Veteran Irish actor Niall Toibin dies at age of 89
IRISH actor and comedian Niall Toibin has died in Dublin after a long illness at the age of 89.
Born in Co Cork in 1929, Mr Toibin had a long career across radio, stage, film and television, including roles in Ryan’s Daughter, Far And Away and Veronica Guerin.
His unrivalled versatility made him a formidable force in entertainment.
However, Mr Toibin will be best remembered for playing Fr Frank ‘Mack’ MacAnally for six series of the 1990s hit BBC drama Ballykissangel.
Irish President Michael D Higgins said he learned of Mr Toibin’s death with sadness.
He said in a statement: “The range of his work was vast and included unforgettable performances in all of the Irish theatres and some of the most important theatres in London and New York.
“While a huge audience will have adored his comic genius, his work included all the genres — stage, television, film and radio.”
“To the latter he brought a distinctive voice which made him a much-loved interpreter of Irish life and its challenges,” he added.
Dee Forbes, the director-general of Ireland’s national broadcaster RTE, paid tribute to Mr Toibin following his death yesterday.
“He started acting in the 1950s and spent 14 great years with the Radio Eireann Players,” she said.
“He became, ultimately, a familiar face on RTE to generations of Irish people.
“A proud Corkman, he was as at home in film as on the stage, and an especially entertaining guest on many Late Late Shows over the years.”
An illustration of Toibin’s multifaceted gifts was how he fashioned himself into the quintessential Brendan Behan, a friend of his
His stage portrayal of the Irish playwright in Borstal Boy would eventually earn him a Tony Award on Broadway.
He also made it big in the UK in The Irish RM and Ballykissangel.
In 2010 he was honoured with a Doctor of Arts from University College Cork and five years later he was given the Freedom of the City.
Toibin is pre-deceased by his wife Judy and survived by his children Sean, Muireann, Aisling, Sighle and Fiana.