Niall MacGinnis
An Irish character actor, Niall MacGinnis appeared in a variety of roles but was especially adept at historical dramas. Trained as a doctor, he briefly worked as a surgeon in World War II before pursuing acting. He studied at the famed Old Vic Theatre in London under John Gielgud and became well-versed in Shakespeare. His first significant role was with young director Michael Powell, who cast him in the historical drama "The Edge of the World." He worked with Powell again in the war thriller "49th Parallel," winning praise for his portrayal of a Nazi officer. Co-star Laurence Olivier was impressed, casting MacGinniss in his 1948 film "Hamlet." He had a rare leading role playing the title character in the 1953 biographical drama "Martin Luther" and would appear in several more historical films throughout the decade, including "Alexander the Great" and "Helen of Troy." MacGinnis also made his Broadway debut in the early '50s and began appearing in both American and British films. He had a memorable role in the B-movie classic "Curse of the Demon," playing the demonic Dr. Julian Karswell, and he portrayed Zeus in the 1963 fantasy classic "Jason and The Argonauts." MacGinnis had a smattering of TV appearances in the latter part of his career while continuing to appear in some of his era's most significant films like the 1965 thriller "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold."
Photos
Niall MacGinnis
Filmography
Movies
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0% |
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Krakatoa, East of Java | Harbor Master (Character) | - | 1969 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | River of Mystery | Garwood Drum (Character) | - | 1969 |
43% |
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The Shoes of the Fisherman | Capuchin Monk (Character) | - | 1968 |
No Score Yet |
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Torture Garden | Dr. Silversmith (Character) | - | 1967 |
No Score Yet |
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The Viking Queen | Tiberian (Character) | - | 1967 |
No Score Yet |
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The Creepers | Mr. Roger Campbell (Character) | - | 1966 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Truth About Spring | Cleary (Character) | - | 1965 |
67% |
|
The War Lord | Odins (Character) | - | 1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Man Who Finally Died | Brenner (Character) | - | 1963 |
89% |
|
Jason and the Argonauts | Zeus (Character) | - | 1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Face in the Rain | Klaus (Character) | - | 1963 |
92% |
|
Billy Budd | Captain Nathaniel Graveling (Character) | - | 1962 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Playboy of the Western World | Old Mahon (Character) | - | 1962 |
No Score Yet |
|
Sword of Sherwood Forest | Friar Tuck (Character) | - | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Johnny Nobody | Defending Counsel Sullivan (Character) | - | 1961 |
No Score Yet |
|
Kidnapped | Mr. Shaun (Character) | - | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Foxhole in Cairo | Radek (Character) | - | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Night Fighters | Ned O'Neill (Character) | - | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Molester | Defense Counsel (Character) | - | 1960 |
85% |
|
The Nun's Story | Father Vermeuhlen (Leprosarium) (Character) | - | 1959 |
No Score Yet |
|
Tarzan's Greatest Adventure | Kruger (Character) | - | 1959 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | This Other Eden | Devereaux (Character) | - | 1959 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | She Didn't Say No! | James Casey (Character) | - | 1958 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Behind the Mask | Neil Isherwood (Character) | - | 1958 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Veil | Walter (Character) | - | 1958 |
100% |
|
Curse of the Demon | Dr. Julian Karswell (Character) | - | 1957 |
80% |
|
Lust for Life | Roulin (Character) | - | 1956 |
0% |
|
Alexander the Great | Parmenio (Character) | - | 1956 |
No Score Yet |
|
Helen of Troy | Menelaus (Character) | - | 1955 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Special Delivery | Sidney (Character) | - | 1955 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Conflict of Wings | Harry Tilney (Character) | - | 1954 |
No Score Yet |
|
Hell Below Zero | Dr. Howe (Character) | - | 1954 |
No Score Yet |
|
Betrayed | Blackie (Character) | - | 1954 |
No Score Yet |
|
Martin Luther | Martin Luther (Character) | - | 1953 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Chance of a Lifetime | Baxter (Character) | - | 1950 |
No Score Yet |
|
Christopher Columbus | Juan de la Cosa (Character) | - | 1949 |
No Score Yet |
|
Anna Karenina | Konstantin Levin (Character) | - | 1948 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | No Room at the Inn | O'Rane (Character) | - | 1948 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Captain Boycott | Mark Killain (Character) | - | 1947 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tawny Pipit | Jimmy Bancroft (Character) | - | 1944 |
No Score Yet |
|
We Dive at Dawn | Mike Corrigan (Character) | - | 1943 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Day Will Dawn | Olaf (Character) | - | 1942 |
88% |
|
49th Parallel | Vogel (Character) | - | 1941 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | East of Piccadilly | Joe (Character) | - | 1941 |
100% |
|
The Edge of the World | Andrew Gray (Character) | - | 1937 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | River of Unrest | Terence Elliott (Character) | - | 1937 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Luck of the Irish | Derek O'Neill (Character) | - | 1936 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Ourselves Alone | Terence Elliott (Character) | - | 1936 |
TV
Credit | ||||
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No Score Yet | No Score Yet | El Santo | Colonel Probst (Guest Star) | 1966 |