Biography
Kenny Ireland (born George Ian Kenneth Ireland) was a Scottish actor and theatre director. Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, he trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and began his career in Scottish theatre, later becoming director of the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh for ten years.
He appeared in films including Local Hero (1983) as the Skipper, Drowning by Numbers (1988) as Jonah Bognor, and Walter (1982) as Angus the orderly. On television he played Derek in Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV (1985–1987), Ben Landless in House of Cards (1990), and Donald Stewart in Benidorm (2007–2014). He also directed numerous stage productions and was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.
Ireland died in London on 31 July 2014.
