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Frank Grimes

For other people named Frank Grimes, see Frank Grimes (disambiguation).

Frank Grimes
Caucasian male with silver wavy hair dressed in period (Victorian) style of tweed jacket with non-matching waistcoat and tie
Grimes in ITV's The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes in 1991
Born(1947-03-09)9 March 1947
Dublin, Ireland
Died1 August 2025(2025-08-01) (aged 78)
OccupationActor
Years active1967–2017

Francis Patrick "Frank" Grimes (9 March 1947 – 1 August 2025) was an Irish stage and screen actor.

Life and career

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Grimes was born in Dublin on 9 March 1947.[1] He achieved his first major success as the young Brendan Behan in the 1967 stage adaptation of Behan's autobiography, Borstal Boy, at the Abbey Theatre.[2] When the production moved to Broadway, Grimes was nominated for a Tony Award for best actor.[citation needed]

In 1970 the Italian director, Franco Zeffirelli, offered Grimes the lead role of Francis of Assisi in his biographical film, Brother Sun, Sister Moon. However, director and actor fell out over how the part should be played and Grimes was replaced by Graham Faulkner.[3]

In the early 1970s, Grimes moved to London where he came to the attention of director Lindsay Anderson. Anderson offered him a part in his production of David Storey's play The Farm, the success of which established Grimes' reputation in British theatre.[3]

Grimes' most significant film role was the part of Major Fuller in Richard Attenborough's A Bridge Too Far (1977). However, he was probably best known, in his native Ireland at least, for his performance as Father O'Connor in RTÉ's drama series, Strumpet City. In 1981, Grimes received a Jacob's Award "for his detailed and exceptionally convincing portrayal" of the young priest.[4]

Frank Grimes continued to work in television, films and theatre throughout his later years. Later TV appearances included the recurrent role of Barry Connor in Coronation Street. In 2013 he appeared as Mrs McCarthy's husband in the Father Brown episode "The Mayor and the Magician".

Grimes died following a short illness on 1 August 2025, at the age of 78.[5][6]

Filmography

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Year Title Role
1970 Tulips of Haarlem Pierre
1975 Royal Flash Lieutenant
1977 A Bridge Too Far Major Fuller
1979 The Outsider Tony Coyle
1981 The Funhouse Strip Show Voyeur
1982 Give Us This Day Robert Treswell
1982 Britannia Hospital Sammy / Voice of Genesis
1987 Crystalstone Captain
1987 The Whales of August Mr. Beckwith
1990 The Dive Dobrolsky
1994 War of the Buttons Christian Brother
2000 When the Sky Falls Paul McCarling
2005 Anything for Love Mr. Jones

References

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  1. ^ Coveney, Michael (14 August 2025). "Frank Grimes obituary". theguardian.com. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Borstal Boy at Irish Playography". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  3. ^ a b The Irish Times, "Frank Grimes", 5 May 1976
  4. ^ The Irish Times, "Kee wins award for TV history of Ireland", 11 April 1981
  5. ^ "It's with deep sadness and heavy... - The Irish Cultural Centre | Facebook". Facebook. 3 August 2025. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  6. ^ Byrne, Ruairi Scott (6 August 2025). "Corrie star dies aged 78 as tributes paid to 'one of Ireland's greatest actors'". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
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