Gary Whelan Best Actor

“You’d have been worth a few bob then . . . . a fiver.
That’s what you got if you turned a priest in.
It was a fair bit of money back in the 18th century“

Born in Dublin and relocated to London when he was ten, Gary Whelan’s peaceful existence as the village schoolmaster in Ballykissangel was preceded in an altogether more urban setting as Detective Inspector Haines in The Bill.

The six foot, three inch Whelan has played Horatio in Hamlet and Salisbury in Richard II on the stage as well as appearing in two of the “Pink Panther” movies. His film credits include Cry Freedom, Paper Marriage, Moll Flanders and Michael Collins. Recent film roles were O’Connor in Villa of Roses and Decaln Murphy in A Flight of Fancy.

Among the countless television programs featuring Mr. Whelan are Prime Suspect, Glenroe, Hideaway, Kavanagh QC, and Eastenders. Since Ballykissangel, Gary has been seen in the roles of Sam Tilley in Uncle Silas and Charlie Pearch in In Deep.

Gary Whelan and his wife have five children.