Arthur Shields
Biography
Arthur Shields was an Irish stage and film actor born on February 15, 1896, in Portobello, Dublin. He was born into an Irish Protestant family and began acting in the Abbey Theatre at the age of 17. He was the younger brother of actor Barry Fitzgerald. As an Irish nationalist, Shields fought in the Easter Uprising of 1916, after which he was captured and interned in Frongoch, North Wales, before returning to the Abbey Theatre. In 1936, John Ford brought him to the United States to act in a film version of The Plough and the Stars. Shields later returned to the United States and chose to reside in California for health reasons. He died at his home in Santa Barbara on April 27, 1970, at the age of 74.
Career overview
Arthur Shields was an Irish stage and film actor born on February 15, 1896, in Portobello, Dublin, into an Irish Protestant family that belonged to the Church of Ireland. He was the younger brother of actor Barry Fitzgerald. As a young man, specifically when he was 17 years old, Shields began his acting career at the Abbey Theatre. Outside of his early theatrical pursuits, he was an Irish nationalist who fought in the Easter Uprising of 1916. Following his capture, he was interned in Frongoch, North Wales, after which he returned to the Abbey Theatre.
In 1936, director John Ford brought Shields to the United States to act in a film version of The Plough and the Stars. Shields later returned to the United States and chose to reside in California for health reasons. Throughout his career in entertainment, he amassed numerous known credits in film and television, with a total of 87 known acting credits recorded on the Movie Database.
Shields passed away at his home in Santa Barbara on April 27, 1970, at the age of 74. His life spanned significant historical events in Ireland as well as a prolific transition into American cinema and television acting.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
88 titles- The Pigeon That Took Rome (1962) as Monsignor O'Toole
- For the Love of Mike (1960) as Father Walsh
- Bonanza (1959) as Dennis
- Rawhide (1959)
- Rawhide (1959) as Sam Cartwright
- One Step Beyond (1959) as Simon Lockhart
- Play of the Week (1959) as Monsignor
- Bat Masterson (1958) as Dana Ruggles
- Enchanted Island (1958) as Jimmy Dooley
- Perry Mason (1957) as Dr. George Barnes
- Wagon Train (1957) as Judge Tremayne
- Maverick (1957) as Terence Fogarty
- Daughter of Dr. Jekyll (1957) as Dr. Lomas
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Jaspar
- The Hardy Boys (1956) as Boles
- The King and Four Queens (1956) as Padre
- The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure (1956) as Boles - Ex-Gardener
- The Millionaire (1955) as J. Peveril 'Pev' Johnson
- Lady Godiva of Coventry (1955) as Innkeeper
- River of No Return (1954) as Minister at Tent City (uncredited)
- Pride of the Blue Grass (1954) as Wilson
- World for Ransom (1954) as Sean O'Connor
- The Life Of Riley (1953) as Mr. Winkley
- South Sea Woman (1953) as 'Jimmy-legs' Donovan
- Main Street to Broadway (1953) as Actor in Fantasy Sequence
- Scandal at Scourie (1953) as Father Reilly
- Omnibus (1952) as Jacob O'Shaughnessy
- The Quiet Man (1952) as Rev. Cyril 'Snuffy' Playfair
- Jack and the Beanstalk (1952) as Patrick the Harp (uncredited)
- The River (1951) as Mr. John
- The People Against O'Hara (1951) as Mr. O'Hara
- Sealed Cargo (1951) as Kevin Dolan
- Apache Drums (1951) as Reverend Griffin
- The Barefoot Mailman (1951) as Ben Titus
- Blue Blood (1951) as Tim Donovan
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Michael
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Uncle Dan
- Tarzan and the Slave Girl (1950) as Dr. E.E. Campbell
- A Wonderful Life (1950) as Pastor
- She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) as Dr. O'Laughlin
- Your Show Time (1949)
- Red Light (1949) as Father Redmond
- Challenge to Lassie (1949) as Dr. Lee
- The Adventure of the Speckled Band (1949) as The Bookshop Man
- The Fighting O'Flynn (1949) as Dooley
- Tap Roots (1948) as Reverend Kirkland
- Fighting Father Dunne (1948) as Michael O'Donnell
- My Own True Love (1948) as Iverson
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947)
- The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947) as Michael Michael
- Seven Keys to Baldpate (1947) as Prof. Bolton
- The Fabulous Dorseys (1947) as Thomas Dorsey Sr.
- Easy Come, Easy Go (1947) as Timothy Mike Donovan
- The Verdict (1946) as Rev. Holbrook
- Never Say Goodbye (1946) as McCarthy (uncredited)
- Three Strangers (1946) as Prosecutor
- Gallant Journey (1946) as Father Kenton
- Phantoms, Inc. (1945) as Dr. Rupert Trykel
- The Valley of Decision (1945) as Callahan
- National Velvet (1945) as Mr. Hallam
- The Corn Is Green (1945) as Glyn Thomas
- Roughly Speaking (1945) as Minister (uncredited)
- Too Young to Know (1945) as Mr. Enright
- The Keys of the Kingdom (1944) as Fr. Fitzgerald, Dean at Holywell
- The White Cliffs of Dover (1944) as Benson (uncredited)
- Youth Runs Wild (1944) as Mr. Dunlop
- Lassie Come Home (1943) as Andrew
- Madame Curie (1943) as Businessman (uncredited)
- Above Suspicion (1943) as Walmer Hotel Porter (Uncredited)
- The Man from Down Under (1943) as Father Polycarp
- The Black Swan (1942) as The Bishop (uncredited)
- Gentleman Jim (1942) as Father Burke
- Pacific Rendezvous (1942) as Prof. Harvey Lessmore
- This Above All (1942) as Hospital Chaplain
- Dr. Renault's Secret (1942) as Inspector Duval (uncredited)
- The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe (1942) as Griswald (uncredited)
- Nightmare (1942) as Sergeant
- Broadway (1942) as Pete Dailey
- How Green Was My Valley (1941) as Mr. Parry
- The Gay Falcon (1941) as Inspector Mike Waldeck
- Confirm or Deny (1941) as Jeff, Blind Typist
- Lady Scarface (1941) as Matt Willis
- The Long Voyage Home (1940) as Donkeyman
- Little Nellie Kelly (1940) as Timothy Fogarty
- Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) as Reverend Rosenkrantz
- The Plough and the Stars (1936) as Padraic Pearse
- The Sign of the Cross (1932) as Chaplain Costello (1944 Re-Release Prologue) (uncredited)
- Knocknagow (1918) as Phil Lahy
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Arthur Shields best known for?
Arthur Shields is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Mulholland Drive (2001), New Jack City (1991), New Jack City (1991), My Cousin Vinny (1992).
When and where was Arthur Shields born?
Arthur Shields was born on February 15, 1896 in Dublin, Ireland. They passed away on April 27, 1970.
How many credits does Arthur Shields have?
Arthur Shields has accumulated over 88 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1932 to 1962.
What is Arthur Shields's background in cinema and television?
Arthur Shields was an Irish stage and film actor born on February 15, 1896, in Portobello, Dublin. He was born into an Irish Protestant family and began acting in the Abbey Theatre at the age of 17. He was the younger brother of actor Barry Fitzgerald. As an Irish nationalist, Shields fought in the Easter Uprising of 1...
Arthur Shields by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Hardy Boys (1956) as Boles — aged about 60
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947) — aged about 51
- Perry Mason (1957) as Dr. George Barnes — aged about 61
- Bonanza (1959) as Dennis — aged about 63
- The Quiet Man (1952) as Rev. Cyril 'Snuffy' Playfair — aged about 56
- The River (1951) as Mr. John — aged about 55
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