Joseph Tomelty, 5 March 1911 – 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. His daughter, Frances Tomelty, is an actress and the first wife of singer and musician Sting. His daughter, Roma Tomelty, is also an actress.
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. His daughter, Frances Tomelty, is an actress and the first wife of singer and musician Sting. His daughter, Roma Tomelty, is also an actress.
FILMOGRAFÍA
Odd Man Out (1947) - 'Gin' Jimmy, the cabbie
Treasure Hunt (1952) - Poacher (uncredited)
You're Only Young Twice (1952) - Dan McEntee
The Sound Barrier (1952) - Will Sparks
The Gentle Gunman (1952) - Dr Brannigan
The Oracle (1953) - Terry Roche
Melba (1953) - Thomas Mitchell
Meet Mr. Lucifer (1953) - Mr. Pedelty
Hell Below Zero (1954) - Capt. McPhee
Front Page Story (1954) - Dan
Hobson's Choice (1954) - Jim Heeler
Devil Girl from Mars (1954) - Prof. Arnold Hennessey
Happy Ever After (1954) - Dooley
The Young Lovers (1954) - Moffatt
Simba (1955) - Dr. Hughes
A Prize of Gold (1955) - Uncle Dan
Bedevilled (1955) - Father Cunningham
A Kid for Two Farthings (1955) - Vagrant
John and Julie (1955) - Mr. Davidson
Timeslip (1955) - Detective Inspector Cleary
Moby Dick (1956) - Peter Coffin
A Night to Remember (1958) - Dr. William O'Loughlin
Tread Softly Stranger (1958) - Joe Ryan
The Captain's Table (1959) - Dalrymple
Upstairs and Downstairs (1959) - Arthur Farringdon
Life Is a Circus (1960) - Joe Winter
Hell Is a City (1960) - Furnisher Steele
The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960) - Cohoun
Lancelot and Guinevere (1963) - Sir Kaye
The Black Torment (1964) - Sir Giles Fordyke (final film role)
Odd Man Out (1947) - 'Gin' Jimmy, the cabbie
Treasure Hunt (1952) - Poacher (uncredited)
You're Only Young Twice (1952) - Dan McEntee
The Sound Barrier (1952) - Will Sparks
The Gentle Gunman (1952) - Dr Brannigan
The Oracle (1953) - Terry Roche
Melba (1953) - Thomas Mitchell
Meet Mr. Lucifer (1953) - Mr. Pedelty
Hell Below Zero (1954) - Capt. McPhee
Front Page Story (1954) - Dan
Hobson's Choice (1954) - Jim Heeler
Devil Girl from Mars (1954) - Prof. Arnold Hennessey
Happy Ever After (1954) - Dooley
The Young Lovers (1954) - Moffatt
Simba (1955) - Dr. Hughes
A Prize of Gold (1955) - Uncle Dan
Bedevilled (1955) - Father Cunningham
A Kid for Two Farthings (1955) - Vagrant
John and Julie (1955) - Mr. Davidson
Timeslip (1955) - Detective Inspector Cleary
Moby Dick (1956) - Peter Coffin
A Night to Remember (1958) - Dr. William O'Loughlin
Tread Softly Stranger (1958) - Joe Ryan
The Captain's Table (1959) - Dalrymple
Upstairs and Downstairs (1959) - Arthur Farringdon
Life Is a Circus (1960) - Joe Winter
Hell Is a City (1960) - Furnisher Steele
The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960) - Cohoun
Lancelot and Guinevere (1963) - Sir Kaye
The Black Torment (1964) - Sir Giles Fordyke (final film role)