
Brendan Gleeson
ActingAbout Brendan Gleeson
Brendan Gleeson (born 29 March 1955) is an Irish actor and film director. He is the recipient of three IFTA Awards, two BIFA's, and a Primetime Emmy Award and has been nominated twice for a BAFTA Award, five times for a Golden Globe Award and once for an Academy Award. In 2020, he was listed at number 18 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors. He is the father of actors Domhnall Gleeson and Brian Gleeson. He is best known for his performance as Alastor Moody in the Harry Potter films (2005–2010). He is also known for his supporting roles in films such as Braveheart (1995), Michael Collins (1996), 28 Days Later (2002), Gangs of New York (2002), Cold Mountain (2003), Troy (2004), Suffragette (2015), Paddington 2 (2017), The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), and The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021). He is also known for his leading roles in films such as The General (1998), In Bruges (2008), The Guard (2011), Calvary (2014), Frankie (2019), and The Banshees of Inisherin (2022). He received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the lattermost film. He won an Primetime Emmy Award in 2009 for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the television film Into the Storm. He also received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance as Donald Trump in the Showtime series The Comey Rule (2020). From 2017 to 2019 he starred in the crime series Mr. Mercedes. He received an Emmy Award nomination for Stephen Frears' Sundance TV series State of the Union (2022).
Best Brendan Gleeson Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Brendan Gleeson's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Brendan Gleeson.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | H Is for Hawk | Alisdair Macdonald | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2022 | The Banshees of Inisherin | Colm Doherty | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2021 | The Tragedy of Macbeth | Duncan | Hit | Similar → |
| 2018 | The Ballad of Buster Scruggs | Irishman (segment "The Mortal Remains") | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | Paddington 2 | Knuckles McGinty | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Live by Night | Thomas Coughlin | Average | Similar → |
| 2016 | Alone in Berlin | Otto Quangel | Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Atlantic | Narrator | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | In the Heart of the Sea | Old Thomas Nickerson | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Suffragette | Arthur Steed | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Stonehearst Asylum | The Alienist | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Song of the Sea | Conor / Mac Lir (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | The Grand Seduction | Murray French | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Edge of Tomorrow | General Brigham | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Calvary | Father James Lavelle | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! | The Pirate with Gout (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | The Raven | Colonel Hamilton | Average | Similar → |
| 2012 | Safe House | David Barlow | Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | Albert Nobbs | Dr. Holloran | Average | Similar → |
| 2011 | The Guard | Sergeant Gerry Boyle | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 | Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Noreen | Con Keogh | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Green Zone | Martin Brown | Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | Into the Storm | Winston Churchill | Average | Similar → |
| 2009 | The Secret of Kells | Abbot Cellach (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2008 | In Bruges | Ken | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Black Irish | Desmond McKay | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | The Path to Redemption | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | Breakfast on Pluto | John Joe Kenny | Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | Kingdom of Heaven | Reynald de Chatillon | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Six Shooter | Donnelly | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | The Village | August Nicholson | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Troy | Menelaos | Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Cold Mountain | Stobrod Thewes | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Gangs of New York | Walter 'Monk' McGinn | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | 28 Days Later | Frank | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | A.I. Artificial Intelligence | Lord Johnson-Johnson | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Saltwater | Simple Simon | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Harrison's Flowers | Marc Stevenson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | The General | Martin Cahill | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | The Butcher Boy | Father Bubbles | Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | Before I Sleep | John Harte | Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Michael Collins | Liam Tobin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Braveheart | Hamish Campbell | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | The Snapper | Lester | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | Into the West | Inspector Bolger | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | Far and Away | Social Club Policeman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | The Field | Quarryman | Hit | Similar → |
Brendan Gleeson - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Brendan Gleeson?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Brendan Gleeson is "Song of the Sea" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has Brendan Gleeson acted in?
Brendan Gleeson has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Brendan Gleeson?
Other notable films include "H Is for Hawk", "The Path to Redemption", and "Braveheart".




