---
name: "Dan O'Herlihy"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/dan-oherlihy"
fi1m_id: "dan-oherlihy"
imdb_id: "nm0641397"
tmdb_id: 6836
wikidata_id: "Q437944"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 May 1919"
died: "17 February 2005"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 86
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-26T01:32:34.282825+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."
---

# Dan O'Herlihy

## Identity

Dan O'Herlihy

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/dan-oherlihy
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** dan-oherlihy
- **IMDb ID:** nm0641397
- **TMDB ID:** 6836
- **Wikidata ID:** Q437944
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_O%27Herlihy, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q437944, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6836

Actor. Born 1 May 1919 in Wexford, Ireland. Died 17 February 2005.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 May 1919, Wexford, Ireland
- **Died:** 17 February 2005
- **Active:** 1947–1987
- **Also known as:** Daniel O'Herlihy, Daniel Peter O'Herlihy, دن اوهرلیهی
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 86, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 82 (1), 1950s 86 (1), 1980s 88 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 86 to 81 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Thriller 2, Action 1, Crime 1, Romance 1, Science Fiction 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $58m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_O%27Herlihy, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q437944, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6836

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*RoboCop*](https://film.one/film/robocop.md) (91)
- **Tubi:** [*The Dead*](https://film.one/film/the-dead.md) (86)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Dan O'Herlihy

> His resonant baritone made executives, officers and villains sound as though they expected to be obeyed. We rate Dan O'Herlihy for the credibility he brought them, while wishing more films had asked him to carry the story.

In *RoboCop* (1987), Dan O'Herlihy plays the Old Man, the chief executive of OCP, with a voice well suited to being obeyed. His rich baritone gives the authority a plausible sound before we have considered what the company does with it. We rate him for making men like this credible without fuss. Paul Verhoeven's film is savage about corporate power, and O'Herlihy is useful casting: we have no difficulty accepting that this man has been put in charge.

His earlier parts included Macduff in Orson Welles's *Macbeth* (1948). The leading role in Luis Buñuel's *Robinson Crusoe* (1954) makes the later concentration on supporting parts seem a little wasteful. In a largely one-man film, O'Herlihy had to sustain both the physical effort and the emotional interest. Few substantial leading roles followed, and executives, military officers and eccentrics became regular work across film and television. There is a danger of reducing him to that voice when his early lead required so much more of the actor.

Sidney Lumet's *Fail Safe* (1964) offers a reason to look beyond the villains: his Brigadier General Warren A. Black brings moral anguish to military authority. The role asks what happens when a man accustomed to responsibility finds it difficult to bear. By *The Last Starfighter* (1984), his vocal presence has a different use, helping him remain distinctive under heavy prosthetics as Grig, a reptilian alien co-pilot. Supporting work could still ask something of him.

We would still start with *RoboCop*, without pretending that its considerable force belongs chiefly to O'Herlihy. We were moved by it because Peter Weller makes the metal policeman a person worth caring about. O'Herlihy helps make the company around him convincing, but Weller gives the violence its human cost. Take the warning about that violence seriously; then give O'Herlihy more of the evening to himself with *Robinson Crusoe*.

## Biography

Dan O'Herlihy was an Irish actor. Born in Wexford in 1919, he studied architecture at University College Dublin before turning to acting. He began his career on the Dublin stage with the Gate Theatre and Abbey Players, and made his film debut in Carol Reed's *Odd Man Out* (1947).

O'Herlihy received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his title role in Luis Buñuel's *Adventures of Robinson Crusoe* (1954). He appeared in films including *Fail Safe* (1964), *Waterloo* (1970), *Halloween III: Season of the Witch* (1982), *The Last Starfighter* (1984) and *The Dead* (1987). On television he played Andrew Packard in *Twin Peaks* (1990–91).

He played The Old Man, the chief executive of OCP, in *RoboCop* (1987) and its 1990 sequel. O'Herlihy was the brother of television director Michael O'Herlihy and married Elsie Bennett in 1945. He died in Malibu, California, in 2005.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *RoboCop* (1987), Fi1m 91, as The Old Man — [page](https://film.one/film/robocop.md)
- *The Dead* (1987), Fi1m 86, as Mr. Browne — [page](https://film.one/film/the-dead.md)
- *Imitation of Life* (1959), Fi1m 86, as David Edwards — [page](https://film.one/film/imitation-of-life.md)
- *Odd Man Out* (1947), Fi1m 82, as Nolan — [page](https://film.one/film/odd-man-out.md)

## Complete filmography (109)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Rat Pack* (1998), as Joe Kennedy
- *VR.5* (1995), series, as Dr. Alloysius Hunnicutt
- *Love, Cheat & Steal* (1993), as Hamilton Fisk
- *Batman: The Animated Series* (1992), series, as Grant Walker (voice)
- *RoboCop 2* (1990), as The Old Man
- *Twin Peaks* (1990), series, as Andrew Packard — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/twin-peaks.md)
- *A Waltz Through the Hills* (1988), as Uncle Tom
- *The Dead* (1987), as Mr. Browne — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-dead.md)
- *RoboCop* (1987), as The Old Man — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/robocop.md)
- *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Vernon Kepler
- *Dark Mansions* (1986), as Alexander Drake
- *The Whoopee Boys* (1986), as Judge Sternhill
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Randall Payne
- *The Ray Bradbury Theater* (1985), series, as Charles Braling
- *The Secret Servant* (1984), series, as Professor John Tyler
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Alexander Preston, Denton Langley
- *The Last Starfighter* (1984), as Grig
- *Halloween III: Season of the Witch* (1982), as Conal Cochran
- *Remington Steele* (1982), series, as Charles Wellington
- *Nancy Astor* (1982), series, as Chiswell 'Chillie' Langhorne
- *Artemis '81* (1981), as Albrecht Von Drachenfels
- *Death Ray 2000* (1981), as The Director
- *Mark Twain: Beneath the Laughter* (1979), as Mark Twain
- *Trapper John, M.D.* (1979), series, Actor
- *A Man Called Sloane* (1979), series, Actor
- *Battlestar Galactica* (1978), series, as Dr. Ravashol
- *Deadly Game* (1977), as Colonel Edward Stryker
- *MacArthur* (1977), as President Roosevelt
- *Good Against Evil* (1977), as Father Kemschler
- *The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries* (1977), series, Actor
- *Gibbsville* (1976), series, Actor
- *Charlie's Angels* (1976), series, as Freddie Brander
- *Banjo Hackett: Roamin' Free* (1976), as Tip Conaker
- *The Bionic Woman* (1976), series, Actor
- *The Quest: The Longest Drive* (1976), as Mathew Hatcher
- *Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill* (1974), series, as Leonard Jerome
- *Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill* (1974), as Leonard Jerome
- *Born Free* (1974), series, as Archie Gordon
- *The Tamarind Seed* (1974), as Fergus Stephenson
- *QB VII* (1974), series, as David Shawcross
- *Colditz* (1972), series, as Lt. Col. Max Dodd
- *The Carey Treatment* (1972), as J.D. Randall
- *The People* (1972), as Sol Diemus
- *Waterloo* (1970), as Marshal Michel Ney
- *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Harry Wells
- *The Big Cube* (1969), as Charles Winthrop
- *100 Rifles* (1969), as Steven Grimes
- *How to Steal the World* (1968), as Prof. David Garrow
- *The High Chaparral* (1967), series, as Jake Lanier
- *Hondo* (1967), series, as Prof. Phineas Blackstone
- *Ironside* (1967), series, as Arthur Justin
- *Mission: Impossible* (1966), series, as Jack Cole — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/mission-impossible-1966.md)
- *The Long, Hot Summer* (1965), series, Actor
- *The Big Valley* (1965), series, as David Wyncop
- *Profiles in Courage* (1964), series, as Professor Richard T. Ely
- *Fail Safe* (1964), as Brig. Gen. Warren A. Black
- *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.* (1964), series, as Marcel Rudolph, Capt. Rupert Oliver Morton
- *The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters* (1963), series, as Dr. Sardius McPheeters
- *Combat!* (1962), series, as Maj. Richter
- *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, as Simon Carter
- *Sam Benedict* (1962), series, as Hart Marbury
- *The Cabinet of Caligari* (1962), as Caligari / Paul
- *Ben Casey* (1961), series, Actor
- *Target: The Corruptors!* (1961), series, Actor
- *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Mark Addison, John Patrick McHenry, Dr. Phillip Downey, Mark Sloan
- *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Governor William Defoe
- *King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein* (1961), as Detective Phil Butler
- *The Americans* (1961), series, as Colonel Fry
- *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor
- *Checkmate* (1960), series, as Stephen Jordan
- *One Foot in Hell* (1960), as Sir Harry Ivers
- *A Terrible Beauty* (1960), as Don McGinnis
- *Adventures in Paradise* (1959), series, as Colonel Tomlinson
- *The DuPont Show with June Allyson* (1959), series, as David
- *The Young Land* (1959), as Judge Millard Isham
- *Imitation of Life* (1959), as David Edwards — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/imitation-of-life.md)
- *Rawhide* (1959), series, as John Cord
- *Home Before Dark* (1958), as Arnold Bronn
- *That Woman Opposite* (1957), as Dermot Kinross
- *The Blackwell Story* (1957), as Dr. Keller
- *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Cleve Scott
- *Screen Director's Playhouse* (1955), series, as Dr. Donald Kent
- *The Virgin Queen* (1955), as Lord Derry
- *The Purple Mask* (1955), as Brisquet
- *Hunters of the Deep* (1955), as Narrator
- *Bengal Brigade* (1954), as Capt. Ronald Blaine (as Daniel O'Herlihy)
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Ian Hamilton
- *The Black Shield of Falworth* (1954), as Prince Hal of Wales
- *Robinson Crusoe* (1954), as Robinson Crusoe
- *Letter to Loretta* (1953), series, as Dave Hardy
- *Sword of Venus* (1953), as Danglars
- *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Dr. Paul Crowley, Robert Burns
- *Invasion, U.S.A.* (1952), as Mr. Ohman
- *Operation Secret* (1952), as Lt. Duncan
- *Cavalcade of America* (1952), series, as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Benedict Arnold
- *Actors and Sin* (1952), as Alfred O'Shea / Narrator (segment Actor's Blood)
- *At Sword's Point* (1952), as Aramis Jr.
- *The Blue Veil* (1951), as Hugh Williams
- *The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel* (1951), as Commando Captain (uncredited)
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Actor
- *The Highwayman* (1951), as Robin
- *Soldiers Three* (1951), as Sgt.Murphy
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Alan, Oliver Bradford, Henry, Trevelyan
- *The Iroquois Trail* (1950), as Lt. Blakely
- *Kidnapped* (1948), as Alan Breck
- *Macbeth* (1948), as Macduff
- *Larceny* (1948), as Duke
- *Odd Man Out* (1947), as Nolan — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/odd-man-out.md)
- *Hungry Hill* (1947), as Harry Brodrick

## Gallery

- ![Baseline Drive-In theater advertisement for the American dark drama film Home Before Dark (1958). From the 28 November 1958 San Bernardino Sun.](https://film.one/media/person/118822/gallery-f63940a591d7.jpg) Baseline Drive-In theater advertisement for the American dark drama film Home Before Dark (1958). From the 28 November 1958 San Bernardino Sun. — Warner Bros, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Baseline_Drive-in_Ad_-_28_November_1958%2C_Highland%2C_CA.jpg/1280px-Baseline_Drive-in_Ad_-_28_November_1958%2C_Highland%2C_CA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dan O'Herlihy](https://film.one/media/person/118822/gallery-8feac7a1807e.jpg) Dan O'Herlihy — Cleary, Strauss and Irwin, public relations., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Dan_O%27Herlihy_1955.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Dan O'Herlihy and Peggy Creel from "Log the Man Innocent", presented by Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. This was an anthology-type of television series. (1955)](https://film.one/media/person/118822/gallery-4b5be25d27c4.jpg) Photo of Dan O'Herlihy and Peggy Creel from "Log the Man Innocent", presented by Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. This was an anthology-type of television series. (1955) — rkin, Herman & Associates--ad agency for Schlitz Brewing (release has part of name cut off), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Dan_O%27Herlihy_Peggy_Creel_Schlitz_Playhouse_of_Stars_1955.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Dan O'Herlihy](https://film.one/media/person/118822/gallery-6b3d23900bb4.jpg) Dan O'Herlihy — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1955: Best Actor (nominated), for *Robinson Crusoe*

*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/dan-oherlihy