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LADY BLUE/ABC/1985-86
*(Jamie Rose) Det. Katy Mahoney, a tough, beautiful red-haired Irish police
officer working in the Windy City who carried a .357 magnum and blasted away
crooks a la "Dirty Harry." Also featured was Danny Aiello as Katy's boss Chief
Det. Terry McNichols; Nan Woods as Willow, Terry's niece; Bruce A. Young as
Officer Cassidy; and Ralph Foody as Captain Flynn. The program was rated as the
year's most violent program in 1985 (50 acts of violence in one hour).
LANIGAN'S RABBI/NBC/1977
*(Art Carney/costar) Paul Lanigan, Irish Chief of Police living in the town of
Cameron, California who interacted with Rabbi David Small, a Jewish-American
whose interest in criminology often got him involved Paul's police cases. Also
featured was Janis Paige as Paul's wife, Kate. The characters for the series
(seen as part of THE NBC SUNDAY MYSTERY MOVIE) are based on the novels of Harry
Kemelman, for example, "Friday the Rabbi Slept Late."
LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN/NBC/1993+
*(Conan O'Brien) Conan O'Brien, Irish-Catholic red-haired late night talk show
host (with a self-described "big head") who hosted this hour long program filled
with a humorous monologue, celebrity interviews, silly characters and comedy
skits (one of which featured the "Incontinent Leprechaun).
LAVERNE & SHIRLEY/ABC/1976-83
*(Cindy Williams) Shirley Feeney, a single woman of Irish descent who worked at
a brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Shirley shared a basement level apartment
with her best friend, an Italian-American named Laverne DeFazio.
THE LAW AND HARRY MCGRAW/CBS/1987-88
*(Jerry Orbach) Harry McGraw, a tough, sort of seedy Boston Irish private eye
who worked across the hall of the law offices of Maginnis & Maginnis run by
widowed Ellie Maginnis (played by Barbara Babcock). When not dealing with Ellie
(on business or pleasure) Harry hung out with Cookie (Marty Davis), the
bartender at Gilhooley's, Harry's favorite watering hole. Also featured were
Julie Donald as E. J. Brunson, Harry's niece and secretary; and Shea Farrell as
Steve Lacey, Ellie's nephew and tax attorney.
LAW & ORDER/NBC/1990+
*(Sam Waterston/costar) Jack McCoy, Assistant District Attorney for the New York
City Court system and lead prosecutor for murder trials. Jack’s heritage is
Irish Catholic, He is very competitive, likes motorcycles and has a bit of a
problem with drinking. Other Irish characters on the program include Angie
Harmon as Assistant District Attorney Abbie Carmichael. [She is stubborn, quiet,
reserved but loves a good fight]; George Dzundra as Detective Sergeant Max
Greevey [He is Catholic, married with three children and takes a fierce pro-life
stance. Max was fatally shot right before testifying to a grand jury on episode
“Confession“]; Christopher Noth as Detective Michael Logan [He is Catholic, and
was sexually abused by a priest as a child. Logan was demoted to a beat cop on
Staten Island for striking a gay-bashing councilman in episode “Pride”]; Jillian
Hennessy as Assistant District Attorney Claire Kincaid [She graduated from
Harvard. She died in a car crash while driving drunken fellow detective Lennie
Briscoe home (episodes “Aftershock”]; and Michael Moriarity as Executive
Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Stone [He is a divorced idealist from a
Catholic family]. On episode “Old Friends” Stone resigned after a witness he
forced to testify was killed by a mob hit.
THE LAWMAN/ABC/1958-62
*(Peter Brown/costar) Johnnie McKay, the deputy for Marshall Dan Troop in the
town of Laramie, Wyoming in the day of the Old West.
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN/CBS/1993
*(Sam McMurray) Jimmy Dugan, the Irish manger of the Rockford Peaches, an all
women's professional baseball team formed during the Second World War when all
the men in America were overseas. Before the war, Jimmy was a major-league
baseball player. Also featured was Katie Rich as Doris Murphy, an outspoken
infielder. The series was based on the 1992 film of the same name with Tom Hanks
as Jimmy Dugan and Rosie O'Donnell as Doris Murphy.
LEG WORK/CBS/1987
*(Margaret Colin) Claire McCarron, former New York City assistant district
attorney turned private detective. Claire charges $500 a day plus expense. Also
featured were Patrick James Clarke as Fred McCarron, Claire's police detective
brother.
LEGACY/UPN/1998-99
*(Brett Cullen) Ned Logan, the dashing patriarch of the stormy Logan clan,
descendants of Irish immigrants from County Cork, Ireland who continues the
family's well-to-do legacy by running a horse and tobacco enterprise on a farm
near the city of Lexington, Kentucky in the post-Civil Wars days of 1881. The
family member included Grayson McCouch as son Sean; Jeremy Garrett as son Clay;
Sarah Rayne as daughter Lexy; Lea Moreno as daughter Alice; and Ron Melendez as
a seventeen-year-old adopted orphan.
LENNY/CBS/1990-91
*(Lenny Clarke) Lenny Callahan, a good-natured Irish-Catholic Boston working
class husband who held down two jobs (utility worker by day/hotel doorman by
night) to support his family. Also featured were Lee Garlington as Lenny's wife
Shelly; Jenna Von Oy as their thirteen-year-old daughter Kelly; Alexis Caldwell
as their ten-year-old daughter, Tracy; The Farmer Twins as their toddler
Elizabeth; Peter Dobson as Lenny's lazy, get-rich-quick brother, Eddie; Eugene
Roche as Pat Callahan, Lenny's father; Alice Drummond as Mary Callahan, Lenny's
mother; Judith Hoag as Lenny's sister, Megan Callahan; and the never seen Irish
relative Shawn Callahan (Pat's brother) who annually sends a bottle of home
brewed whiskey from Ireland to the Callahan's stateside home.
THE LIFE OF RILEY/NBC/1949-1958
*(Jackie Gleason & William Bendix) Chester A. Riley, a softhearted family man of
Irish descent who lived with his wife and children at Blue View Terrace in Los
Angeles. Others featured were Jim Gillis (Sid Tomack/Tom D'Andrea), his next
door neighbor and Digby O'Dell (John Brown), the local undertaker.
LIFE WITH BONNIE/ABC/2002-2004
*(Bonnie Hunt) Bonnie Malloy, the Irish-American hostess of Morning Chicago, a
local early morning Illinois talk show. Bonnie's husband, Mark (Mark Derwin), is
a hard-working family practice doctor who does his best to survive life with
Bonnie. Together they are raising three young children, Samantha (Samantha
Browne-Walters), Charlie (Charlie Stewart) and infant Connor, as Bonnie
creatively balances family commitment and career obligations using sincerity and
humor.
LIZZIE MCGUIRE/DIS/2001-2003
*(Hilary Duff) Lizzie McGuire, the attractive 13-year old blonde and best friend
of Miranda Isabella Sanchez, a dark-haired Hispanic and David "Gordo" Gordon, a
Jewish-American teen. They attend North Hills Junior High (later called
Hillridge Middle School in District 41) in California and like to chat on-line
or talk on the phone. When Lizzie gets flustered, a cartoon alter ego ("Toon
Lizzie") pops up to offer advice. Lizzie's family consist of Hallie Todd as Mrs.
Jo McGuire, a loving and supportive mother who tries not to meddle to much in
the affairs of her independent and generally capable children, Robert Carradine
as Sam McGuire, who is usually clueless when it comes to Lizzie; and Jake Thomas
as Matthew, "Matt" McGuire, her bratty younger brother who's always meddling in
her affairs. Lizzie's worst enemy is Kate Sanders. Kate is Lizzie's former best
friend who became the most popular girl in school (after she developed a chest)
and now thinks she's too good to hang out with Lizzie and her friends. Note:
According to Jo McGuire "it's a curse in her family to marry geeky men." -
refers to it as "The McGuire Curse").
LOVE & WAR/CBS/1992-95
**(Suzie Plakson) Mary Margaret 'Meg" Tynan, a statuesque, strong-willed
take-no-prisoners sportswriter for the Register who frequented "The Blue
Shamrock," a 1940s style Manhattan bar.
THE LOVE BOAT: THE NEXT WAVE/UPN/1998-99
*(Robert Urich) Captain James Kennedy III, the captain of the cruise ship Sun
Princess. James is Irish, a recovering alcoholic and the father of a pot-smoking
teenage son named Danny who is living aboard after his mother, Pat Kennedy gave
James custody of him after their divorce. Danny aspires to be a photographer of
due models.
M*A*S*H/CBS/1972-83
*(Wayne Rogers) Captain John "Trapper John" McIntyre, field surgeon stationed at
a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean war. Also featured were
William Christopher as Father Francis Mulcahy, the chaplain; Gary Burghoff as
Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly, the clairvoyant company clerk; and Loretta
Swit as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan, the head nurse.
MADIGAN/NBC/1972-73
*(Richard Widmark) Sgt. Dan Madigan, tough, loner Irish police detective who
worked the concrete canyons of New York City. Madigan appeared as one of three
rotating elements on the NBC WEDNESDAY NIGHT MOVIE. See also "Polish" section
for BANACEK.
THE MAGICAL LEGEND OF THE LEPRECHAUNS/NBC/1999 (Miniseries)
*(Randy Quade) Jack Woods, a burnt-out American businessman who travels to the
Irish countryside for rest and relaxation and consequently saves the life a
leprechauns. He soon becomes embroiled in a longstanding feud between the
leprechaun & fairy kingdoms and tries to prevent an impending war between the
two enchanted factions. Other cast included Colm Meaney as Seamus Muldoon the
leprechaun; Kieren Culkin as Barney the leprechaun; Daniel Betts as Mickey the
leprechaun who loves the fairy princess Jessica; Caroline Carver as Fairy
Princess Jessica who loves Mickey the Leprechaun; Roger Daltry as King Boric of
the fairies, who disapproves of his fairy daughter’s leprechaun suitor; Whoopi
Goldberg as Grand Banshee, a wise spirit; and Orla Brady as Kathleen, a
beautiful Irish woman with whom Jack Woods becomes romantically involved.
MAMA MALONE/CBS/1984
*(Lila Kaye) "Mama" Renate Malone, an Italian widow of an Irish policeman who
lived in a fourth floor walk-up apartment in Brooklyn. She was the hostess of a
local TV station program called "Cooking with Mama Malone." See section on
ITALIANS for full cast.
MAN WITH A CAMERA/ABC/1958-60
**(James Flavin) Lt. Donovan, New York City police officer who interacted with
freelance photographer, Mike Kovac.
MARCUS WELBY, M.D./ABC/1969-76
*(James Brolin) Dr. Steven Kiley, a young physician of Irish descent working for
a 62-year-old doctor in Santa Monica.
MARRIED TO THE KELLYS/ABC/2003-2004
*(Kiele Sanchez) Susan Kelly-Wagner, a young Irish girl from Kansas who married
a New York writer and then moved back home to be close to her family. The Kelly
family consists of Sam Anderson as father Bill Kelly; Nancy Lenehan as mother
Sandy Kelly; Derek Waters as bug-collecting brother Lewis Kelly; Emily
Rutherford as married sister Mary; and Josh Braaten as Chris, her husband.
Susan's husband, Tom Wagner is an only child. He is a loner and Jewish and slow
to warm up to the family's quirky Midwestern ways. The series is loosely based
on the real life experiences of the show's producer, Tom Hertz.
MAVERICK/ABC/1957-62
**(Leo Gordon) Big Mike McComb, a giant Irishman who was a loyal comrade of
frontier gambler, Bret Maverick. Originally, Big Mike was ordered to kill the
gambler, Maverick in the first episode, but changed his mind and became his
friend.
MCHALES NAVY/ABC/1962-66
*(Ernest Borgnine) Lt. Cdr. Quinton McHale, part-Irish, part-Italian merchant
seaman who was recruited by the U.S. Navy to command a torpedo patrol boat crew
during the Second World War on the South Seas island of Taratupa.
MEN/ABC/1989
*(Tom O'Brien/costar) Officer Danny Mc Daniel, hot-headed Irish-American police
officer who worked in the city of Baltimore. Danny's cop brother Tom Daniel
(killed in the first episode) was the regular member of a poker game with three
other guys. After Tom's death, Danny's was asked to fill his place at the weekly
poker game.
MICHAEL SHAYNE/NBC/1960-61
*(Richard Denning) Michael "Mike" Shayne, private eye working out of Miami,
Florida. Also featured was Jerry Paris as Timothy "Tim" Rourke, a
reporter-photographer for the Miami Tribune.
MOLONEY/CBS/1996
*(Peter Strauss) Nick Moloney, a half-Irish and half-Jewish police psychiatrist
who prefers cracking wise to quoting Freud.
MORK AND MINDY/ABC/1978-82
*(Pam Dawber) Mindy McConnell, pretty journalism major living in Boulder,
Colorado who worked at her father's music store (McConnell Music Store) and
later befriended and married a strange alien from the planet Ork named Mork.
Also featured were Conrad Janis as Fred McConnell, Mindy's father; Elizabeth
Kerr as Mindy's grandmother, Cora Hudson; Jim Stahl as Mindy's cousin, Nelson
Flavor; Beverly Sanders as Mindy's aunt, Caroline McConnell; and Jonathan
Winters as Mearth, Mindy baby boy (part Orkan/part Earthling).
MULLIGAN'S STEW/NBC/1977
*(Lawrence Pressman/costar) Michael "Mike" Mulligan, a married high school gym
coach with three kids who adopted an additional four children (The Friedman
kids) when his sister and her husband are killed. Other cast included Elinor
Donahue, as Mike's nurse wife, Jane Mulligan; Johnny Duran as their son, Mark
Mulligan; Julie Annie Haddock as their daughter, Melinda Mulligan; and K. C.
Martel as their son Jimmy Mulligan.
MURPHY'S LAW/ABC/1988-89
*(George Segal/costar) Daedalus Patrick "Paddy" Murphy, a lovable, but divorced
alcoholic insurance investigator for the First Fidelity Casualty in San
Francisco who lived with Kimiko Fannuchi, a beautiful Eurasian (part
Italian/part Japanese) fashion model. Also featured was Sarah Sawatsky as
Patrick's ten-year-old daughter, Kathleen who sees her father as part of a
visitation rights agreement.
MY FAVORITE MARTIAN/CBS/1963-66
*(Bill Bixby) Tim O'Hara, an Irish-American newspaper reporter for the Los
Angeles Sun who rescued a Martian anthropologist who crash-landed on Earth and
let the alien live incognito in his apartment over a garage. Posing as Tim's
"Uncle Martin," the alien thus become the first Irishman from the planet Mars.
An animated spin-off MY FAVORITE MARTIANS/CBS/1973-75 featured the voices of
Jonathan Harris as Uncle Martin, and Howard Morris as his nephew Andromeda known
as "Andy," who crash landed on Earth and ended up living incognito with magazine
writer Tim O'Hara. Also featured was Alan Hewitt as Bill "Bulldog" Brennan. In
1994 Ray Walston appeared in a telephone commercial asking whether their
advertised savings covered Martians living on planet Earth. The Disney motion
picture remake My Favorite Martian (1999) starred Christopher Lloyd as Martin
the Martian and Jeff Daniels as reporter Tim O'Hara.
MY FRIEND IRMA/CBS/1952-54
**(Gloria Gordon) Mrs. O'Reilly the owner of O'Reilly's boarding house, a
Manhattan boarding house that rents a room to Irma Peterson, a beautiful "dumb
blond" secretary.
MY LITTLE MARGIE/CBS/NBC/1952-55
*(Gale Storm/costar) Margie Albright, an attractive 21-year-old girl (her mother
was Irish) who lived with her widowed, nearly fifty years old father, Vern
Albright at the Carlton Arms Hotel in New York City.
MY THREE SONS/ABC/CBS/1960-72
*(William Frawley/costar) William Michael Francis Aloysius "Bub" O'Casey,
elderly Irish-American father-in-law of aircraft engineer Steve Douglas. After
the death of his daughter Louise O'Casey, Bub moved into the Douglas home to
become the cook and housekeeper for his three grand sons Mike, Robbie and Chip.
Later in the series when Bub traveled to Ireland (William Fraley had passed
away) his brother Uncle Charles "Charlie" O'Casey (William Demarest) took over
housekeeping chores. Bub's Irish aunt was Kate (Jeanette Nolan). His cousin was
Mickey O'Casey (Robert Emhardt). They lived in Farnsea, Ireland. Bub and Mickey
were partners on an Irish sweepstakes ticket and they won. Bub's share was
$14,000. Bub never returned to American.
THE MYSTIC KNIGHTS OF TIR NA NOG/FOX/1998-99
**(Peadar Lamb)
King Fin Varra, the ruler of the underground kingdom of Tir na
Nog. His subjects included a feisty red-winged fairy named Aideen (Kelly
Campbell). When the peaceful kingdom of King Conchobar (Stephen Brennan) was
attacked by the evil Queen Maeve (Charlotte Bradley) from the land of Tamra,
King Vin Varra invoked all his powers to aid a group of Celtic teens in finding
the legendary Mystic Armor capable of defending the emerald Isle from invaders.
Successful in their quest, the teens donned the magical armor and became super
heroes of ancient Ireland. The Mystic Knights included Vincent Walsh as Angus,
the Mystic Knight of Earth, (with the terra sling), a thief by trade with the
gift of blarney; the Mystic Knight of Water (with a barbed trident); Lisa Dwan
as Deirdre, the Princess of Kells and Mystic Knight of Air (with a whirlwind
crossbow); Lochlann O'Mearain as Rohan, a druid's apprentice foretold in the
legend as the Mystic Knight of Fire with the Sword of Kells; and Ben Palmer as
Garrett, the eventual fifth Mystic Knight. Each Mystic Knight wore a Dragon
Breath Dagger and belt used to summon their dragons. The series MYSTIC KNIGHTS
OF TIR NA NOG was the first American television series to be filmed entirely in
Ireland. TRIVIA NOTE: In Celtic mythology, Tir na n-Og (pronounced "teer na
no'gue" meaning the "land of youth") is the idyllic paradise where the dead
live. The kingdom (either an island or undersea kingdom) is ruled by King Tethra
of the Fomorians, a race of giants or the sea god Manannan mac Lir of the Tuatha
Dé Danann. Tir na n-Og is also known as Mag Mell ("plain of joy").
NEW YORK NEWS/CBS/1995
*(Gregory Harrison/costar) Jack Reilly, Irish-American columnist and
investigative reporter for The New York Reporter newspaper.
NEWSRADIO/NBC/1995-99
*(Phil Hartman/costar) Bill “Evelyn” McNeal, vain news anchor of Irish heritage
who works at WNYX radio station in New York City. Bill was born on June 19th.
His character left the series as a consequence of Phil Hartman‘s own death at
the hands of his deranged wife who shot him dead in his California home. Another
Irish character on the program is Beth, a quirky red-haired secretary at the
station.
O'HARA, U.S. TREASURY/CBS/1971-72
*(David Janssen) Jim O'Hara, a federal officer of Irish descent who worked as
special agent for the Department of the Treasury.
THE O'NEILLS/DUM/1949-50
*(Vera Allen) Peggy O'Neill, an Irish-American dress designer who struggled to
raise two her fatherless children Janice (Jancie Gilbert) and Eddie (Michael
Lawson). The short-lived series was based on the radio serial of the 1930's.
PENSACOLA: WINGS OF GOLD/SYN/1997-2000
*(James Brolin) Lt. Col. Bill "Raider" Kelly, Irish-American Marine Fighter
pilot promoted to commanding officer of VMFAT-107, an F/A-18 Hornet training
squadron based at Pensacola's famed Naval Air Station. Col. Bill Kelly is the
newly appointed leader of four young officers selected to form an elite military
task force. A native of Texas, Kelly was decorated for bravery in missions he
flew in Vietnam and Desert Storm.
PHILLY/ABC/2001-2002
*(Kim Delaney) Kathleen Maguire, divorced, brunette, Irish-American attorney
based in the city of Philadelphia. A year out of law school, Kathleen suddenly
finds herself alone when her partner meltdowns and is sent to a sanitarium. To
fill the void she reluctantly hires Will Froman, (Tom Everett Scott), an
opportunistic attorney who wants out of the Public Defender's Office. Kathleen
later finds herself romantically drawn to him. Kathleen ex-husband Daniel X.
Cavanaugh (Kyle Secor) works is the city's assistant district attorney.
Presently, Kathleen has custody of their young son, Patrick (Scotty Leavenworth)
who has a bad temper just like her father Frank (John Finn) whose been arrested
and put in jail for a drunken bar fight. Tom O'Brien played the role of Kathleen
brother, Tom Maguire..
POLTERGEIST: THE LEGACY/SHO/1996-97/SCI/1997-99
*(Martin Cummins) Nick Boyle, ex-Navy SEAL of Irish descent working for the Luna
Foundation a front for the Legacy, a private organization that battled evil
demons and spiritual entities. Other cast included Dr. Helen Shaver as Rachel
Corrigan a psychologist from Connemara, Ireland (her husband Patrick & her son
Conner were dead); Alexandra Purvis as her younger daughter Katherine "Kat"
Corrigan; Alexandra Purvis as Catherine Corrigan; and Patrick Fitzgerald as
Father Philip Callahan, a Belfast resident.
RAFFERTY/CBS/1977
*(Patrick McGoohan) Dr. Sidney Rafferty, a widower and former U.S. Army
physician of Irish descent who retired to private practice as a general
practitioner. He performed his surgery’s at City General Hospital.
REMINGTON STEELE/NBC/1982-86
*(Pierce Brosnan) Remington Steele, a suave private detective who acted as the
front man for the Remington Steele Detective Agency founded by female private
eye Laura Holt. Originally, Laura Holt opened Laura Holt Investigations but the
clients just weren’t attracted to a female gumshoe. To put a bit of macho in her
organization, Laura renamed her agency Remington Steele Investigations (name
derived from a typewriter and a football team). Unfortunately, when a crafty
jewel thief (in town to steal the Royal Lavulite Diamonds) got into a pinch with
the law, he assumed the role of the mythical Remington Steele and then convinced
Laura Holt to let him become her partner in the firm. Laura’s new partner, an
orphan, was born in Ireland and at one time was known as the boxer dubbed “The
Kilkearney Kid.” He was raised by master con artist Daniel Chalmers (played by
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.).
ROAR/FOX/1997
*(Ledger) Conor, Celtic prince living in Ireland in the year 400 A.D. who
battles the invading Roman oppressors. Conor is aided by John Saint Ryan, as
Fergus, a legendary Irish warrior who mentors Conor in the ways of combat; and
Vera Farmiga as Catlin, a former slave who is proficient as an archer.
RYAN CAULFIELD: YEAR ONE/FOX/1999
*(Sean Maher) Ryan Caulfield, 19-year-old Irish-American rookie officer in the
Philadelphia police department who still lives home with his mother. Other cast
included Brenda Bakke as Mrs. Caulfield; and Mary McDonnell as Rachel Caulfield.
RYAN'S HOPE/ABC/1975-89
*(Bernard Barrow) Johnny Ryan, Irish-American who ran a local pub named Ryan's
Hope on the upper West Side of Manhattan with the help of his wife, Maeve (Helen
Gallagher). The daytime soap opera told the story of three generations of
Irish-Americans and as well as the tales of the many customers from Riverside
Hospital located just across the street who frequented this popular watering
hole. When the series concluded in January of 1989 Maeve Ryan sang the
sentimental Irish folksong favorite "Danny Boy" to the customer at the tavern.
The series was created by Claire Labine and Paul Avila Mayer.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE/NBC/1975+
**(Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers) Patrick Fitzwilliam and William Fitzpatrick, two
drunken Irishman who host the Irish morning show "Top O' the Morning." On the
October 19, 2002 season premiere that featured a skit with Frank McCourt (played
by Senator John McCain), the author of Angela's Ashes. The skit made fun of the
stereotypical Irish love of alcohol as when William and Patrick insult Frank
McCourt mercilessly and he decides to leave in protest. But, of course, when
they offered Frank a drink, he quickly changed his mind and stayed.
SHANNON’S DEAL/NBC/1990-91
*(Jamey Sheridan) John Francis “Jack” Shannon, divorced Philadelphia-based
criminal lawyer of Irish descent. Jack has a gambling addiction and owes serious
money to a bookie. Jenny Lewis appeared as Jack’s 15-year-old daughter Neala
Shannon.
SIX FEET UNDER/HBO/2001-2005
*(Richard Jenkins) Nathaniel Fisher, the Irish-American owner and operator of
Fisher & Sons Funeral Home, an independent mortuary located in Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, Nathaniel dies when a municipal bus broadsides the company's new
hearse. Although dead, Nathanial returns in flashbacks and vision. The rest of
the Fisher clan includes Ruth Fisher, Nathaniel's wife and the family matriarch;
Peter Krause as Nate Fisher, the eldest son and new co-owner of Fishers & Sons;
Michael C. .Hall as David Fisher, Nathaniel's gay son and the other partner in
the family business; and Lauren Ambrose as Claire Fisher, the family's restless
teenage daughter.
SLATTERY'S PEOPLE/CBS/1964-65
*(Richard Crenna) James Slattery, idealistic Irish-American politician from a
fictional state.
STAR TREK/NBC/1966-69
**(Bruce Hyde) Kevin Thomas Riley, a relief navigator aboard the USS Enterprise
who fancied himself the descendent of Irish kings. Once intoxicated under the
influence of the Psi 2000 virus, Riley locked himself in the engine room and
repeatedly sang Irish ballads over the ship's speakers to the utter annoyance of
the crew. Bruce Mars played another Irish character named Finnegan, an arch
rival of Captain James Kirk (William Shatner) who delighted in playing practical
jokes. A replica of Finnegan appeared on the episode "Shore Leave" (Stardate
3025.3) first aired in 1967.
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE/SYN/1993-99
*(Colm Meaney/costar) Miles O'Brien, Chief Operations Officer of Irish descent
who was stationed onboard the space station Deep Space Nine. Miles, who spoke
with a bit of a brogue, was responsible for keeping the derelict space station
together and computer systems operating efficiently. His Japanese wife, Keiko
and his child Molly also lived aboard the station.
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION/SYN/1987-94
**(Colm Meaney) Miles Edward O'Brien, Transporter Chief of Irish descent (he
spoke with a bit of a brogue) who was stationed aboard the 24th century
starship, the USS Enterprise. Miles and his Japanese wife Keiko, later
transferred to the space station Deep Space Nine.
STATE OF GRACE/ABF/2001-2002
*(May Whitman/costar) Emma "Grace" McKee, a carefree, wealthy, 12-year-old
Irish-Catholic girl living in North Carolina in 1965. Grace is best friends with
Hannah Rayburn, a 12-year-old Jewish-American girl whose family moves from
Illinois to North Carolina. They both attend The Pines, an elite Catholic school
in town. Faye Grant played the role of Tattie McKee, Grace's flamboyant,
well-to-do widowed mother (originally from Atlanta) who loves to smoke, drink
and travel the world, often leaving little time for her daughter. Grace, in
turn, seeks the attention and stability she doesn't at home with Hannah's
traditional and loving relatives. While Tattie travels, Grace is left in the
hands of the family driver, Greer, and the housekeeper, Cookie. Grace's father
passed away when she was six. The series was co-produced by Hollis Rich and
Brenda Lilly. Rich grew up Jewish in the Midwest and the Valley, the daughter of
a Polish Holocaust survivor who owned a furniture store. Lilly grew up Catholic
in Asheville, N.C., where she attended an exclusive Catholic school called The
Pines. Rich and Lilly were the only women writers on the short-lived ABC Family
Channel drama.
THIRD WATCH/NBC/1999-2005
*(Skipp Sudduth/costar) John “Sully” Sullivan, a streetwise New York City police
officer with a heart of gold and a talent for keeping law and order on the
streets. Other Irish characters include Eddie Cibrian as Jimmy Doherty, a
dedicated NYFD firefighter of Irish heritage who will do whatever it takes to
get the job done.
TITUS/NBC/2000-2002
*(Cynthia Watros/costar) Erin, the beautiful, energetic girlfriend of custom car
designer Christopher Titus who lives in a small town off the coast of Northern
California. Erin works at a job that she hates, but hopes that Titus' hot rod
business will be successful enough for her to go back to school and get an MBA.
Although she seems perfect, she does have a temper. But it's a Northern Irish
temper. They don't fight she just puts a bomb in his car. [from Fox Network’s
promotional literature]. Rachel Roth played the role of Erin's sister, Amy
Fitzpatrick.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD/CBS/1998
*(Jason Beghe & Moira Kelly), Sean McGrail (a cop) and Annie McGrail (a public
defender), two Irish-American newlyweds living in a close-knit Boston
neighborhood. Also featured were Jason Wiles as Michael McGrail; Stephen Lee as
Patrick McGrail; Stephen Largay as Tommy McGrail; Fionnula Flanagan as Fionna
McGrail; Colleen Flynn as Carolyn McGrail, John Cullum as Robert McGrail; and
Mariette Hartley as Ellen Cornell.
TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL/CBS/1994-2003
*(Roma Downey) Monica, a heavenly angel with an Irish-accent who helped mortals
deal with problems. Her heavenly supervisor is a black angel named Tess.
THE TRIALS OF O'BRIEN/CBS/1965-66
*(Peter Falk) Daniel J. O'Brien, a flamboyant and often broke (due to gambling)
New York attorney of Irish descent who lived in a luxurious penthouse apartment.
Also featured were Joanna Barnes as his ex-wife Katie to whom he made alimony
payments; and David Burns as the con artist known as "The Great McGonigle."
THE TRIALS OF ROSIE O'NEILL/CBS/1990-91
*(Sharon Gless) Rosie O'Neill, a divorced Irish-American attorney who left a
successful Beverly Hills practice to become a public defender. Each episode
began with Rosie talking to an unseen psychiatrist about life's problems which
included her mother, her age, her smoking habit, etc. Also featured were
Georgann Johnson as Rosie's socially prominent mother, Charlotte; and Lisa Banes
as her married sister, Doreen Morrison.
TRINITY/NBC/1998
*(Jill Clayburgh) Eileen McCallister, matriarch of the McCallister clan, an
Irish-Catholic family with a cop, a priest, a drug addict, a bond trader and a
union organizer. The family members included Justin Louis as Bobby McCallister;
Sam Trammell as Liam McCallister; Tate Donovan as Kevin McCallister; Bonnie Root
as Amanda McCallister; Kim Raver as Clarissa McCallister; Charlotte Ross as
Fiona McCallister; and John Spencer as Simon McCallister.
TURKS/CBS/1999
*(William Devane) Sgt. Joseph Turk, patriarch of a family of Irish cops living
in Chicago. Other cast included Helen Carey as Mary Turk; David Cubitt as Mike
Turk; Matthew John Armstrong as Joey Turk; Michael Muhney as Paul Turk; Sarah
Trigger as Erin Turk; and Adam Tanguay as Mark Turk.
UNHAPPILY EVER AFTER/WB/1995-99
*(Geoff Pierson) Jack Malloy, divorced used car salesman of Irish descent who
lives in Van Nuys, California. Jack moved out temporarily to an apartment but
returned home to live in the basement of his old home. His family includes
Stephanie Hodge as Jennie, his ex-wife; Nikki Cox as his sexy teenage daughter,
Tiffany; Kevin Connolly as older son Ryan; Justin Berfield as younger son Ross;
Joyce Van Patten as Jack’s meddlesome mother-in-law, Maureen Slattery; and a
stuffed bunny named Mr. Floppy (voice of Bobcat Goldthwait) that comes to life
and talks to Jack when he is alone.
WAGON TRAIN/NBC/ABC/1957-65
*(Robert Horton/costar) Flint McCullough, frontier scout of Irish descent who
lead a California bound wagon train in the post-Civil War days. Also featured
was Scott Miller as Duke Shannon, who replaced Flint during the 1961-64 season.
THE WONDERFUL JOHN ACTON/NBC/1953
*(Harry Holcombe) John Acton, an Irish-American county clerk and store owner who
lived with his family in the Ohio River Valley town of Ludlow Kentucky during
1919. His family included Ian Martin as Uncle Terrence; Virginia Dwyer as Julia;
Ronnie Walker as Kevin; and Jane Rose as Aunt Bessie. The stories were narrated
by John's grandson, Kevin (voice of Luis Van Rooten).
Other Programs of Interest
LUCKY CHARMS LEPRECHAUN (TV Commercial)
*(Voice of Arthur Anderson)
Lucky the Leprechaun, the Irish cereal mascot for
General Mills “magically delicious” breakfast treat Lucky Charms. The cereal
came in the bite-sized shapes of hearts, moons, stars, clovers, and diamonds. In
the commercials, Lucky is chased by children who want to taste the wonderfully
sweet flavor of his cereal. Lucky's voice was provided by Arthur Anderson.
TRIVIA NOTE: In Irish folklore, Leprechauns are fairy cobblers, who make shoes
for elves. Dressed in green, with a red cap, leather apron, and buckled shoes.
Leprechauns possess a pot of gold which is coveted by humans. The gold can be
had if a human can catch a leprechaun and keep his eyes on him the whole time.
If the person is distracted for just an instant, the Leprechaun vanishes along
with any hopes of quick fortune in gold. The word Leprechaun is derived from the
Gaelic luacharma'n, "pygmy"; or leith brogan "maker of one shoe".
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