John Cowley (8 September 1923 â€" 13 February 1998) was an Irish
actor, best known for his role as paterfamilias, Tom Riordan, in the
long-running RTÉ Television drama series, The Riordans.From a farming
background, Cowley was born in Navan, County Meath. He left school at
the age of 13 to work on the family farm. Cowley entered the acting
profession as a member of one of the touring companies that brought
theatre to rural communities in Ireland up until the 1960s. In a bid
to escape the impecunious life of a roving actor, he wrote to Laurence
Olivier seeking a position at the Old Vic; however, Olivier politely
declined.In 1964, Cowley was chosen to play the part of Tom Riordan in
RTÉ's new series, The Riordans. His performance won him a Jacob's
Award in 1967 and he continued in the cast until the series ended in
1979. Tom Hickey, who played Tom Riordan's son, Benjy, described
Cowley as the "central rock of The Riordans" and "the father of the
whole enterprise".
actor, best known for his role as paterfamilias, Tom Riordan, in the
long-running RTÉ Television drama series, The Riordans.From a farming
background, Cowley was born in Navan, County Meath. He left school at
the age of 13 to work on the family farm. Cowley entered the acting
profession as a member of one of the touring companies that brought
theatre to rural communities in Ireland up until the 1960s. In a bid
to escape the impecunious life of a roving actor, he wrote to Laurence
Olivier seeking a position at the Old Vic; however, Olivier politely
declined.In 1964, Cowley was chosen to play the part of Tom Riordan in
RTÉ's new series, The Riordans. His performance won him a Jacob's
Award in 1967 and he continued in the cast until the series ended in
1979. Tom Hickey, who played Tom Riordan's son, Benjy, described
Cowley as the "central rock of The Riordans" and "the father of the
whole enterprise".
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