--- name: "Derrick O'Connor" canonical: "https://film.one/person/derrick-oconnor" fi1m_id: "derrick-oconnor" imdb_id: "nm0640299" tmdb_id: 14325 wikidata_id: "Q2746012" roles: ["Actor"] born: "3 January 1941" died: "29 June 2018" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 70 average_as: "actor" average_over: 7 updated: "2026-10-20T04:06:07.719979+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." --- # Derrick O'Connor ## Identity Derrick O'Connor - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/derrick-oconnor - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** derrick-oconnor - **IMDb ID:** nm0640299 - **TMDB ID:** 14325 - **Wikidata ID:** Q2746012 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_O%27Connor, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2746012, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0640299/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14325 Actor. Born 3 January 1941 in Dublin, Ireland. Died 29 June 2018. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 3 January 1941, Dublin, Ireland - **Died:** 29 June 2018 - **Active:** 1981–2006 - **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 7 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 75 (5), 1990s 48 (1), 2000s 63 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 67 across 6 titles - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 2 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Action 3, Comedy 3, Fantasy 3, Adventure 2, Family 2, Science Fiction 2 - **Screen time:** 14 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,566m across 6 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_O%27Connor, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2746012, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0640299/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14325 ## Fi1m on Derrick O'Connor > Derrick O'Connor brought physical humour and matter-of-fact menace to supporting parts. We rate the economy of his acting: the reduced dialogue in his work with Terry Gilliam is a good reason to watch him more closely. In *Time Bandits* (1981), Derrick O'Connor reduced his dialogue to grunts and let another character translate. As Dowser in *Brazil* (1985), he echoed Bob Hoskins' lines rather than speaking his own. These are funny choices because they give the other performer something to deal with, rather than merely making O'Connor conspicuous. Terry Gilliam gave his preference for movement and minimal speech room to work. Their partnership began with *Jabberwocky* (1977), the first of their three films together. Richard Donner's *Lethal Weapon 2* (1989) puts that economy to harsher use, casting him as Pieter Vorstedt. We found his matter-of-fact delivery unsettling, because he makes threatening people seem like routine work. It is a useful performance in a sequel whose shifts between comedy and violence can be awkward, even while Mel Gibson and Danny Glover's arguing keeps it good company. O'Connor supplies menace without asking the film to pause and admire his villainy. Some of his more distinctive physical choices were trimmed in the editing, which is a pity for an actor whose movements could be as important as his lines. *Hope and Glory* (1987), in which he plays Mac, is the better film, though that is not a claim that it contains his defining performance. John Boorman's affectionate account of wartime childhood belongs chiefly to its children, whose pleasure in the disruption is convincing and quietly troubling. The nostalgia sometimes softens matters too much; our recommendation rests on the children rather than on any one adult in the supporting cast. O'Connor's presence here is a useful reminder that an actor good at menace need not be assessed only by his villains. After *Lethal Weapon 2*, his work moved towards American film and television, often in parts carrying authority. The later credits include Thomas Aquinas in *End of Days* (1999) and Father Everett in *Daredevil* (2003). Those roles fit the tendency, but they tell less about his inventiveness than the altered dialogue in the Gilliam films. Start with *Lethal Weapon 2* for the menace, then try *Time Bandits* for what he could do when allowed to speak less. ## Biography Derrick O'Connor (1941–2018) was an Irish actor. Born in Dublin and raised in London, he performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Scottish National Theatre, and took leading stage roles in Edinburgh, Stratford-upon-Avon and London's West End. His film roles include parts in three Terry Gilliam films: *Jabberwocky* (1977), *Time Bandits* (1981) and *Brazil* (1985). He played Mac in John Boorman's *Hope and Glory* (1987) and the villain Pieter Vorstedt in *Lethal Weapon 2* (1989). Other credits include *Deep Rising* (1998), *End of Days* (1999), *Daredevil* (2003) and *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest* (2006). He also appeared in television series including *Alias* and *Monk*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, variety.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) - *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest* (2006), Fi1m 63, as Very Old Man — [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest.md) - *End of Days* (1999), Fi1m 48, as Thomas Aquinas — [page](https://film.one/film/end-of-days.md) - *Lethal Weapon 2* (1989), Fi1m 74, as Pieter Vorstedt — [page](https://film.one/film/lethal-weapon-2.md) - *Hope and Glory* (1987), Fi1m 82, as Mac — [page](https://film.one/film/hope-and-glory.md) - *Brazil* (1985), Fi1m 83, as Dowser — [page](https://film.one/film/brazil.md) - *The Missionary* (1982), Fi1m 57, as Gym Trainer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-missionary.md) - *Time Bandits* (1981), Fi1m 80, as Robber Leader — [page](https://film.one/film/time-bandits.md) ## Complete filmography (57) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Pushing Dead* (2016), as Sidewalk Salesman - *Man from Reno* (2014), as Stephen Luft - *The Blue Hour* (2007), as Humphrey - *Unrest* (2006), as Dr. Blackwell - *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest* (2006), as Very Old Man — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest.md) - *Daredevil* (2003), as Father Everett - *The Royal* (2003), series, as Patrick Maver - *Monk* (2002), series, as Inspector St. Clare - *Alias* (2001), series, as Alexander Khasinau — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/alias.md) - *End of Days* (1999), as Thomas Aquinas — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/end-of-days.md) - *Deep Rising* (1998), as Captain Atherton - *How to Make an American Quilt* (1995), as Dean - *Soul Survivors* (1995), as Dave - *Ghosts* (1995), series, as Jack Rudkin - *Stark* (1993), series, as Zimmerman - *A Question of Guilt* (1993), as Geoffrey Bailey - *Happy Feet* (1991), as Clifford - *Centrepoint* (1990), series, as Dum Dum - *Dealers* (1989), as Robby Barrell - *Screen One* (1989), series, as Clifford - *Lethal Weapon 2* (1989), as Pieter Vorstedt — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/lethal-weapon-2.md) - *Hope and Glory* (1987), as Mac — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/hope-and-glory.md) - *Honest Decent & True* (1986), as Mike Selby - *Brazil* (1985), as Dowser — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/brazil.md) - *Knockback: 2* (1985), as Alan - *Knockback: 1* (1985), as Alan - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Alan Ackland, Mike Selby - *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Mickey Dawks - *Robin of Sherwood* (1984), series, as Raven - *Pope John Paul II* (1984), as Swiacki - *Flying Into the Wind* (1983), as Barry Wyatt - *Tales Out of School* (1983), series, as Barry Wyatt - *The Missionary* (1982), as Gym Trainer — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/the-missionary.md) - *Easter 2016* (1982), as Lennie North - *The Bell* (1982), series, as Noel Spens - *Psy-Warriors* (1981), as Richards - *Time Bandits* (1981), as Robber Leader — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/time-bandits.md) - *Hawk the Slayer* (1980), as Ralf - *Bloody Kids* (1980), as Detective Ritchie - *Fox* (1980), series, as Ray Fox - *Fox* (1980), as Ray Fox - *Comedians* (1979), as George McBrain - *On a Paving Stone Mounted* (1978), Actor - *Out* (1978), series, as John Pavey - *Sweeney 2* (1978), as Llewellyn - *Hazell* (1978), series, as Kevin O'Rourke - *The Professionals* (1977), series, as Jack Stone - *Jabberwocky* (1977), as Flying Hogfish Peasant - *The XYY Man* (1976), series, as Knocker Roberts - *Keep an Eye on Albert* (1975), as Albert - *The Sweeney* (1975), series, as Eagle — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sweeney.md) - *A Pint of Plain* (1975), Writer, Director - *Soldier and Me* (1974), series, as Driver - *Butley* (1974), Actor - *Flanagan* (1974), as Flanagan - *The Final Programme* (1973), as Frank - *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Albert ## Gallery - ![Derrick O'Connor](https://film.one/media/person/119061/gallery-b9f82ad462b2.jpg) Derrick O'Connor — Image via TMDB - ![Derrick O'Connor](https://film.one/media/person/119061/gallery-0b5aace344c5.jpg) Derrick O'Connor — Image via TMDB --- © 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/derrick-oconnor