Gray O'Brien (born Gerard O'Brien, 11 August 1968) is a Scottish television and film actor, best known for his portrayal of the villainous Weatherfield businessman Tony Gordon in the popular ITVsoap operaCoronation Street from 2007–2010, and as Richard McCaig on the BBC medical drama Casualty from 1996–1998.[1]
O'Brien joined the cast of Coronation Street as the murderous factory boss Tony Gordon in September 2007. The actor explained in an interview that he uses sense-memory technique, drawing on "something dark from the past", to emote his powerful performances.[5] Asked about female reaction to his character's on-screen conspiracy to murder love rival Liam Connor, played by pin-up Rob James-Collier, O'Brien joked: "I'm sure most viewers believe that it's just a story."[6] O'Brien won Villain of the Year for the role at the 2009 British Soap Awards.[2]
The Manchester show drew the ire of football fans when, in October 2008, several months after the 2008 UEFA Cup Final riots, in a scripted line, O'Brien's evil character made a jibe about Rangers F.C. Complaints led to a similar line being cut from the script of a later episode.[7] Professing surprise at the outcry, the star said: "I'm a Celtic supporter but I need to be clear that I certainly wasn't going out of my way to antagonise any Rangers supporters."[8]
In May 2009 Coronation Street producers announced that O'Brien's contract with the show had been extended to 2010.[9] Gray left Coronation Street when his character was killed off at the end of a storyline, in which Tony Gordon held Hayley Cropper (Julie Hesmondhalgh) and Carla Connor (Alison King) hostage in the Underworld factory, which he sets ablaze; although his prisoners manage to escape alive.
O'Brien was judged Scotland's eleventh most eligible man in February 2009 by a Scotland on Sunday panel.[4] He once said: "I actually find the heartthrob thing laughable," adding: "I am just a jobbing actor from Scotland and I don't think of myself as particularly good looking."[3]
O'Brien is divorced[13] from his wife Lynn, whom he married on 9 May 1996. They have a son together called Conor (b. 2000),[3] who made a cameo appearance in an episode of Coronation Street.[5] O'Brien's late father, Eddie was also a fan of the long-running TV programme.[5] O'Brien began dating make-up artist Jill Farimond in 2008,[13] but it was reported in April 2009 that the couple had amicably split.[14] His father died of a heart attack. In 2019 O'Brien was diagnosed with stage 4 tonsil cancer. He has since made a full recovery.
^"Rangers fans prompt Corrie change", BBC News, 4 October 2008
^English, Paul (11 October 2008), "I had to warn writers about Old Firm after controversial Rangers jibe, admits Corrie star Gray O'Brien", Daily Record
^ abKris Green, Gray O'Brien extends Corrie contract, Digital Spy (27 May 2009).
^Manchester Opera House: What's On at the Opera House: Aladdin, ManchesterTheatres.com.
gray, brien, born, gerard, brien, august, 1968, scottish, television, film, actor, best, known, portrayal, villainous, weatherfield, businessman, tony, gordon, popular, soap, opera, coronation, street, from, 2007, 2010, richard, mccaig, medical, drama, casualt. Gray O Brien born Gerard O Brien 11 August 1968 is a Scottish television and film actor best known for his portrayal of the villainous Weatherfield businessman Tony Gordon in the popular ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2007 2010 and as Richard McCaig on the BBC medical drama Casualty from 1996 1998 1 Gray O BrienBornGerard O Brien 1968 08 11 11 August 1968 age 54 Glasgow ScotlandOccupationActorYears active1993 presentChildren1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Filmography 3 1 Films 3 2 TV 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditO Brien was born in Glasgow 2 the second youngest of seven children 3 and is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama 4 Resident for a time in Cumbernauld 3 he has appeared in many television productions including Taggart Peak Practice River City as serial womaniser Billy Davis and the 2007 Doctor Who Christmas special Voyage of the Damned He played Prince Charles valet in the 2006 motion picture The Queen O Brien joined the cast of Coronation Street as the murderous factory boss Tony Gordon in September 2007 The actor explained in an interview that he uses sense memory technique drawing on something dark from the past to emote his powerful performances 5 Asked about female reaction to his character s on screen conspiracy to murder love rival Liam Connor played by pin up Rob James Collier O Brien joked I m sure most viewers believe that it s just a story 6 O Brien won Villain of the Year for the role at the 2009 British Soap Awards 2 The Manchester show drew the ire of football fans when in October 2008 several months after the 2008 UEFA Cup Final riots in a scripted line O Brien s evil character made a jibe about Rangers F C Complaints led to a similar line being cut from the script of a later episode 7 Professing surprise at the outcry the star said I m a Celtic supporter but I need to be clear that I certainly wasn t going out of my way to antagonise any Rangers supporters 8 In May 2009 Coronation Street producers announced that O Brien s contract with the show had been extended to 2010 9 Gray left Coronation Street when his character was killed off at the end of a storyline in which Tony Gordon held Hayley Cropper Julie Hesmondhalgh and Carla Connor Alison King hostage in the Underworld factory which he sets ablaze although his prisoners manage to escape alive He played Abanazar in the pantomime Aladdin at the Opera House Manchester from 5 December 2009 to 3 January 2010 9 10 Between 4 December 2010 and 16 January 2011 he played the role again at the Theatre Royal Nottingham 11 O Brien was judged Scotland s eleventh most eligible man in February 2009 by a Scotland on Sunday panel 4 He once said I actually find the heartthrob thing laughable adding I am just a jobbing actor from Scotland and I don t think of myself as particularly good looking 3 O Brien has also appeared on Lily Savage s Blankety Blank 12 In 2017 he appeared in ITV drama The Loch Personal life EditO Brien is divorced 13 from his wife Lynn whom he married on 9 May 1996 They have a son together called Conor b 2000 3 who made a cameo appearance in an episode of Coronation Street 5 O Brien s late father Eddie was also a fan of the long running TV programme 5 O Brien began dating make up artist Jill Farimond in 2008 13 but it was reported in April 2009 that the couple had amicably split 14 His father died of a heart attack In 2019 O Brien was diagnosed with stage 4 tonsil cancer He has since made a full recovery Filmography EditFilms Edit Year Film Role2006 The Queen Charles Valet2016 The Wasting IlyasTV Edit Year Show Role Notes1993 1995 Taggart DC Rob Gibson Recurring 5 episodes1996 1998 Casualty Richard McCaig Series regular2000 2002 Peak Practice Dr Tom Deneley Series regular2002 Cruise of the Gods Casualty Doctor2003 2007 River City Billy Davis Series regular2007 2010 Coronation Street Tony Gordon Series regular2007 Doctor Who Rickston Slade 1 episode Voyage of the Damned2012 Titanic Blood and Steel Bruce Ismay 12 part series2017 The Loch Alan Redford 6 part drama series2018 Shakespeare amp Hathaway Private Investigators Ian McClurgy 1 episode The Chimes at MidnightReferences Edit holby tv Casualty Gray O Brien www holby tv Archived from the original on 25 September 2004 a b Young Fiona 10 May 2009 Corrie s Scots star wins best baddie at Soap Awards but rivals claim top gong Sunday Mail a b c d Gray O Brien Holby tv a b The most eligible men 1 25 Scotland on Sunday 8 February 2009 a b c Interview with Gray O Brien GMTV 6 February 2009 Corrie murderer Gray O Brien interview stv n d Rangers fans prompt Corrie change BBC News 4 October 2008 English Paul 11 October 2008 I had to warn writers about Old Firm after controversial Rangers jibe admits Corrie star Gray O Brien Daily Record a b Kris Green Gray O Brien extends Corrie contract Digital Spy 27 May 2009 Manchester Opera House What s On at the Opera House Aladdin ManchesterTheatres com http www thisisnottingham co uk 3D Aladdin star Corrie baddie story 12225974 detail story html dead link Lily Savage s Blankety Blank 25 March 2001 ITV a b Roberts Brian 17 September 2008 Exclusive Coronation Street star Gray O Brien dates set girl Daily Mirror Coronation Street star Gray O Brien in love split Daily Record 27 April 2009External links EditFansite on Gray O Brien Message Board for Gray O Brien BBC article about Doctor Who casting Gray O Brien at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gray O 27Brien amp oldid 1144726244, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
