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T.P. McKenna

T.P. McKenna

Actor · Died February 13, 2011, aged 81 · Mullagh, County Cavan, Ireland

Born in Mullagh, County Cavan, Ireland, Thomas Patrick 'T. P.' McKenna was a distinguished character actor of film and TV and a prolific stage actor. He made his stage debut in "Summer and Smoke" by Tennessee Williams at the Pike Theatre in Dublin in 1954 and his film debut in the 1960 film The Night Fighters. Film credits included Straw Dogs, Ulysses, Perfect Friday, Villain, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Red Scorpion and Valmont, whilst his TV credits included Bleak House, Inspector Morse, Doctor Who, Casualty, Ballykissangel and Lovejoy.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 7, 1929
Died
February 13, 2011 (aged 81)
From
Mullagh, County Cavan, Ireland
Works as
Actor
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 125 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 27% in 30 days

What are T.P. McKenna's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Biography 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
Morality
32%
Self
21%
Bonds
21%
Survival
11%
Power
11%
Society
3%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 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 2 · Serious 5 · Dark 8

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 10 · Intense 4

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 9 · 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 1 · Engaged 13 · 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 4 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 2 of 5 analyzed roles.

Hero
2 of 5
Shadow
2 of 5
Ally
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Dread
5
Melancholic
5
Warm
3
Contemplative
4
Other
12

How their films linger

Bittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous1

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 T.P. McKenna's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for T.P. McKenna'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

125 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Libertine(2004)

    as Black Rod

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Boys & Girl from County Clare(2003)

    as The Announcer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Rockface (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Liam

  • Waking the Dead(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Phil Brown

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Monarch(2000)

    as Henry VIII

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Longitude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Edmund Burke

  • Longitude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Edmund Burke

  • Kings in Grass Castles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lord Dunraven

  • The American(1998)

    as Marquis de Bellegarde

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Testament: The Bible in Animation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as God (voice)

  • Liberation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 6 episodes · as Lloyd George, P.M. of England

  • Scarlet and Black (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Marquis de la Mole

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael O'Leary

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Law Lord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Judge Selwyn

  • Events at Drimaghleen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Father Sallins

  • Shoot to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Chief Constable Sir John Harmon

  • Shoot to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Chief Constable Sir John Hermon

  • The Chief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 10 episodes · as Colin Fowler

  • Miss Marple: A Caribbean Mystery(1989)

    as Dr. Grahame

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Valmont(1989)

    as Baron

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Red Scorpion(1988)

    as General Vortek

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Captain Cook

  • Jack the Ripper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as O'Connor

  • Pascali's Island(1988)

    as Dr. Hogan

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Unreported Incident (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Michael

  • The Play on One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael Flynn

  • The Modern World: Ten Great Writers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Citizen

  • The Christmas Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Bill

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Jackson · as Dr. Archie Whitlock

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Father Sallins

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

    Show 1 episode · as Bertram Montserrat

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Dr. Sweeting

  • The Doctor and the Devils(1985)

    as O'Connor

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • My Brother Jonathan(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lloyd Moore

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Bleak House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 4 episodes · as Harold Skimpole

  • Give Us a Break: Hustle Bustle Toil and Muscle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Dennis Naylor

  • Memed My Hawk(1984)

    as Dursun

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Moving on the Edge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Liam

  • Partners in Crime(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Randolph Wilmot

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • To the Lighthouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Augustus Carmichael

  • The Scarlet and the Black(1983)

    as Himmler

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Britannia Hospital(1982)

    as Theatre Surgeon

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Crimes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Melvyn

  • Play for Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Melvyn

  • The Manions of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Harry Clement

  • Random Moments in a May Garden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Digby

  • Levkas Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Holroyd

  • Pasmore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Helen's husband

  • Lady Killers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Sir Hardinge Giffard Q.C.

  • Silver Dream Racer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Bank Manager

  • Deasey (Desperate) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as FG

  • The Outsider(1979)

    as John Russell

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Minder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as J.J.Mooney

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

    as Dan

  • A Child's Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Ainsley Rupert Macreadie

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

    Show 1 episode · as Chief Constable

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

    Show 3 episodes · as Blobel

  • Blake's 7(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Sarkoff

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Target (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Ruby Daniels

  • A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Simon Dedalus

  • Love Lies Bleeding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Geoffrey

  • Beasts: Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Dick Pummery

  • Stones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Harvey Fenton-Jones

  • Beasts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Dick Pummery

  • The Duchess of Duke Street(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Sir Martin Mallory

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Rumpole of the Bailey(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Jean Pierre O'Higgins

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Next Victim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Frampton

  • Quiller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Buchanan

  • All Creatures Great and Small(1975)

    as Soames

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Looking for Clancy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 3 episodes · as Marcus Selby

  • The Sweeney(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Det. Supt. Grant

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Churchill's People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr Layton

  • Father Brown(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as DI Boyne

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Percy's Progress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as London News Editor

  • Fall of Eagles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Count Conrad von Hotzendorf

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

    Show 1 episode · as Digby · as Harvey Fenton-Jones

  • Napoleon and Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 3 episodes · as Paul Barras

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

    as Tomazo de Piracquo

  • A Warm December (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Man (uncredited)

  • Thriller(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Frampton · as Jack Hardisty

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Lady Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Jack Hardisty

  • Crown Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 3 episodes · as Henry Burnett

  • Straw Dogs(1971)

    as Maj. John Scott

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Supt. George Lester

  • Jason King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Villain(1971)

    as Frank Fletcher

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Beast in the Cellar(1971)

    as Det. Chief Sup. Paddick

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Percy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Meet The People Compere

  • Perfect Friday(1970)

    as Smith

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Rivals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Sir Lucius O'Trigger

  • The Fifth Day of Peace(1970)

    as Nick

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Manhunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Louis Sampere

  • Anne of the Thousand Days(1969)

    as Norris

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Blood of the Lamb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Joe Katz

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Sontee

  • The Charge of the Light Brigade(1968)

    as William Russel

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Man in a Suitcase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Murphy

  • Sam and Janet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Fingers Magee

  • Ulysses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Buck Mulligan

  • Callan(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Kommissarov · as Sir Lucius O'Trigger · as Tomazo de Piracquo

  • Knock on Any Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Sands

  • The Troubleshooters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Geoffrey Arles

  • Young Cassidy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Tom

  • Ferry Cross the Mersey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Jack Hanson

  • Deirdre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • The Wednesday Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Katz · as John Joe Moran

  • Girl with Green Eyes(1964)

    as The Priest

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Theatre 625 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerry

  • Story Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Matthew Finch

  • Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Wilks

  • Downfall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Martin Somers

  • Doctor Who(1963)

    Show 4 episodes · as The Captain

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Espionage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Gorman

  • The Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tony

  • The Quare Fellow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Walsh

  • Dr. Finlay's Casebook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Johnny Nobody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Garda

  • The Avengers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 3 episodes · as Grant

  • Freedom to Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Mike

  • The Siege of Sidney Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Lapidos

  • No Hiding Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mena Donelli

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Soames

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 124 titles from 1951 to 2004; peak year 1970.

Biggest box office

Red Scorpion (1988)

$4.2M worldwide

Highest rated

Straw Dogs (1971)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Valmont (1989)

Film career

19512004

Peak 1970 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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.

  • 1963Screen debut· Doctor Who
  • 1964First film· Girl with Green Eyes

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting124 of 124: 124 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rd

By decade

1950s3 · acting1960s30 · acting1970s42 · acting1980s32 · acting1990s10 · acting2000s7 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles
6479

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do T.P. McKenna's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 22; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 35 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Monarch (2000)

88th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Scarlet and the Black (1983)

Midcredits 93rd · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 46. 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 T.P. McKenna's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 53 · 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 T.P. McKenna work with?

People who share at least 2 of T.P. McKenna's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Vernon Dobtcheff shares the most, 2.

Actors

Editors

Mixed roles