Frank Grimes (actor)
Encyclopedia
Frank Grimes is an Irish
stage and screen actor.
Grimes was born in Dublin. He achieved his first major success as the young Brendan Behan
in the 1967 stage adaptation of Behan's autobiography, Borstal Boy
, at the Abbey Theatre
. When the production moved to Broadway
, Grimes was nominated for a Tony Award
for best actor.
In 1970 the Italian director, Franco Zeffirelli
, offered Grimes the lead role of Francis of Assisi
in his biopic, Brother Sun, Sister Moon
. However, director and actor fell out over how the part should be played and Grimes was replaced by Graham Faulkner
.
In the early 1970s, Grimes moved to London
where he came to the attention of director Lindsay Anderson
. Anderson offered him a part in his production of David Storey
's play The Farm, the success of which established Grimes' reputation in British theatre.
Grimes' most significant movie role to date is the part of Major Fuller in Richard Attenborough
's A Bridge Too Far. However, he is probably best known, in his native Ireland at least, for his performance as Father O'Connor in RTÉ
's drama series, Strumpet City
. In 1981, Grimes received a Jacob's Award "for his detailed and exceptionally convincing portrayal" of the young priest.
Frank Grimes continues to work in television, films, and theatre. Most recently he has played the recurrent role of Barry Connor in Coronation Street
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
stage and screen actor.
Grimes was born in Dublin. He achieved his first major success as the young Brendan Behan
Brendan Behan
Brendan Francis Behan was an Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright who wrote in both Irish and English. He was also an Irish republican and a volunteer in the Irish Republican Army.-Early life:...
in the 1967 stage adaptation of Behan's autobiography, Borstal Boy
Borstal Boy
Borstal Boy is an autobiographical 1958 book by Brendan Behan. The story depicts a young, fervently idealistic Behan who loses his naïveté over the three years of his sentence to a juvenile borstal, softening his radical Republican stance and warming to his fellow British prisoners...
, at the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
. When the production moved to Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, Grimes was nominated for a Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for best actor.
In 1970 the Italian director, Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli KBE is an Italian director and producer of films and television. He is also a director and designer of operas and a former senator for the Italian center-right Forza Italia party....
, offered Grimes the lead role of Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
in his biopic, Brother Sun, Sister Moon
Brother Sun, Sister Moon
Brother Sun, Sister Moon is a 1972 film directed by Franco Zeffirelli and starring Graham Faulkner and Judi Bowker. The film is a biopic of Saint Francis of Assisi.-Plot:...
. However, director and actor fell out over how the part should be played and Grimes was replaced by Graham Faulkner
Graham Faulkner
Graham Faulkner is a British former actor.His first and greatest role was as Francis of Assisi in Franco Zeffirelli's Brother Sun, Sister Moon . After that, he virtually retired from acting. He played a small number of very minor roles, but has not been involved in film or television since 1984...
.
In the early 1970s, Grimes moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he came to the attention of director Lindsay Anderson
Lindsay Anderson
Lindsay Gordon Anderson was an Indian-born, British feature film, theatre and documentary director, film critic, and leading light of the Free Cinema movement and the British New Wave...
. Anderson offered him a part in his production of David Storey
David Storey
David Rhames Storey is an English playwright, screenwriter, award-winning novelist and a former professional rugby league player....
's play The Farm, the success of which established Grimes' reputation in British theatre.
Grimes' most significant movie role to date is the part of Major Fuller in Richard Attenborough
Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
's A Bridge Too Far. However, he is probably best known, in his native Ireland at least, for his performance as Father O'Connor in RTÉ
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
's drama series, Strumpet City
Strumpet City
Strumpet City is a historical novel by James Plunkett set in Dublin, Ireland, at the time of the Dublin Lock-out. In 1980, it was adapted into a successful TV drama by Radio Telefís Éireann, Ireland's national broadcaster...
. In 1981, Grimes received a Jacob's Award "for his detailed and exceptionally convincing portrayal" of the young priest.
Frank Grimes continues to work in television, films, and theatre. Most recently he has played the recurrent role of Barry Connor in Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
.