---
name: "Liam Cunningham"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/liam-cunningham"
fi1m_id: "liam-cunningham"
imdb_id: "nm0192377"
tmdb_id: 15498
wikidata_id: "Q460572"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "2 June 1961"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 13
average_fi1m_score: 68
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 13
updated: "2026-10-07T14:35:02.483649+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."
---

# Liam Cunningham

## Identity

Liam Cunningham

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/liam-cunningham
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** liam-cunningham
- **IMDb ID:** nm0192377
- **TMDB ID:** 15498
- **Wikidata ID:** Q460572
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liam_Cunningham, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q460572, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0192377/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15498

Actor. Born 2 June 1961 in Dublin, Ireland.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 2 June 1961, Dublin, Ireland
- **Active:** 1995–present
- **Also known as:** Лиам Каннингэм, 利亚姆·坎宁安, 連恩·康寧漢, لیام کانینگهام
- **Frequently works with:** [Brian Kirk](https://film.one/person/brian-kirk.md), [David Benioff](https://film.one/person/david-benioff.md), [D. B. Weiss](https://film.one/person/d-b-weiss.md), [Jeremy Podeswa](https://film.one/person/jeremy-podeswa.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 68, as actor, over 13 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 84 (1), 2000s 63 (3), 2010s 69 (6), 2020s 64 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 68 to 65 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 10 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 9, Fantasy 4, Action 3, Crime 3, History 3, Mystery 3
- **Screen time:** 17 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,129m across 8 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liam_Cunningham, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q460572, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0192377/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15498

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Guard*](https://film.one/film/the-guard.md) (78), [*Good Vibrations*](https://film.one/film/good-vibrations.md) (77), [*Palestine 36*](https://film.one/film/palestine-36.md) (73)
- **AMC+:** [*Hunger*](https://film.one/film/hunger.md) (86)
- **HBO Max:** [*Game of Thrones*](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md) (82)
- **Netflix:** [*3 Body Problem*](https://film.one/tv/3-body-problem.md) (65)
- **Pluto TV:** [*Murphy's Law*](https://film.one/tv/murphys-law.md) (63)
- **Peacock:** [*The Last Voyage of the Demeter*](https://film.one/film/the-last-voyage-of-the-demeter.md) (55)
- **Tubi:** [*The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor*](https://film.one/film/the-mummy-tomb-of-the-dragon-emperor.md) (40)

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

## Fi1m on Liam Cunningham

> Liam Cunningham gives supporting characters the weight to challenge whoever occupies the centre of a scene. We value that authority most in *Hunger*, where he gives Michael Fassbender someone who cannot simply be brushed aside.

In *Hunger* (2008), Liam Cunningham's priest has a long conversation with Michael Fassbender's Bobby Sands. Cunningham gives the priest enough substance to keep the discussion from becoming another opportunity to admire Sands. He makes us attend to the objections, even with Fassbender holding the centre of the film. We found the exchange more disturbing than we expected because neither actor lets us assume that a decision is beyond question simply because it has been made. Cunningham gives us a reason to keep listening to both men.

His earlier parts include Captain Ryan in *Dog Soldiers* (2002) and Dan in Ken Loach's *The Wind That Shakes the Barley* (2006). Genre work was there well before the wider recognition that came with Davos Seaworth in *Game of Thrones* (2012). The move into internationally recognised television did not end his work in independent films. Thomas Wade in *3 Body Problem* (2024) extended that television career, with David Benioff and D.B. Weiss again among his collaborators.

In *Hunger*, Steve McQueen and co-writer Enda Walsh give him the writing to justify his authority. The conversation with Fassbender runs for 17 minutes in a single take, and Cunningham prepared for it through intensive rehearsal. The length would matter little if the priest existed merely to prompt the next speech. What works is the weight Cunningham gives the disagreement while Fassbender refuses to make Sands easier company. The preparation serves an exchange that still feels difficult, rather than a display of how much dialogue two actors can remember.

The danger in casting someone for grounded authority is that a part can stop at asking him to sound dependable. We would rather see Cunningham given somebody to argue with than employed simply to reassure us that a sensible adult is present. There is enough in that exchange to make us hope for another part as demanding. Start with *Hunger*, with a warning that the violence makes it a hard evening.

## Biography

Liam Cunningham is an Irish actor born on 2 June 1961 in Dublin. He worked as an electrician before training at the Oscar School of Acting and beginning his career in theatre and film in the early 1990s.

Cunningham is known for his role as Davos Seaworth in the HBO series *Game of Thrones* (2012–2019). His film credits include *The Wind That Shakes the Barley* (2006), *Hunger* (2008) as a priest, *Clash of the Titans* (2010), *Centurion* (2010) and *The Last Voyage of the Demeter* (2023). He has also appeared in *Doctor Who* and *3 Body Problem* (2024).

He has received two Irish Film & Television Awards and shared a BAFTA for the short film *Pitch Black Heist* (2011).

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

## On Fi1m (13)

- *Palestine 36* (2025), Fi1m 73, as Charles Tegart — [page](https://film.one/film/palestine-36.md)
- *3 Body Problem* (2024), Fi1m 65, as Thomas Wade — [page](https://film.one/tv/3-body-problem.md)
- *The Last Voyage of the Demeter* (2023), Fi1m 55, as Captain Eliot — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-voyage-of-the-demeter.md)
- *Good Vibrations* (2012), Fi1m 77, as Davy — [page](https://film.one/film/good-vibrations.md)
- *Game of Thrones* (2011), Fi1m 82, as Davos Seaworth — [page](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md)
- *The Guard* (2011), Fi1m 78, as Francis Sheehy — [page](https://film.one/film/the-guard.md)
- *Vera* (2011), Fi1m 72, as Sam Harper — [page](https://film.one/tv/vera.md)
- *War Horse* (2011), Fi1m 62, as Army Doctor — [page](https://film.one/film/war-horse.md)
- *Clash of the Titans* (2010), Fi1m 43, as Solon — [page](https://film.one/film/clash-of-the-titans-2010.md)
- *Hunger* (2008), Fi1m 86, as Priest — [page](https://film.one/film/hunger.md)
- *The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor* (2008), Fi1m 40, as "Mad Dog" Maguire — [page](https://film.one/film/the-mummy-tomb-of-the-dragon-emperor.md)
- *Murphy's Law* (2001), Fi1m 63, as Drew Johnstone — [page](https://film.one/tv/murphys-law.md)
- *A Little Princess* (1995), Fi1m 84, as Capt. Crewe / Prince Rama — [page](https://film.one/film/a-little-princess.md)

## Complete filmography (95)

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

- *Irish Goodbye* (2026), as Father
- *The Physician II* (2025), as Canute
- *Palestine 36* (2025), as Charles Tegart — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/palestine-36.md)
- *THE FAKE JON SNOW* (2024), as Davos Seaworth
- *3 Body Problem* (2024), series, as Thomas Wade — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/3-body-problem.md)
- *Masters of the Universe: Revolution* (2024), series, as Duncan (voice)
- *The Last Voyage of the Demeter* (2023), as Captain Eliot — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-voyage-of-the-demeter.md)
- *The Wind & the Reckoning* (2022), as Honolulu Rifle
- *Masters of the Universe: Revelation* (2021), series, as Duncan / Man-At-Arms (voice)
- *Domina* (2021), series, as Livius
- *The Vault* (2021), as Walter
- *Solar Opposites* (2020), series, as The Pupa (voice)
- *The Hot Zone* (2019), series, as Wade Carter
- *24 Hours to Live* (2017), as Wetzler
- *Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams* (2017), series, as General Olin
- *The Childhood of a Leader* (2016), as The Father
- *The Soul of a Spy* (2015), Actor
- *Pursuit* (2015), as Fionn
- *Ladygrey* (2015), as Angus
- *Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience* (2015), as Davos Seaworth
- *Noble* (2014), as Thomas
- *Let Us Prey* (2014), as Six
- *The Musketeers* (2014), series, as Belgard
- *Rick and Morty* (2013), series, as Balthromar (voice) — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/rick-and-morty.md)
- *SLR* (2013), as Elliot
- *The Numbers Station* (2013), as Grey
- *Good Vibrations* (2012), as Davy — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/good-vibrations.md)
- *Titanic: Blood and Steel* (2012), series, as Jim Larkin
- *Pitch Black Heist* (2012), as Liam · Executive Producer
- *Saving the Titanic* (2012), as Narrator (voice)
- *Safe House* (2012), as Alec Wade
- *War Horse* (2011), as Army Doctor — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/war-horse.md)
- *The Guard* (2011), as Francis Sheehy — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-guard.md)
- *The Silence of Joan* (2011), as English Captain
- *Vera* (2011), series, as Sam Harper — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/vera.md)
- *Game of Thrones* (2011), series, as Davos Seaworth — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md)
- *Camelot* (2011), series, as Coifur
- *Outcasts* (2011), series, as Richard Tate
- *Black Butterflies* (2011), as Jack Cope
- *The Whistleblower* (2010), as Bill Hines
- *Clash of the Titans* (2010), as Solon — Fi1m 43, [page](https://film.one/film/clash-of-the-titans-2010.md)
- *Perrier's Bounty* (2010), as The Mutt
- *Centurion* (2010), as Brick
- *Harry Brown* (2009), as Sid Rourke
- *The Tournament* (2009), as Powers
- *Blood: The Last Vampire* (2009), as Michael
- *Merlin* (2008), series, as Ruadan
- *Atlantic* (2008), Actor
- *The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor* (2008), as "Mad Dog" Maguire — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/the-mummy-tomb-of-the-dragon-emperor.md)
- *The Escapist* (2008), as Brodie
- *Hunger* (2008), as Priest — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/hunger.md)
- *Northanger Abbey* (2007), as General Tilney
- *Anner House* (2007), as Neil Barry
- *Last Night* (2006), as Frank
- *The Wind That Shakes the Barley* (2006), as Dan
- *Hotel Babylon* (2006), series, as Adrian McBride
- *Breakfast on Pluto* (2005), as 1st Biker
- *The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse* (2005), as Director
- *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Captain Zhukov — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *Showbands* (2005), as Tony Golden
- *Screwback* (2004), Actor
- *The Card Player* (2004), as John Brennan
- *The Crooked Man* (2003), as Hamilton
- *Mystics* (2003), as Sean Foley
- *Final Demand* (2003), as David Milner
- *Shadow Man* (2002), Actor
- *The Abduction Club* (2002), as John Power
- *Stranded* (2002), series, as David Robinson
- *Dog Soldiers* (2002), as Capt. Ryan
- *Stranded* (2002), as David Robinson
- *Murphy's Law* (2001), series, as Drew Johnstone — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphys-law.md)
- *The Island of the Mapmaker's Wife* (2001), as John Wyndham
- *Revelation* (2001), as Father Ray Connolly
- *Attila* (2001), series, as King Theodoric
- *Rebel Heart* (2001), series, as Michael Malone
- *When the Sky Falls* (2000), as John Cosgrave
- *The Second Death* (2000), as James Mangan
- *RKO 281* (1999), as Gregg Toland
- *A Love Divided* (1999), Actor
- *Sweety Barrett* (1999), as Detective Bone
- *Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke* (1999), series, as Alec Cunningham-Reid
- *Shooting the Past* (1999), series, as Christopher Anderson
- *Falling for a Dancer* (1998), series, as Mossie Sheehan
- *The Life of Stuff* (1997), as Alex Sneddon
- *Police 2020* (1997), as DCI Billy O'Connell
- *Jude* (1996), as Phillotson
- *The Key* (1995), as Tom
- *First Knight* (1995), as Sir Agravaine
- *A Little Princess* (1995), as Capt. Crewe / Prince Rama — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/a-little-princess.md)
- *War of the Buttons* (1994), as The Master
- *Roughnecks* (1994), series, as Chris
- *Cracker* (1993), series, as Stuart Grady — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/cracker.md)
- *Into the West* (1992), as Policeman
- *Prime Suspect* (1991), series, as Robert West — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md)
- *Quo Vadis, Aida? – The Missing Mart*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Liam Cunningham](https://film.one/media/person/99981/gallery-3f045d76807f.jpg) Liam Cunningham — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Liam_Cunningham_by_Gage_Skidmore_3.jpg/1280px-Liam_Cunningham_by_Gage_Skidmore_3.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Isaac Hempstead Wright, Conleth Hill, John Bradley, Maisie Williams, Jacob Anderson, Liam Cunningham and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau speaking at the 2019 San Diego Co](https://film.one/media/person/99981/gallery-7a9a983f0235.jpg) Isaac Hempstead Wright, Conleth Hill, John Bradley, Maisie Williams, Jacob Anderson, Liam Cunningham and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau speaking at the 2019 San Diego Co — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Isaac_Hempstead_Wright%2C_Conleth_Hill%2C_John_Bradley%2C_Maisie_Williams%2C_Jacob_Anderson%2C_Liam_Cunningham_%26_Nikolaj_Coster-Waldau_%2848427260872%29.jpg/1280px-Isaac_Hempstead_Wright%2C_Conleth_Hill%2C_John_Bradley%2C_Maisie_Williams%2C_Jacob_Anderson%2C_Liam_Cunningham_%26_Nikolaj_Coster-Waldau_%2848427260872%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Isaac Hempstead Wright, John Bradley, Nathalie Emmanuel, Liam Cunningham, Sophie Turner, Jacob Anderson, Conleth Hill, Alfie Allen and Gwendoline Christie speak (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/99981/gallery-1aa1faf5baba.jpg) Isaac Hempstead Wright, John Bradley, Nathalie Emmanuel, Liam Cunningham, Sophie Turner, Jacob Anderson, Conleth Hill, Alfie Allen and Gwendoline Christie speak (2017) — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Isaac_Hempstead_Wright%2C_John_Bradley%2C_Nathalie_Emmanuel%2C_Liam_Cunningham%2C_Sophie_Turner%2C_Jacob_Anderson%2C_Conleth_Hill%2C_Alfie_Allen_%26_Gwendoline_Christie_%2836029038771%29.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Isaac Hempstead Wright, John Bradley, Nathalie Emmanuel, Liam Cunningham, Sophie Turner and Jacob Anderson speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con Internationa](https://film.one/media/person/99981/gallery-d9db9c1c76ac.jpg) Isaac Hempstead Wright, John Bradley, Nathalie Emmanuel, Liam Cunningham, Sophie Turner and Jacob Anderson speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con Internationa — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Isaac_Hempstead_Wright%2C_John_Bradley%2C_Nathalie_Emmanuel%2C_Liam_Cunningham%2C_Sophie_Turner_%26_Jacob_Anderson_%2836162237345%29.jpg/1280px-Isaac_Hempstead_Wright%2C_John_Bradley%2C_Nathalie_Emmanuel%2C_Liam_Cunningham%2C_Sophie_Turner_%26_Jacob_Anderson_%2836162237345%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Liam Cunningham](https://film.one/media/person/99981/gallery-3214df994f4f.jpg) Liam Cunningham — Image via TMDB
- ![Liam Cunningham](https://film.one/media/person/99981/gallery-161502cb3581.jpg) Liam Cunningham — Image via TMDB
- ![Liam Cunningham](https://film.one/media/person/99981/gallery-e0e0cc40fd31.jpg) Liam Cunningham — Image via TMDB
- ![Isaac Hempstead Wright, John Bradley, Nathalie Emmanuel, Liam Cunningham, Sophie Turner and Jacob Anderson speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con Internationa](https://film.one/media/person/99981/gallery-295181a5eba3.jpg) Isaac Hempstead Wright, John Bradley, Nathalie Emmanuel, Liam Cunningham, Sophie Turner and Jacob Anderson speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con Internationa — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Isaac_Hempstead_Wright%2C_John_Bradley%2C_Nathalie_Emmanuel%2C_Liam_Cunningham%2C_Sophie_Turner_%26_Jacob_Anderson_%2836162237345%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Isaac_Hempstead_Wright%2C_John_Bradley%2C_Nathalie_Emmanuel%2C_Liam_Cunningham%2C_Sophie_Turner_%26_Jacob_Anderson_%2836162237345%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jacob Anderson, Liam Cunningham and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Game of Thrones", at the San Diego Conven](https://film.one/media/person/99981/gallery-29f18efb495b.jpg) Jacob Anderson, Liam Cunningham and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Game of Thrones", at the San Diego Conven — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Jacob_Anderson%2C_Liam_Cunningham_%26_Nikolaj_Coster-Waldau_%2848427263837%29.jpg/1280px-Jacob_Anderson%2C_Liam_Cunningham_%26_Nikolaj_Coster-Waldau_%2848427263837%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© 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/liam-cunningham