Colm Meaney

Colm Meaney

Born 1953-05-30 (age 73) Dublin, Ireland
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Biography

Colm J. Meaney (born May 30, 1953) is an acclaimed Irish actor. Born in Dublin, Meaney discovered his passion for acting in his youth and later honed his craft at the Abbey Theatre School before joining the National Theatre of Ireland. He achieved global recognition for his iconic portrayal of Chief Miles O'Brien within the Star Trek franchise, seamlessly transitioning the character from Star Trek: The Next Generation to a leading role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine across a staggering 225 total episodes. Beyond science fiction, Meaney is deeply revered for starring as the quintessential working-class father in all three film adaptations of Roddy Doyle’s beloved Barrytown Trilogy: The Commitments, The Snapper (which earned him a Golden Globe nomination), and The Van. A highly versatile character actor, his prolific Hollywood filmography includes memorable roles in major blockbusters such as Die Hard 2, The Last of the Mohicans, Con Air, and Layer Cake. On the small screen, he delivered powerhouse performances as the ruthless railroad tycoon Thomas C. Durant in AMC's Western series Hell on Wheels and the crime boss Finn Wallace in Gangs of London. An accomplished stage veteran of Broadway and the West End, Meaney was honored with the prestigious Irish Film & Television Academy’s (IFTA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. He continues to remain a vibrant force in the industry, starring in high-profile projects such as the Netflix feature adaptation Remarkably Bright Creatures and the crime drama series The Yank, which reunited him on screen with fellow Star Trek alumnus Kate Mulgrew.

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Known For

Remarkably Bright Creatures
Con Air
Con Air

1997

as Agent Duncan Malloy

The Last of the Mohicans
The Last of the Mohicans

1992

as Major Ambrose

Law Abiding Citizen
Law Abiding Citizen

2009

as Detective Dunnigan

Die Hard 2
Die Hard 2

1990

as Windsor Plane - Pilot

Under Siege
Under Siege

1992

as Daumer

No Way Up
No Way Up

2024

as Brandon

Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy

1990

as Cop at Tess'

The Banker
The Banker

2020

as Patrick Barker

Pelé: Birth of a Legend
Pelé: Birth of a Legend

2016

as George Raynor

Pelé: Birth of a Legend
Pelé: Birth of a Legend

2016

as Coach George Raynor

Layer Cake
Layer Cake

2004

as Gene

Free Birds
Free Birds

2013

as Myles Standish (voice)

Far and Away
Far and Away

1992

as Kelly

In the Land of Saints and Sinners
Get Him to the Greek
Get Him to the Greek

2010

as Jonathan Snow

Duchess
Duchess

2024

as Frank Monaghan

Tolkien
Tolkien

2019

as Father Francis Morgan

Marlowe
Marlowe

2023

as Bernie Ohls

The Cold Light of Day
The Cold Light of Day

2012

as Bandler