Joseph Tomelty (5 March 1911 â€" 7 June 1995) was an Irish character
actor and playwright. He worked in film, television, radio and on the
stage, starring in Sam Thompson's 1960 play Over the Bridge.Joseph
Tomelty was born in Portaferry, the eldest of seven children. His
father was known as 'Rollickin' James' for his skill on the fiddle. He
left his local primary school aged 12 and was apprenticed to the trade
of housepainter, his father's trade. He moved to Belfast and attended
classes at Belfast Technical College.Tomelty first acted with St
Peter's Players and with others in 1937 and 1938 took part in
discussions which led to the formation of the Northern Ireland Players
on a more professional basis. Radio plays Barnum is Right and
Elopement were broadcast in December 1938 and February 1939
respectively. The Northern Ireland Players chose the stage version of
Barnum is Right for their first major commercial venture at the Empire
Theatre in June 1939. In 1940 the Northern Ireland Players joined
forces with the Ulster Theatre and the Jewish Institute Dramatic
Society to form the Group Theatre, and in 1942 Tomelty became its
general manager remaining in the post until 1951. His play, Idolatry
at Innishargie, enjoyed a short run at the Group Theatre in 1942, but
The End House, a controversial political play, did not even appear
there. The play dealt with, what he described as 'the inhumanity that
resulted from the Special Powers Act'. It was however performed at the
Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1944. Meanwhile, his career as a character
actor had rapidly developed and a successful stage and film career was
underway. In 1948 he was commissioned by the BBC in Belfast to write
the weekly radio comedy drama series The McCooeys. This radio series
lasted for seven years with Tomelty writing 6,000 word scripts for
each episode. He continued to write plays, including his masterpiece,
and a modern Irish theatre classic, All Souls' Night in 1948. In
England in 1954 he suffered a car accident and, while he recovered, he
was never as productive again.His brother, Peter Tomelty, was a tenor
and recording artist. He married Lena Milligan in 1942, They had two
daughters together; Frances Tomelty is an actress and the first wife
of singer and musician Sting, while Roma Tomelty is also an actress.
actor and playwright. He worked in film, television, radio and on the
stage, starring in Sam Thompson's 1960 play Over the Bridge.Joseph
Tomelty was born in Portaferry, the eldest of seven children. His
father was known as 'Rollickin' James' for his skill on the fiddle. He
left his local primary school aged 12 and was apprenticed to the trade
of housepainter, his father's trade. He moved to Belfast and attended
classes at Belfast Technical College.Tomelty first acted with St
Peter's Players and with others in 1937 and 1938 took part in
discussions which led to the formation of the Northern Ireland Players
on a more professional basis. Radio plays Barnum is Right and
Elopement were broadcast in December 1938 and February 1939
respectively. The Northern Ireland Players chose the stage version of
Barnum is Right for their first major commercial venture at the Empire
Theatre in June 1939. In 1940 the Northern Ireland Players joined
forces with the Ulster Theatre and the Jewish Institute Dramatic
Society to form the Group Theatre, and in 1942 Tomelty became its
general manager remaining in the post until 1951. His play, Idolatry
at Innishargie, enjoyed a short run at the Group Theatre in 1942, but
The End House, a controversial political play, did not even appear
there. The play dealt with, what he described as 'the inhumanity that
resulted from the Special Powers Act'. It was however performed at the
Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1944. Meanwhile, his career as a character
actor had rapidly developed and a successful stage and film career was
underway. In 1948 he was commissioned by the BBC in Belfast to write
the weekly radio comedy drama series The McCooeys. This radio series
lasted for seven years with Tomelty writing 6,000 word scripts for
each episode. He continued to write plays, including his masterpiece,
and a modern Irish theatre classic, All Souls' Night in 1948. In
England in 1954 he suffered a car accident and, while he recovered, he
was never as productive again.His brother, Peter Tomelty, was a tenor
and recording artist. He married Lena Milligan in 1942, They had two
daughters together; Frances Tomelty is an actress and the first wife
of singer and musician Sting, while Roma Tomelty is also an actress.
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