Jim Norton (actor)

Jim Norton (born January 4, 1938) is an Irish character actor who frequently plays clergymen, most notably Bishop Brennan in the sitcom Father Ted. He also played Albert Einstein in two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, appeared in two episodes of Van der Valk, and the Ombuds, a judge, and Dr. Lazarenn, a Markab doctor, on Babylon 5. In addition, he has recorded the whole of James Joyce's Ulysses for Naxos Audio. He appeared in the 1969 epic film Alfred the Great as Thanet. Norton received a Jacob's Awards for his performance in the series, Solo, broadcast on Telefís Éireann in 1964.

In 1971 he played "Chris Cawsey" (aka "The Rat Man"), one of several villains in the controversial Sam Peckinpah movie Straw Dogs starring Dustin Hoffman. His character had a deviously infectious, purposefully irritating laugh that helped build tension throughout the film. He starred in the movie Memoirs of an Invisible Man along side Chevy Chase in 1992. Norton provided the voice for Major Kennet for the 2003 Doctor Who animated serial, Scream of the Shalka. In 2004 he took part in the touring production of Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman. In 2006/7 he played Richard Harkin in Conor McPherson's The Seafarer at The National Theatre, for which he won the 2007 Best Supporting Actor Laurence Olivier Award. He appeared in a brief cameo in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in 2002 as Mr. Mason. He has recently appeared as the older Stan Laurel in a TV docu-drama about the famous double-act. On May 11th 2007 he was awarded the Legend Award at the Elk Acting Festival in Dundonald, Belfast. Unfortunately Jim had not attended as he did not expect to win.

External links

• Jim Norton at the Internet Movie Database