Biography
Denys Vernon Hawthorne (9 August 1932 – 16 October 2009) was a Northern Irish actor known for his work in theatre, film, television and radio. He was born in Portadown, County Armagh, studied law at Queen's University Belfast, and began his career with the Ulster Group Theatre before moving to London.
Hawthorne appeared in numerous stage productions, including at the Royal Court Theatre and with the Royal Shakespeare Company. On screen he played Bishop Facks in the Father Ted episode 'Tentacles of Doom' (1996), the Appeal Judge in In the Name of the Father (1993), a Politician in The House of the Spirits (1993), Mr Woodhouse in Emma (1996), and Paddy in The Russia House (1990). He also featured in series such as Inspector Morse, Agatha Christie's Poirot and Jack the Ripper (1988).
He worked extensively in BBC radio drama and served as producer of BBC Northern Ireland radio drama from 1972 to 1974. Hawthorne received a Society of Authors prize for his dramatisation of Jennifer Johnston's How Many Miles to Babylon?.
