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Donal McCann

Donal McCann

Actor · Died July 17, 1999, aged 56 · Dublin, Ireland

Donal McCann (7 May 1943 – 17 July 1999) was an Irish stage, film, and television actor best known for his roles in the works of Brian Friel and for his lead role in John Huston's last film, The Dead. Description above from the Wikipedia article Donal McCann, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 7, 1943
Died
July 17, 1999 (aged 56)
From
Dublin, Ireland
Works as
Actor
Titles
15 on MovieCove · 52 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 21% in 30 days

What are Donal McCann's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
34%
Bonds
22%
Morality
17%
Survival
10%
Power
8%
Ideas
6%
Society
3%
Self-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 1 · Dark 4

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 3 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 2

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 5 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
6
Tense
4
Warm
3
Contemplative
4
Bittersweet
4
Other
7

How their films linger

Haunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Donal McCann's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 15 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Donal McCann's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

52 credits, 15 with a MovieCove page.

  • Into The Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 12 episodes · as Host

  • The Nephew(1998)

    as Tony Egan

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Serpent's Kiss(1997)

    as Physician

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Stealing Beauty(1996)

    as Ian Grayson

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Into the Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · as Frank Cody

  • The Bishop's Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Priest

  • Peak Practice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael

  • Hedda Gabler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Judge Brack

  • The Donner Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as voice

  • Saints and Scholars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Priest

  • Performance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Brack

  • Force of Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as DI Simon Gabby

  • The Miracle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Sam

  • December Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Hamilton Echlin

  • Who Bombed Birmingham? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as N

  • High Spirits(1988)

    as Eamon

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Dead(1987)

    as Gabriel Conroy

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Budawanny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Priest

  • Rawhead Rex(1986)

    as Tom Garron

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • ScreenPlay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Det Insp Simpson Gabby

  • Mr. Love(1986)

    as Leo

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Out of Africa(1985)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Tuesday's Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Fr Doyle

  • Summer Lightning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Dr Lestrange

  • Cal(1984)

    as Shamie

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Reflections (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Edward Lawless

  • Angel(1982)

    as Bonner

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Strumpet City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 7 episodes · as Mulhall

  • The Hard Way(1980)

    as Ryan

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Katie: The Year of a Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Big Jim Collins

  • Poitín (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Labhras

  • Your Man from Six Counties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Danny

  • Philadelphia, Here I Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Public Gar

  • Husband to Mrs. Fitzherbert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Richard Sheridan

  • Private Affairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard Sheridan

  • The Wood Demon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Theodore

  • Screamer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Jeff Holt

  • The Pallisers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 17 episodes · as Phineas Finn

  • The MacKintosh Man(1973)

    as 1st Fireman

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Thriller(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeff Holt

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Miss Julie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Jean

  • The Secret Army (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Brown Skin Gal, Stay Home and Mind Bay-Bee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Roger

  • Stage 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Seumas Shields

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Big Jim Collins

  • Young Man in Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Frank

  • Sinful Davey(1969)

    as Sir James Campbell

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Root of All Evil? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Steve Webb

  • The Fighting Prince of Donegal(1966)

    as Sean O'Toole

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Insurrection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 8 episodes · as Volunteer

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Stephen Dedalus · as Theodore

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank · as Roger

Career shape

Star power in the 88th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles from 1956 to 2017; peak year 1986.

Biggest box office

High Spirits (1988)

$8.6M worldwide

Highest rated

The Dead (1987)

Midcredits 84th

Most popular right now

Stealing Beauty (1996)

Film career

19562017

Peak 1986 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1984Screen debut· Cal

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting52 of 52: 52 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score51st

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s5 · acting1970s17 · acting1980s14 · acting1990s14 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Donal McCann's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 14; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 15 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 15 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Mr. Love (1986)

51st percentile spread · 13% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Out of Africa (1985)

Midcredits 85th · 75% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 49. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Donal McCann's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 45 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Donal McCann work with?

People who share at least 2 of Donal McCann's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Neil Jordan shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Editors

Producers