If you walk down Hollywood Boulevard and stop at 6252, you will find, among the many stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame™, the name of an Irish actor whose career path began at Dublin’s famed Abbey Theater. This is his story.
Early Life
William Shields was born in Dublin on March 10, 1888. He was educated at Merchant Taylor’s Protestant School, and trained to enter the world of banking. He ended up joining the Irish civil service and worked as junior executive at the Unemployment Insurance Division while moonlighting as an extra at the Abbey Theater.
The Stage Beckons
His interest in amateur drama surfaced at an early age and continually grew until it dominated his career choices. William flubbed his first speaking line in a 1915 production and sent the audience into a hearty round of laughter. For the rest of his life, he maintained he became a comedian right then and there.
William subsequently starred in the Abbey’s production of Juno and the Paycock by the great playwright, Sean O’Casey. He would recreate that role in his film debut in 1930 for director Alfred Hitchcock. Director John Ford brought the actor to America in 1935 to appear in another O’Casey classic, The Plough and the Stars. Thus began a career that would see him make more than 40 feature films, among them How Green Was My Valley and The Quiet Man.
A Family Business
William Shields’ is, perhaps, best loved for his role as Michaleen Oge Flynn, the often-tipsy, wisecracking matchmaker in The Quiet Man. Fans of the movie may also remember the Protestant minister, Cyril “Snuffy” Playfair, who counseled John Wayne’s character about Irish women and customs. Arthur Shields, who was William’s brother in real life, played the Reverend Playfair. Arthur had a long career as a director and character actor, but never achieved the notoriety that William did. (Actually, it is difficult to name another supporting actor who achieved the level of success and fame that William did.)
A Full and Honored Career
A lifelong Protestant, he won two Academy Awards® for his portrayal of Catholic priest Father Fitzgibbon in Going My Way in 1944, claiming the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor Oscars® for the same role. He was the only actor ever to be so honored, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences immediately changed the rules to prevent another such occurrence. (Ironically, William would later accidentally knock the head right off his Best Supporting Actor Oscar while practicing his golf swing.)
Going Home
William returned to Ireland in 1959 and made his last picture, “Broth of a Boy”, in which he played a 110-year-old poacher. He passed away in his beloved Dublin on January 4, 1966.
So, when you stroll down Hollywood Boulevard and look at the stars in the Walk of Fame, don’t bother looking for William Shields; you won’t find his name on any stars. However, you will find the stage name of a short, Irish actor who walked tall in American and international theater: Barry Fitzgerald.
(“Academy Award” and “Oscar” are both registered marks of the Academy of Motion picture Arts and Sciences.)
(“Hollywood Walk of Fame” is a trademark of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.)
Sources:
Movies.yahoo.com
Fancast.com
Tvguide.com
