William Fay

William George "Willie" Fay (12 November 1872 – 27 October 1947) was an actor and theatre producer who was one of the co-founders of the Abbey Theatre.[1]

For the English singer-songwriter, see Bill Fay. For the United States Tax Court judge, see William M. Fay.
W.G. Fay: self-portrait

Fay was born in Dublin, where he attended Belvedere College. He worked for a time in the 1890s with a touring theatre company in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. When he returned to Dublin, he worked with his brother Frank, staging productions in halls around the city. Finally, they formed W. G. Fay's Irish National Dramatic Company, focused on the development of Irish acting talent. The brothers participated in founding the Abbey Theatre and were largely responsible for evolving the Abbey style of acting.[2] After a falling-out with the Abbey directors in 1908, the brothers emigrated to the United States to work in theatre there.[3]

He moved to London in 1914, working as an actor on stage and in films.[4] One of his most notable film roles was as Father Tom in Carol Reed's Belfast-set Odd Man Out (1947), whose cast was dense with actors from the Abbey Theatre.[5] His memoir, The Fays of the Abbey Theatre, appeared in 1935.[6] Willie Fay died in London in 1947, aged 74.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1933The Blarney StoneThe Leader
1934General John ReganGolligher
1937Storm in a TeacupMichael Cassidy
1937The Last CurtainMilligan
1941Spring MeetingJohnny Mahoney
1941This Man Is DangerousMr. Eslick
1941SpellboundJohnny
1946London TownMike
1947Odd Man OutFather Tom
1947Temptation HarbourNight PorterUncredited
1948Oliver TwistBookseller(final film role)

References
  1. "How the Abbey theatre really began".
  2. Fallon, Gabriel (20 July 2018). "The Genius of W. G. Fay". The Irish Monthly. 75 (894): 505–508. JSTOR 20515740.
  3. League, The Broadway. "William Fay – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
  4. "W.G. Fay".
  5. "BFI Screenonline: Odd Man Out (1947) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  6. W.G.FAY; CATHERINE CARSWELL (20 July 2018). FAYS OF THE ABBEY THEATRE. HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY – via Internet Archive.

Bibliography
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