--- name: "Colm Meaney" canonical: "https://film.one/person/colm-meaney" fi1m_id: "colm-meaney" imdb_id: "nm0000538" tmdb_id: 17782 wikidata_id: "Q313671" roles: ["Actor"] born: "30 May 1953" reviewed_on_fi1m: 11 average_fi1m_score: 74 average_as: "actor" average_over: 11 updated: "2026-10-04T22:54:07.534705+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Colm Meaney ## Identity Colm Meaney - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/colm-meaney - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** colm-meaney - **IMDb ID:** nm0000538 - **TMDB ID:** 17782 - **Wikidata ID:** Q313671 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colm_Meaney, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313671, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000538/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/17782 Actor. Born 30 May 1953 in Dublin, Ireland. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 30 May 1953, Dublin, Ireland - **Active:** 1987–present - **Also known as:** Colm J. Meaney - **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 11 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 86 (1), 1990s 76 (8), 2010s 52 (1), 2020s 74 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 69 across 10 titles - **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 2 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 2 of 8 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 8, Action 3, Action & Adventure 3, Thriller 3, Comedy 2, Crime 2 - **Screen time:** 15 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $853m across 7 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colm_Meaney, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313671, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000538/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/17782 ## Streaming the US now - **Tubi:** [*The Dead*](https://film.one/film/the-dead.md) (86) - **Paramount+:** [*Star Trek: Deep Space Nine*](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md) (85) - **Pluto TV:** [*The Snapper*](https://film.one/film/the-snapper.md) (82) - **AMC+:** [*Hell on Wheels*](https://film.one/tv/hell-on-wheels.md) (52) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Colm Meaney > Colm Meaney makes an exasperated father funny without asking us to dismiss him. We value him most when his blunt, capable men struggle with feelings they cannot manage, as Dessie Curley does in *The Snapper*. In *The Snapper* (1993), Colm Meaney lets Dessie Curley be irritated by his family and fond of them at the same time. The comedy depends on the difficulty of managing both feelings, and Meaney never makes that difficulty look foolish. We laughed at his exasperation, then felt protective of him because the effort of being this father was so apparent. The film is generous towards him, sometimes too generous, but the warmth of the performance is earned. His film work includes all three Roddy Doyle adaptations between 1991 and 1996, starting with *The Commitments* (1991). On television, he became a series regular as Miles O'Brien in *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993–1999), while taking supporting parts in American films. These parts draw on his ability to make an ordinary man worth watching without insisting that he is exceptional. We prefer the family parts, where being dependable does not settle the matter. Stephen Frears gets that balance right in *The Snapper*, allowing distress to remain part of the comedy. Doyle's writing gives the family reasons to engage with one another, and Tina Kellegher's Sharon and Ruth McCabe's Kay keep concerns of their own. Meaney's attention to them matters as much as his prominence. Our reservation is with how readily the film understands Dessie while looking less closely at what it asks of its women. We can sympathise with Dessie and still wish the film would question him more. *Layer Cake* (2004), with Meaney as Gene, offers the less comforting version of that authority: quiet, credible menace. Such parts suit him, though repeated casting as fathers and authority figures risks making him seem more predictable than he is. There is enough difficulty beneath Dessie's irritation to suggest that merely asking Meaney to supply a blunt answer wastes something. We would start with *The Snapper*, rather than wait for another role that only needs someone to look in charge. ## Biography Colm Meaney is an Irish actor. Born in Dublin, he studied at the Abbey Theatre School and joined the National Theatre of Ireland before working with theatre companies in England. He is known for his role as Chief Miles O'Brien in *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987) and *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), appearing across 225 episodes in total. Meaney played Des Curley in *The Snapper* (1993), Jimmy Rabbitte Sr. in *The Commitments* (1991), and roles in *The Last of the Mohicans* (1992), *Die Hard 2* (1990), *Con Air* (1997) and *Layer Cake* (2004). He received a Golden Globe nomination for *The Snapper* and the Irish Film & Television Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (11) - *Gangs of London* (2020), Fi1m 74, as Finn Wallace — [page](https://film.one/tv/gangs-of-london.md) - *Hell on Wheels* (2011), Fi1m 52, as Thomas 'Doc' Durant — [page](https://film.one/tv/hell-on-wheels.md) - *Con Air* (1997), Fi1m 74, as Agent Duncan Malloy — [page](https://film.one/film/con-air.md) - *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), Fi1m 85, as Miles O'Brien — [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md) - *The Snapper* (1993), Fi1m 82, as Dessie Curley — [page](https://film.one/film/the-snapper.md) - *Far and Away* (1992), Fi1m 52, as Kelly — [page](https://film.one/film/far-and-away.md) - *The Last of the Mohicans* (1992), Fi1m 84, as Major Ambrose — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-of-the-mohicans.md) - *Under Siege* (1992), Fi1m 77, as Daumer — [page](https://film.one/film/under-siege.md) - *The Commitments* (1991), Fi1m 82, as Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr. — [page](https://film.one/film/the-commitments.md) - *Die Hard 2* (1990), Fi1m 70, as Windsor Plane - Pilot — [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard-2.md) - *The Dead* (1987), Fi1m 86, as Mr. Bergin — [page](https://film.one/film/the-dead.md) ## Complete filmography (143) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Remarkably Bright Creatures* (2026), as Ethan Mack - *Re-Creation* (2025), as Ian Bailey - *The Legend of the Happy Worker* (2025), Actor - *Bring Them Down* (2025), as Ray - *Safe Harbor* (2025), series, as Kieran Walsh - *The Problem with People* (2024), as Ciáran - *Duchess* (2024), as Frank Monaghan - *The Ballad of Davy Crockett* (2024), as Caleb - *No Way Up* (2024), as Brandon - *The Santa Stories* (2023), series, as The No Man/ Bill - *Scary Tales of New York* (2023), series, as Storyteller - *In the Land of Saints and Sinners* (2023), as Robert McQue - *There's Always Hope* (2023), as Jonathan - *Marlowe* (2023), as Bernie Ohls - *Unwelcome* (2023), as Colm “Daddy” Whelan - *Three Day Millionaire* (2022), as Mr. Barr · Executive Producer - *The Serpent Queen* (2022), series, as Francis I of France - *Save the Cinema* (2022), as Martyn - *Confession* (2022), as Father Peter - *Fúria* (2021), series, Actor - *The Monkey* (2021), as MacDonell - *Pixie* (2020), as Dermot O'Brien - *The Singapore Grip* (2020), series, as Major Brendan Archer - *Gangs of London* (2020), series, as Finn Wallace — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/gangs-of-london.md) - *The Banker* (2020), as Patrick Barker - *Seberg* (2019), as Frank Ellroy - *The Last Right* (2019), as Detective Donall Crowley - *Tolkien* (2019), as Father Francis Morgan - *National Theatre Live: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (2018), as Big Daddy - *Will* (2017), series, as James Burbage - *Halal Daddy* (2017), as Martin Logan - *The Journey* (2017), as Martin McGuinness - *The Secrets of Emily Blair* (2016), as Father Avital - *Pelé: Birth of a Legend* (2016), as George Raynor · Coach George Raynor - *Norm of the North* (2016), as Grandfather (voice) - *Childhood's End* (2015), series, as Wainwright - *I Am Your Father* (2015), as Narrator (voice) - *A Dangerous Arrangement* (2015), as Leslie - *Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things...* (2014), as Miles O'Brien - *The Devil's Hand* (2014), as Elder Beacon - *The Driver* (2014), series, as The Horse - *The Yank* (2014), as Fintan McGuire - *Free Birds* (2013), as Myles Standish (voice) - *A Belfast Story* (2013), as Detective - *One Chance* (2013), as Roland Potts - *Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa* (2013), as Patt Farrell - *Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds* (2013), as Chief Miles O'Brien (archive footage) - *Soldiers of Fortune* (2012), as Mason - *The Cold Light of Day* (2012), as Bandler - *Bel Ami* (2012), as Monsieur Rousset - *Hell on Wheels* (2011), series, as Thomas 'Doc' Durant — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/tv/hell-on-wheels.md) - *The Perfect Stranger* (2011), as Mark O'Reilly - *Whole Lotta Sole* (2011), as Detective Weller - *The Conspirator* (2011), as David Hunter - *The Flight of the Swan* (2011), as Giannopoulos - *The Hot Potato* (2011), as Harry - *Alleged* (2010), as H.L. Mencken - *Parked* (2010), as Fred Daly - *Get Him to the Greek* (2010), as Jonathan Snow - *Alice* (2009), series, as King of Hearts - *The Race* (2009), as Frank Kensay - *Law Abiding Citizen* (2009), as Detective Dunnigan - *Mercy* (2009), series, Actor - *The Damned United* (2009), as Don Revie - *ZOS: Zone of Separation* (2009), series, as George Titac - *Three and Out* (2008), as Tommy Cassidy - *Unnatural Causes* (2008), as Trevor Jones - *Kings* (2007), as Joe Mullan - *Men in Trees* (2006), series, as Bob O'Donnell - *Five Fingers* (2006), as Gavin - *Covert One: The Hades Factor* (2006), series, as Peter Howell - *The Unit* (2006), series, as Charge D'Affaires - *Caved In: Prehistoric Terror* (2006), as Vincent - *A Lobster Tale* (2006), as Cody - *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* (2005), series, as Shelley Kelly - *Turning Green* (2005), as Tom - *Jack Charlton: The Irish Years* (2005), Presenter - *Battle of the Brave* (2004), as Benjamin Franklin - *Layer Cake* (2004), as Gene - *The Murdoch Mysteries: Poor Tom Is Cold* (2004), as Inspector Brackenreid - *Stargate Atlantis* (2004), series, as Cowen - *The Murdoch Mysteries* (2004), series, as Inspector Brackenreid - *The Murdoch Mysteries: Except the Dying* (2004), as Inspector Brackenreid - *Bad Apple* (2004), as Gibbons - *Blueberry* (2004), as Jimmy McClure - *The Boys & Girl from County Clare* (2003), as Jimmy - *Intermission* (2003), as Jerry Lynch - *King of Texas* (2002), as Mr. Tumlinson - *How Harry Became a Tree* (2002), as Harry - *Random Passage* (2002), series, Actor - *Random Passage* (2002), as Thomas Hutchings - *Backflash* (2002), as Gin O'Malley - *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Harold Garrett - *Chapter Zero* (1999), as Frank Lazaras - *The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns* (1999), series, as Seamus Muldoon - *Mystery, Alaska* (1999), as Mayor Scott Pitcher - *Four Days* (1999), as Fury - *This Is My Father* (1999), as Seamus - *Money Kings* (1998), as Al Sheehan - *Claire Dolan* (1998), as Roland Cain - *October 22* (1998), as Steve - *Monument Ave.* (1998), as Jackie O'Hara - *Owd Bob* (1998), as Keith Moore - *Con Air* (1997), as Agent Duncan Malloy — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/con-air.md) - *The Last of the High Kings* (1996), as Jim Davern - *The Van* (1996), as Larry - *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Way of the Warrior* (1995), as Miles O'Brien - *The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain* (1995), as Morgan the Goat - *Scarlett* (1994), series, as Father Colum O'Hara - *The Road to Wellville* (1994), as Dr. Lionel Badger - *Gargoyles* (1994), series, as Mr. Dugan (voice) - *War of the Buttons* (1994), as Geronimo's Dad - *The Snapper* (1993), as Dessie Curley — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-snapper.md) - *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Emissary* (1993), as Miles O'Brien - *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), series, as Miles O'Brien — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md) - *Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman* (1993), series, as Jake Slicker - *Into the West* (1992), as Barreller - *Under Siege* (1992), as Daumer — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/under-siege.md) - *The Last of the Mohicans* (1992), as Major Ambrose — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-of-the-mohicans.md) - *Far and Away* (1992), as Kelly — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/far-and-away.md) - *Brooklyn Bridge* (1991), series, Actor - *The Commitments* (1991), as Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr. — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-commitments.md) - *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Wyatt Landon — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md) - *Come See the Paradise* (1990), as Gerry McGurn - *Die Hard 2* (1990), as Windsor Plane - Pilot — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard-2.md) - *Dick Tracy* (1990), as Cop at Tess' - *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Tom O'Flanagan (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md) - *Perfect Witness* (1989), as Meagher - *The Gambler: The Legend Continues* (1987), as Tinkerer - *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), series, as Miles O'Brien — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md) - *The Dead* (1987), as Mr. Bergin — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-dead.md) - *Omega Syndrome* (1986), as Sean - *MacGyver* (1985), series, as Irwin Malcolm - *Moonlighting* (1985), series, as Keterina Suitor (as Colm Meany) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/moonlighting.md) - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Dessie Curley - *Tales from the Darkside* (1984), series, as Constable - *Easter 2016* (1982), as Kevin Murphy - *Nailed* (1981), as Younger Protestant - *Strangers* (1978), series, as Peter Smolett - *Hal*, Actor - *The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes*, as Jack - *The Panic*, as J. Pierpont Morgan - *Shelter Me*, Actor ## Gallery - ![Colm Meaney](https://film.one/media/person/81614/gallery-35cde8cadb44.jpg) Colm Meaney — Kevin Payravi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Colm_Meaney_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Colm_Meaney_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Marc Alaimo, Armin Shimerman and Colm Meaney at the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas in 2009.](https://film.one/media/person/81614/gallery-e50691823a3a.jpg) Marc Alaimo, Armin Shimerman and Colm Meaney at the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas in 2009. — Beth Madison, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Alaimo%2C_Shimerman_and_Meany.jpg/1280px-Alaimo%2C_Shimerman_and_Meany.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Marc Alaimo, Armin Shimerman and Colm Meaney at the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas in 2009.](https://film.one/media/person/81614/gallery-8c7933e23389.jpg) Marc Alaimo, Armin Shimerman and Colm Meaney at the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas in 2009. — Beth Madison, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Alaimo%2C_Shimerman_and_Meany_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Alaimo%2C_Shimerman_and_Meany_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Toronto International Film Festival 2016](https://film.one/media/person/81614/gallery-64565a879303.jpg) Toronto International Film Festival 2016 — Gordon Correll, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Colm_Meaney_%2829865699455%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Colm Meaney](https://film.one/media/person/81614/gallery-3b1f86838fa7.jpg) Colm Meaney — Image via TMDB - ![Colm Meany - Miles O'Brien DS9 (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/81614/gallery-8ec5dec3c3e4.jpg) Colm Meany - Miles O'Brien DS9 (2017) — Crosa from Nuernberg, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Colm_Meaney_%2834998841962%29.jpg/1280px-Colm_Meaney_%2834998841962%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Colm Meaney at the 2011 MIPCOM, in Cannes.](https://film.one/media/person/81614/gallery-768194f62d13.jpg) Colm Meaney at the 2011 MIPCOM, in Cannes. — Frantogian, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Colm_Meaney_-_Cannes.jpg/1280px-Colm_Meaney_-_Cannes.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Golden Globes — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1993: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *The Snapper* ### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role 2007: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role (nominated) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/colm-meaney