Never Knows" OR "You Never Know" (UK)
1952 Face to Face First Mate Brown ('The Secret Sharer')
1954 Brigadoon Andrew Campbell
1959 Darby O'Gill and the Little People Darby O'Gill (with pre-James Bond era Sean Connery)
1960 The Day They Robbed the Bank of England Tosher (final film role)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Albert Sharpe | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos". AllMovie.
  2. ^ Stewart, John (22 November 2012). Broadway Musicals, 1943–2004. McFarland. ISBN 9781476603292 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Flynn, Roddy; Tracy, Tony (9 August 2019). Historical Dictionary of Irish Cinema. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781538119587 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Brigadoon (1954) - Vincente Minnelli | Cast and Crew | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  5. ^ Vagg, Stephen (17 November 2020). "John Guillermin: Action Man". Filmink.
  6. ^ "Albert Sharpe (1885–1970) – Find A Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com.
  7. ^ "Albert Sharpe". BFI. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017.